Sticking on, and glimmers of hope

2022/04/29

 

“PM digs his heels in” said a smaller headline on page 01 of The Island of April 25. Reading further with utter disdain and anger rising, Cass finds the PM admitting the country is in trouble but saying his administration will solve it all. (Stuff and nonsense!) The main thrust of his statement is that the doors of Temple Trees are open to those staging protests at the Galle Face Green to come for talks with him. “They say they are conducting a struggle. A solution could be found through a discussion. The protest will drag on as long as they skip talks. All I have to tell the youth at the Galle Face Green is that the government is ready to talk with them any time. If they want they can conduct talks with anyone else in the government.” Has his memory escaped him and his sense, leave alone IQ, gone below that of a six-year-old? Each point of what he said can be negated. When it was pointed out that the protesters had already turned down his previous request for talks, the PM replied “They have not informed me that they will not talk. They have not conveyed …” Blah, blah, blah!

No wonder usually calm and relaxed Cass was fuming and curled up with frustration. Mahinda R seems both deaf and blind. Does he never watch TV news? Does not the sound of music and shouts of defiance and order to go home from GFG reach his ears, heavily protected though he be in Temple Trees? Maybe he is reclining in a part of the luxurious underground apartment he got built when he was Prez, supposedly for CHOGM delegates to hide in. He sees not, hears not, comprehends not. The energy of these unused faculties is being siphoned into pigheadedness. His family members and bootlickers jolly well hear what the protesters say, read the placards they carry, watch the swelling crowds at Gogotagama and its environs; in Independence Square and all over the island. MR is playing for time while the country he is co-head of burns to the ground; he is clutching a useless straw and staying put; he is trying to lay the blame of the stalemate on the protesters. Does he think they and us Ordinaries of this country are as stupid as….? What he has got in return for his obduracy is the creation of a new ‘gama’ bang opposite Temple Trees with two names: Mahinagama and Mahindagogama. Will he at last get the message?

Cass gets the feeling the President is willing to throw down the gauntlet; to cave in and depart or face consequences. Not the Prime Minister. Why? The latter has a larger family to safeguard which is much more demanding and material minded than Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s family. Also, maybe the PM fears uncovering of assets owned by him and his family.

Cass has the mandatory respect for Mahinda R as the Prime Minister of our country. Hence she feels that he should give up his post and all that goes with it. He should resign with a semblance of dignity since it is now obvious he is not wanted; 99 % citizens of this land want him and the entire extended family to leave and let others govern the land. Cass often said she was glad she would be dead and gone when Namal R ascended their created throne of Lanka.

We applaud the SJB, JVP and other parties which declined to hoist an interim all party government on the country, a not so subtle move for the Rs to continue in power. It is very clear that the Go Home cry includes the entire Rajapaksa family. Fortune comes and goes like the tide. Karma will always work. One cannot be up there always; downfalls are inevitable, especially when concern for the less privileged, etc., was completely lacking, and only selfishness prevailed. ‘Home’ of course can be Medamulana, the US, other friendly countries or somewhere else. There might not be a Ranil W available after decades of mutual back scratchings, to save them.

Do not behead or vaporize Cass; she speaks the truth.

Other opinions

The Island (of 25 April) carried two articles which Cass wishes to refer to. Anura Gunasekera’s A mandate rendered in blood was concise, precise, spot on and excellent. He cites the police shooting of Chaminda Lakshan in Rambukkana and lists other such ‘accidents’ and writes: “All of the above killings coincide with Rajapaksa periods of governance… Significantly there were no such killings between January 2015 and October 2019 during the yahapalayana regime. It was inefficient but did not silence dissent with murder.

“In the meantime, a gazette notification has been issued, on the instructions of the President, deploying the Tri-Forces to maintain public order in 25 specific districts. Surprisingly there has been no public comment on a development which in the context of the ongoing turmoil, is akin to throwing dynamite into a fire.

“The character and integrity of a regime in power is reflected best in the way it treats its ordinary citizens, the poor, the marginalised and the vulnerable.” Cass adds – this government failed miserably even in this easily possible mode of action. Too self-centered and bloated with hubris.

“If even at this late stage Gotabaya Rajapaksa can drag himself out from the dark cavern that is his mind and, with constitutional power still at his command, catalyze the change that the nation is desperately seeking, he can yet avert a catastrophe and emerge from the present chaos with a semblance of dignity. A structured exit will enable an orderly reconstruction. If not, he and the Rajapaksa family and the nation as well, will be consumed in the inferno that will surely follow.” I quote Anura G extensively as it expresses the thoughts of 20 m adult Sri Lankans.

Cass adds that this wonderful nation of ours is poised on a razor’s edge.

And then the saving grace; the touch of optimism so badly needed. Assuming there will be a change of government and systems and all. Praying Mantis in the same newspaper very clearly spells out Need of the hour for Sri Lanka. The ‘MPH Formula’ of Singapore. Which formula gives foremost importance to Meritocracy, Pragmatism and Honesty. We need spots of optimism and hope, otherwise how remain sane with all that’s going on and everything topsy-turvy with non availabilities increasing by the day and anarchy staring us in the face.

A bright ray of hope

Some kind soul sent Cass a video of Sajith Premadasa addressing professionals at, Cass presumes, the BMICH. The auditorium was packed. Sajith cut a very fine figure, all in black. Cass looks hard at appearances and listens with critical faculties alert. Sajith looked he could hold his own with any world leader. He spoke polished English with allusions, idiomatic phrases, complex words and seemed totally comfortable, understanding perfectly what he was saying with only glances at an IPad or script.

Sincerity of purpose came through in Sajith’s address. The hope in Cass’ heart was ignited by what he proposed a SJB government could and would do, and mentioned teams by person’s names which would take on the economy, security, elimination of corruption in the country. Future governments will have to beware: the public and youth are awake and watching.

Thus, Cass who earlier thought Sajith was too young, ‘babafied’, too un-understanding of the gravity of our situation, passed critical muster. Hope was kindled for the future of our country, especially if those of the JVP, Tamil and Muslim Parties join forces with the SJB.

Good times will be here again

Clearly demonstrated both at the Galle Face Green, Independence Square, and in other cities is that amity among races and religions and different strata of society is possible and can surely hold in this land. Youth can combine with older experienced, honest and dedicated politicians to usher in and sustain a Sri Lanka that will rise again, phoenix like from the degradation it was reduced to mainly by one family and their bootlickers.