Not just the planets, but a practical crisis

12 June 2012 08:30 pm - 3 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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By Koththa Malli
My dear Mahinda Aiya,

Ayubowan, vannakam, assalamu allaikum and best wishes as you face some sort of battle with the planets with astrologers giving different guidelines which ended up in a horror-scope in London.

According to reports, the London fiasco which you found yourself in was a result of failure on the part of intelligence and diplomatic services to warn you of the big protest planned by the Tamil Diaspora in Britain. If they had done their job well you would probably not have gone to London where you faced unprecedented embarrassment and the country itself was plunged into humiliation.

Whatever the movement of Jupiter, your trip to London was a mess and a muddle from the start. The special SriLankan airlines flight to London was delayed by several hours amid reports that thousands of people from the Tamil Diaspora were outside the airport with placards accusing you of war crimes. The demonstrators reportedly waited outside the Heathrow airport for several hours and went away. When the SriLankan flight took off several hours later and reached London, there were no demonstrators outside the airport and you had a trouble-free trip to the five-star hotel. But big trouble lay ahead.

You were scheduled to address the Commonwealth Economic Forum but the organisers cancelled the event at the last moment after thousands of Tamils warned of a big protest. When you went for the reception given to Queen Elizabeth by the Commonwealth Secretariat, Scotland Yard reportedly advised you not to fly the Sri Lankan flag on your limousine. At the reception itself the Queen who was celebrating her Diamond Jubilee reportedly gave you only a momentary handshake while Prime Minister David Cameron had a few words with you. Mr. Cameron had earlier turned down a request from the Sri Lankan High Commission in London for you to have official talks with him.

Some astrologers had reportedly advised you that it was a bad period for you and the country and it would be good for you to be overseas. But your main astrologer, who earned some notoriety in the recent National Savings Bank scandal, denied the claims of other astrologers. Anyway since the period from May 17 was supposed to be bad for you, you first went to Thailand for a series of events. You came back for one day reportedly to attend the wedding of Minister Arumugam Thondaman’s daughter. The wedding at Water’s Edge was one of the biggest in recent times with some 900 guests and the bill running to about Rs.10 million. Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was also at the wedding but did not meet you.

After this wedding of weddings you flew back to Thailand then came back to Sri Lanka for a day and flew to London for that disastrous visit. From there you went to Rome where you reportedly had a peaceful audience with Pope Benedict XVI. You came back last Saturday night, held a special Cabinet meeting and you are due to fly again to Brazil and Cuba tomorrow. Some astrologers say the bad period will go on till November and observers wonder what you will do till then.

Astrology and Jupiter apart, the cost of living is soaring and millions of people are finding it difficult to have three proper meals a day. The economy also is on a shaky foundation with analysts predicting that the balance of payments crisis is worsening with import costs rising and export earnings not keeping pace.

Sri Lanka’s relationship with the United States and Western Europe is still sour with the West insisting on urgent action to find a just and fair political solution to the ethnic conflict and also to address accountability issues relating to alleged war crimes. The Daily Mirror reported on Tuesday that the US had told External Affairs Minister GL Peiris that early elections should be held in the Northern Province. The relationship with India is also on a tight-rope. It is not only a planetary problem but a practical crisis that the regime needs to address sincerely, effectively and fast if Sri Lanka is to progress on the path to sustainable development and lasting peace.

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Comments - 3

willows Wednesday, 13 June 2012 07:07 AM

nice to see you back Koththa Malli

Hussain Wednesday, 13 June 2012 06:56 PM

This is utter nonsense. Its the diaspora tamils who made fools of themselves by demonstrating at a time in England when it was a joyous occasion celebrating the diamond jubilee of their queen.The British people I spoke to were horrified and they all felt that the tamils domiciled in the UK have abused the hospitality of the country to behave as they did at a time such as this and try to insult an invitee of the queen. The tamils insulted themselves by these demonstrations by paying homage to one of the worlds worst murderous terrorist leaders. The people in the UK are not fools.

Guest Thursday, 14 June 2012 03:46 AM

It is really nice to have this famous column by Koththa Malli back again. One though this was also stifled! Welcome back.

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Not just the planets, but a practical crisis

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