Recent happenings have given this distinct feeling to even those who saw the glass half full. The perception of hopelessness is spreading to the rural areas, usually blue and ‘patriotic’. They too get news, even whispers of government secrets.
Sycophancy is more contagious than dengue. The ward with the largest percent of those with this disease – bootlicking and yes sirring – is the house by the Diyawanna. If a vote is taken within its august precincts to decimate Lankans by half to save money spent on free education and free hospital treatment, it will be passed with a majority, as long as those voting and their very extended families and help karayas are spared. This voting pattern was apparent in the defeat of the Freedom of Information Bill. MPs should have voted for it since transparency, especially about what government does with public money, is essential. Of course the majority have secrets to hide or are fearful of loosing their perks.
The Prez goes to Russia with a battalion - 44 in the newspapers, but believed to be almost double that number with a plane chartered for that pleasure trip. We surmise just ten at the most would have done – his closest and other Cab Mins who were needed for negotiation We are a struggling poor country. But hold it, perhaps HE who believes we are fast tracking on being the marvel of Asia, surmises one way of showing we are prosperous is to party away, here, in the air and in foreign countries. I hasten to add not in the West though! As was said about a former Prez - does the hair dyer, laundry man, Madam’s hair dresser and all go along with those who need a holiday after the strenuous stints of kowtowing and slipper licking. Incidentally, looks as if one Silva replaces another as the standard bearer, meaning wielder of sticks and stones and leader of rampaging thugs. When will this Dummy get his doctorate and for what? Maybe being nice to old women and hugging them for the press picture!
The SL Government has to pay Rs11.1 billion as interest for the loan taken from China for the Hambantota Ports Development project. Is this, one asks, inclusive or exclusive of the huge expense of blasting the rock that protruded after the Mahinda Rajapaksa Port was constructed, preventing ships from entering the said harbour?
Serious, serious, harima serious – the bid for Commonwealth Games in 2018. Can’t the VVIPs with hubris of elephantine proportions and greed for commissions indebting our country further, see what a massive mega project hosting the C Games will be. For what, for heaven’s sake what? Does poor ole S Lanka benefit from the Games? Never learn, never curb lavish spending even after the fiasco of the Indian Film Festival in Colombo. India got into dire trouble after they won the bid for hosting the Games. Secret idea over here must be: "those b….got caught taking commissions and bribes. We are cleverer." India has strong vigilante groups that exposed the frauds of the bigwigs of the Games Committee. Not probable in sleepy S Lanka.
Government poked its fingers via appointments, selection of teams, demoralising the honest players in the team and so we lost the World Cup. SLC is neck deep in debt after building a not needed stadium in Rajapaksa Pura and continuing to employ the corrupt, high paid interim committee. And now for destruction of the country in a bigger manner – C Games in Ham Ban Tot. Added to this, an Indian shaman who is in attendance at Temple Trees (or so we hear) ruined the futures of one cricketer and two athletes with his medicine. How about a real serious enquiry into this matter? Reminds one of the last stages of the Premadasa presidency when he involved himself with astrologers and was said to carry his mathuraapu chair with him. Nestling spin doctors to the breast is akin to Cleopatra and the asp in the basket of fruit.
The ether is full of spicy emails whizzing hither and thither about gold sales and huge commissions made, and a diamond studded Ferrari book bought by a Sri Lankan. Some of our people are stinking rich, no two words about that. The palaces coming up!
The latest is that a new precept has been added to the Buddhist five, namely: Guti beta veramani sikkha padam samaadiyami. A daily newspaper’s website announced: "In appreciation of the services rendered by Rev. Opalle Gnanasiri Thera; the Dean of the Faculty of Vishva Vidya of the Horana Vidyaratna Pirivena towards promoting the sport of boxing all-island, he was appointed President of the Sri Lanka Schools Amateur Boxing Association for the Year 2011". In civilized countries boxing is deemed a blood sport and as such banned by many. Is there no territory saved from our intruding Buddhist monks – the nurses’ association, Parliament, shouting protests and of course sycophancy, down from the highest.
Well, there is a glimmer of hope, a faint tint which was first irradiated by the hapless FTZ workers at Katunayake. Police high ups who were not promoted DIGs recently will appeal to the Supreme Court. Maybe, as is now the case, merit was not considered, only ‘patriotism’. Hope they get fair treatment by the SC – you know why I say this!
Disgusted woman
