Truth telling, ghastly twist to the match fixing saga and fearful crowds

July 9, 2020, 7:28 pm


Cassandra spent a quiet day of introspection on Esala Poya on Saturday 4 July. It was healthily quiet and her thoughts went to the Peraheras, particularly the unique Dalada Maligawa Perahera during this month of Esala. One finds it difficult to fathom the curtailments and dents in routines and rites observed during the preceding couple of months. But we people are prepared for any restrictions if it promotes the curtailment of the Covid 19 pandemic. We, the public, have so far been amenable to restrictions and followed health regulations. Thus our numbers of infected being manageable and praise be, deaths still only 11. But we must continue being cautious. WE MUST! We have had a case of infection in prison. Pray it can be contained within the prison walls where the infection is.

Independence Day gathering may add to US spikes

We in Sri Lanka have been spared many deaths through the pestilence raging around the world unlike in places like New York where the count of daily deaths from Covid 19 infection is in the thousands, and still they gather together and still they visit bars and beaches, tacitly encouraged by their President who celebrated the Fourth of July at a huge rally with people not wearing face masks seated cheek by jowl as he ranted in Keystone, South Dakota. His back drop was the famous National Memorial of sculpture carved into the granite face of Mount Rushmore by sculptor Gutzon Borglum helped by his son in 1927-41, of the faces of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. They were chosen to represent the nation's birth, growth, development, and preservation, respectively. And there stood Trump with wife close by, ranting and raving and promising these ‘statues’ would remain standing, while castigating the protestors and Democrats, so much so that one comment was that this was the worst presidential speech on America’s Independence Day, ever.

Sermon on lying

Ven Thalalle Chandakitthi of the Narada Dharmayatana in Colombo 7 was one bana preacher among a couple that Cass gave pious ear to while in retreat in her home. As always when this Bhikkhu preaches, he preaches excellently. He prefaced his exposition on a stanza of the Dhamma by saying his chosen subject is very apt because this month is one of electioneering. What he preached was what we should learn from a teaching by the Buddha to his son Rahula. It was on lying, and the Thera said that though we usually give weightage to the other precepts, breaking the fourth precept of not lying nor vituperating or spreading gossip is of great import because if a person is given to telling lies, he can and will usually break the other four precepts. Buddha by his own admitting said he had committed sins as the Boddhisatva during innumerable lives but never that of lying.

That got Cass thinking since our politicians are adept at lying. Other countries like Britain too have lying MPs and others in politics but their lying is not decadent and degrading, not as low as we find some of ours descending to. Trump is said to actually lie and he goes back on what he says or blames the media for aberrating what he says.

THE LIE of Aluthgamage

His accusation that the 2011 cricket encounter between India and SL was rigged so India could win the match and the trophy and the honours is now ruled by the investigating police as holding no water. But we cannot and must not forget this lie as it has led to a very awful conjecture: that Sangakkara’s chances of being elected ICC Chairman are wrecked by his having to face police questioning. He was grilled for nine hours; degraded totally, unjustifiably and hurt mercilessly. Even the man who dropped the bomb, whose explosion sent ripples all over our country, to India and Britain too, has not been made to suffer such indignity. He should be punished. We hope British fair play will prevail and Kumar’s ordeal will give weight to them choosing him ICC Chairman over the Indian contender. Cass quotes the Sunday Island sports writer who highlighted the following:

"However, according to section 13 of the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports act if any person who makes any false allegation knowing the content of such allegation to be false or having reasons to believe that such allegation is not true, commits an offense under this Act will be liable to a fine not exceeding rupees one hundred thousand or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years or to both such fine and imprisonment upon conviction." The Act came in after 2011. Also Aluthgamage can afford the most expensive of defences, rich as he supposedly is, though people who know his early life say he is from a far-from-affluent family. His party affiliation too will save him so in all probability, he will escape any punishment or even reprimand from his Party leaders. People should however remember the dastardly act he has committed against such national heroes as Aravinda, Kumar and Mahela and other cricketers, whom we unreservedly honour and think the best of. They all come from good homes, good schools and fine upbringing.

Stunning gatherings with no social distancing whatsoever

TV news broadcasts on Sunday 5 June highlighted people gathered en masse to greet and listen to the President and Prime Minister together and at separate meetings and also the Prez with the previous Prez electioneering in Polonnaruwa. Cass was aghast and appalled and thought strongly that all the sweat and labour expended by Dr Anil Jaysinghe, Dr Paba Paliyawadena and their health service teams would be in vain if Covid 19 spread due to people jostling each other and even reaching out to touch Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. Even if no infection results, it’s against what they themselves endorse to abide by safety rules. It was wrong, no two words about that. Adoration is one thing; the imperative of observing laid down regulations regards stemming infection from Covid 19 is another; and not to be flouted at all. Regulations have not been set down by our medical specialists but by the WHO itself and to be observed strictly, which the medical profession of Sri Lanka has been advocating strongly. Dr Jaysinghe was criticized for not wearing a mask. What about the recent mass rallies? We have already commented on Trump at his 4 July speechifying, where lots gathered, but they were all seated and at fair distances. Not like the spectacles we saw on Sunday 5 July TV news. Other Party leaders too will follow suit, though up until now we have seen on TV smaller gatherings listening to them, seated or standing distances away and mostly face-masked. No jostling whatsoever.

Cass is not single in the shock she felt seeing the crowds. She is mercifully not the only one to criticize and lay her head on the block. The Island editorial of Monday 6 July dealt with this issue. It noted: "Most political parties have launched their election campaigns officially. They are marketing old wine in new bottles. The government has set a very bad example by holding rallies in violation of the health guidelines aimed at preventing the spread of Covid 19." The leaders are very well looked after medically. We poor citizens who stay home and observe all regulations are the ones who will suffer if a surge in infection results from adoring crowds and Pohottu members flouting safety regulations. The Thondaman funeral Upcountry was adversely commented on as the police looked on while crowds gathered to pay their respects. The crowds seen on 5th July were much denser and pressed together, with no khaki in sight.

All this risk for the vote!

Hopefully, we will meet again next week, with more comments from Cassandra.