Rajapaksa State Media Editor - Rajpal Abeynayake Calls Muslim MP A Pig

Rajapaksa State media editor called a Muslim MP who pledged support for the common opposition candidate a “pig.” Rajpal Abeynayake, the editor of the State owned Daily News tweeted “What a pig, this guy who crosses over with the MP he was given after Azwer was asked to resign. Gross.” Abeynayake who portraits himself as an authoritative mouthpiece of President Rajapaksa was referring to former Industry and Commerce Minister Rishard Bathuideen who withdrew support for the President along with his party.

Rajpal Abeynayake on numerous occasions have expressed similar anti-Muslim sentiments, memorably soon after the Aluthgama ethnic violence where he justified the attack against Muslim businesses and the killing of several civilians by extremists Buddhist widely known to have state patronage. which ended in the deaths of several unarmed Muslims in the hands of Sinhala Buddhist extremists. In his editorial Abeynayake accused minority groups of provoking the violence that broke out in Alutgama and Beruwala in June 2014 while justifying the attacks against Muslims.

The editor of the Daily News is one of the coveted positions within the State Media apparatus and is handpicked by President Mahinda Rajapaksa among his most loyal followers. Its current incumbent is widely known to express the views and opinions of President Rajapaksa through his editorials and his twitter account.