A NATION’S PRIDE?

The pride of the nation was historically displayed on February 4 with the tri-forces and police taking pride of place. Seventy-one years of Independence is indeed a cause for celebration, but the question is with the country in such economic and political chaos, did it warrant a celebration of the calibre put on display? After all, the people of a country, any country, are a nation’s pride and if they aren’t, they should be! Since I want to comment lucidly on the fallacy of our Independence, I would like to quote ad verbatim from an article which, to my mind, uniquely presents the situation and I quote: 

“After seven decades of Independence, we have come to see Independence as an essential marker of our Lankan-ness. To our utter disappointment, even after 71 years, Independence did not, however, bring socio-political freedom or economic progress; only disaster after disaster in these areas. There is a poignant lament expressed by writers and analysts about the collapse of the vision of equality and prosperity which inspired the Independence struggle. But no one has questioned the validity of Independence Day and exposed its’ cultural, political and psychological underpinnings and associations as false. Yet, this falsehood has been maintained year after year over the post-Independence period in our history.” Yes, the fallacy of our Independence underlines the hypocrisy of our leaders! A few months ago, they were tearing each other apart, setting up two prime ministers, creating division and derision in Parliament, bringing about one disaster after another, with the president swearing never to speak to the lawful incumbent premier again, what absolute and utter chaos the country had to deal with till the Supreme Court stepped in and thankfully gave the correct verdict! 

Emperor’s Parade 

Sri Lanka displayed her military might with pomp and pageantry; pomp and pageantry which the country could ill-afford! The Kfir fighter jets were even taken on trial runs, notwithstanding the phenomenal cost of aero-fuel! Again we ask, was this necessary? Our leaders were talking about social justice and the need to eliminate poverty on the one hand, while squandering millions in public funds to fatten their nests; with Parliament being ridiculed, the misery of the masses ignored; they resorted to cover it all up with an Independence Day parade. What a glorious mockery it all was! The corridors of power are still being stalked not only by the mega-rich but also by the saffron robes! 

Double ethics 

In his Independence Day speech, our president spoke of and I quote: “From what I saw in the media, there is a plan to form a national government with the support of a party that has only one seat in Parliament. It is important to think whether such an act is ethical…” What may we ask was ‘ETHICAL’ in what he did? Perhaps, the meaning of ‘ethical’ is yet to penetrate his mind! He slams Ranil on the one hand for wanting to form a national government and goes for Mahinda’s guts by saying he (the president) ended ‘Beeshanaya’ after he took over in 2015.Mahinda was his ‘blue-eyed’ boy when he wanted to eliminate Ranil, and suddenly, Mahinda is seen as the author of Beeshanaya! One wonders when this president is going to know the difference, the stupidity of the accusations he makes! 

Hang on in Dubai

In all fairness, though we have to admit that the president is really slamming the drug peddlers and perhaps it won’t be long before the death sentence is introduced for drug smuggling and peddling. This is something for which he deserves wholehearted credit and gratitude of every Sri Lankan. Recent headlines on the arrest of Makandure Madush and 24 others along with him created interesting speculation on many angles but the general consensus seems to be that they should be tried in Dubai and rightly so, they will get a harsh sentence there, hopefully, an unmitigated one they all deserve! 

DRUGS AT A PARTY

Notwithstanding the Dubai raid, it is very obvious that as Sri Lankans we have to be EXTRA VIGILANT AND CONCERNED OVER THE DRUG MENACE PREVALENT IN OUR COUNTRY. IT IS HORRENDOUS AND FRIGHTENING. VERY FRIGHTENING! What went viral was a video on a birthday party held in the house of a notorious businessman in Colombo 6, attended by the police hierarchy and MPs at which drugs were freely available. 

Apparently, these drug barons travel around in luxury vehicles and almost every brand is freely available! One gram of cocaine is priced at Rs.20,000 there is a number to call and in 15 to 20 minutes, like pizza delivery; it is delivered to your doorstep!!! 

The president, we are told, is planning to bring the death sentence for drug dealing. Very praiseworthy, but the burning question is, WOULD HE INSTITUTE THE DEATH SENTENCE, IF IT WERE ONE OF HIS MPs, WHO IS GOING TO BE SENT TO THE GALLOWS? THE OTHER QUESTION IS, “DO YOU PUNISH THE GUY WHO BROUGHT IT, THE GUY WHO SELLS IT OR THE GUY WHO USES IT”? Cocaine and heroin, like ice and ecstasy, are highly addictive and are generally consumed by the high-class addicts, some of whom even sniff or inhale what is called a ‘line’ before proceeding to board meetings! BUT, THE MOST PATHETIC AND HORRIBLE PART IS WHAT GOES TO THE SCHOOLS! SOME TRULY DRASTIC ACTION MUST BE INSTITUTED ON THIS ISSUE; WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO IGNORE IT!

Ganja Politics 

The Tamil diaspora is sending KERALA GANJA INSTEAD OF CASH, IN THE ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY THAT IT CAN BE SOLD IN THE SOUTH, EAST AND WEST AND THE NEEDED MONEY DISTRIBUTED TO TAMILS! From all that you read and hear about, it is not the FOOLS who are hooked on drugs but the mega-rich, the business braggarts, the social butterflies, the nobody who wants to be a somebody, the show-offs; who all want to be ‘with it’! 

The end of the Makandure Madush chapter has almost been written, but Sri  Lanka is not ready to confront another like him ever again! 

VIGILANCE IS THE NEED OF THE HOUR!

THE VOICE