Acting Leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa says that hooting is a nation custom in Sri Lanka.
Referring to the hooting at SLFP MPs by Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) supporters at SLPP election rallies, Piyadasa has told the media that Sri Lankans hooted as a method of communication from ancient times.
“We hoot at someone to insult or ridicule him. We hoot in joy at musical shows and we hoot at singers and musicians to encourage them. Therefore, we must take hooting in its stride,” he has said.
Piyadasa has further stated however, it was not decent to hoot at politicians at political rallies.
“It simply abusive and will not augur well for the unity of the SLFP and the SLPP,” he has added.
Meanwhile, SLFP General Secretary, MP Dayasiri Jayasekera has said the hooting at SLFP politicians by certain sections of the crowds at SLPP rallies will have an impact on the SLFP-SLPP alliance.
Jayasekera has cast doubts whether any of the SLPP politicians of the area could prevail upon their supporters and stop them from jeering at SLFP politicians when they address SLPP election propaganda rallies.
"Drunkards, hooligans and rowdies are hooting at SLFP politicians and it will not mean well for SLFP-SLPP unity,” he has said.
The MP said he would not believe that the SLPP leadership like Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, the party’s presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa or SLPP National Organizer Basil Rajapaksa would endorse this ill-treatment by uneducated and irresponsible hooligans and they might not even be SLFP or SLPP supporters.
Jayasekera has told the media that Mahinda Rajapaksa and Bsil had promised to identify the miscreants and take action at party level.
When questioned how he would respond if he was hooted at in Kurunegala, the SLFP General Secretary has said his supporters would take care of those who hoot at him.
