Astrologer failed to see twist in political fortune
Saturday 27 June 2009
Latest in Asia
On Facebook
From the blogs
More than half of Afghanistan’s families live in extreme poverty
Leila is watching her baby intently, as his mouth moves trying to swallow the small blob of yellow p...
Time for a new approach to alcohol
Ambulances were called and three drunk teenagers were brought to my care. One was so drunk we had to...
Bahrain: One year on
I am used to endless lies and criticism from the BNP and its favourite blogster, as well as Islamist...
Paul Volcker stands tall against the banking lobby
Why is Europe, which likes to present itself as an opponent of speculative "Anglo-Saxon" finance, li...
A popular astrologer who predicted that the President of Sri Lanka would be ousted from office has been arrested.
Chandrasiri Bandara told an opposition party meeting that Mahinda Rajapaksa would be replaced by the Prime Minister on 9 September.
While jokes about astrologers failing to foretell their own demise are legion, the arrest of Mr Bandara has triggered fears that the government may be increasing the pressure on dissent after its victory over rebel forces last month.
The police spokesman Ranjith Gunasekera told the Associated Press that Mr Bandara made his comments last week. It is not clear whether he specified what he thought would happen to Mr Rajapaksa. The spokesman said that the astrologer had been arrested on Wednesday to allow police to investigate the source of his prediction.
Curiously, the prediction was made at a time when Mr Rajapaksa's popularity has soared in the wake of the defeat of the LTTE, ending a 25-year-long civil war. Since then the country has been busy with victory parades and the President has been hailed as a king; his party has even suggested changing the constitution to make him President for life.
Astrology is influential in Sri Lankan society. Many plan weddings and special events based on the advice of such advisers. Mr Rajapaksa himself has said that he too is a devoted believer and often consults a favourite astrologer for advice on what time to make speeches or to depart for trips.
Mr Bandara, who has a weekly television show and writes a deeply political column for a pro-opposition newspaper, is one of the most popular astrologers in the country. The opposition United National Party condemned the arrest. "The crime committed by Bandara is not making predictions favourable to the government," it said.
In the wake of the victory over the rebels, the government has announced the re-establishment of a powerful press council with the authority to jail journalists. According to Amnesty International, at least 14 journalists have been killed by suspected government paramilitaries and rebels since the beginning of 2006. The government has denied involvement in such incidents.
- 1 No secularism please, we're British
- 2 Apple admits it has a human rights problem
- 3 'Drunk tanks' and minimum prices to help Britain sober up
- 4 Working as a jail torturer ruined my life
- 5 Lightning kills an entire football team
- 6 Reinstate Knox's murder charge, Italian court told
- 7 Caught in his own blast: an Iranian targeting Israel
- 1 Spotify: 1 million plays, £108 return
- 2 How Koscielny became prince of the Emirates
- 3 Apple admits it has a human rights problem
- 4 Mark Steel: If religion is 'marginal', I'm the Pope
- 5 No secularism please, we're British
- 6 Lightning kills an entire football team
- 7 Matthew Norman: There's always the Human Rights Act, Trevor
- 8 Special report: The hungry generation
- 9 I was born to be a killer. Every night I see the Devil in my dreams
- 10 Six Grammys, five years off: Adele puts love before career
Free trial of new Independent iPad app
Get your daily dose of the best of British journalism, sponsored by American Airlines
Win a three-week coastal jaunt
Spend three weeks exploring every nook and cranny of gorgeous Atlantic Canada.
Amazing restaurant offers
Three glasses of free champagne and a special menu at 46 top London restaurants.
Latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
Career Services
Day In a Page
How an abortion divided America
Did they all live happily ever after? That's up to you...




Comments