Features
Chinese commemorative coins; loud mouths banished to the wilderness; devoted couple – a rarity
Cass is ignorant of country finances and money matters though she read economics and got to know Adam Smith and Bretton Woods: passé now in this new world of offshore banking smudging out the black market and Bitcoin as digital currency or crypto currency created in 2009. That’s beside bonds! However, she got a shock when she heard on a TV programme that the Central Bank of Free Sri Lanka printed coins in celebration of 100 years of the Chinese revolution when Leader Mao Zedong is supposed to have been limo driven behind (or in front, but out of sight) of the Long March of Chinese peasantry with many dying of starvation and fatigue en route.
Now why are we, for goodness sake, celebrating the centenary of Chinese political party, even minting commemorative coins to celebrate with the Chinese? Are we already two nations under one government, soon to be a colony of the Big Country to be governed by its Leader for Life, Xi Jinping? Admittedly China is Asia, and Asians for Asians. But we have other friends whom we trade with who buy more of our stuff than China ever will. Much thought and effort were first taken at the Bandung Conference with Nehru and our own Kotelawala defying Nehru, but together with others, declared we were non-aligned. The diplomatically middle path following group of 
So, I asked an ex-banker about the minting of coins to celebrate another country’s political party’s anniversary. He said he was not up with info; he seems to have given up following local news. Hence, I googled and came across a news item that made the matter fairly clear. “Sri Lanka will be issuing a special coin to commemorate a foreign political party, the Communist Party of China (CPC) in view of its centenary celebrations.” The news item added it was an unprecedented move. The article continues thus: “It is also learnt that there was also a possibility that China may have minted the coins and handed them free to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and other friendly countries as a goodwill gesture for the centenary celebration… The C B began on Monday (28/6?) to issue a set of coins … three gold each weighing 8 grams; five in silver and one copper alloy coin.”
All very unclear; purposely shrouded in secrecy? One would love to know the other countries favoured by China – Pakistan?No; India? Definitely not! May be a few banana republics of Africa, like us fully with China, gifting the Chinese ‘open sesame’ welcomes. We invite and accommodate their labourers (in Tissamaharama for instance, whether labourer or Red Army soldier) and permit Chinese projects to bring in prisoners, it is said, as labourers. We are so servile that we bend over backwards to sell our precious assets to them, mostly in the way of land – most valuable bits – all over the country. Only a small step left to be a colony of theirs.
I mulled over this as I went for my daily walk and who do I meet – two Chinese men in two spots on my path – looking very much proprietors. They will be brought here, settle down and get women pregnant and thus colonialism in a subtler way than by gun or signed treaty. A railway was built from Shanghai to Llasa and immense trouble taken to submerge and finally erase Tibetan culture inclusive of Tibetan Buddhism. Here in this Paradise Island, we invite them to take us over; for filthy lucre which either goes into the common kitty or private pockets. That is anyone’s guess.
Silenced loud voices
Oh, where oh where are the strident tones of Gaman and Weera and croak of Vasu? Banished to the wilderness and mouths taped? We’ve heard new shouts from several, one being the oversized MP, state minister of something who got jammed in a moving device up a coconut tree. They shout in unison for Basil to enter Parliament. He will do so, or has already done so when you read Cass on Friday and we Ordinaries can enjoy fuel at reduced prices, a stunning blow given the skyrocketing COL and back to hunky dory. Hope he doesn’t suddenly go back ‘home’.
Modesty eloped with decency
Model and what else Piumi Hansamali was front paged in The Island of Monday 5 July. OK. But ole conservative Cass believes she should have worn a more covering garment or thrown a shawl across her shoulder in a photograph to appear in a respected newspaper for all to see, not revealing assets until the depths of her décolleté. Her emphasized-with-border plunging neckline would suit a C19 rule defying wild party at the Shangri La. Not suitable at all for public display. Hansamali may like it but we Ordinaries still have at least traces of our traditional lajja.
Wonderful couple
Peanut farmer turned Prez of the US – Jimmy Carter (96) – and wife Rosalyn (93) celebrates this week their 75th wedding anniversary. What an achievement. The union was a very committed, steady and loving one with Carter depending on his wife’s advice even when Prez. Rick Rojas writing in the New York Times comments: “Their partnership has withstood the glare of political campaigns and the strains of raising a family, triumphs that catapulted them to international prominence and a defeat that sent them home to Georgia as political outcasts with a faltering family business. As their world inevitably narrows in the dusk of life the couple has come to rely on their bond even more. ‘We’ve just grown closer and closer together’, said Carter.”
Their families were close neighbours in Plains and Carter first met the adult girl, a friend of his sister, on a blind date. He proposed soon enough but she refused as her father had decreed marriage follows her successful higher education. The wonder (yes, it is a wonder these days) of their lasting marriage, in Cass’s opinion, is owing to their commitment to each other and humanity in general. They both worked hands on in building Habitat for Humanity houses; even after Carter recovered from cancer. While he is full of humanity, she is all faithfulness, he being the only man who has ever kissed her. He was not a great Prez (1977-81), but was uncontroversial though coming as a complete outsider to Washington DC. She first mooted better care of the mentally disturbed. It is sad to note that of all succeeding Presidents and Democrats, only Biden and wife visited the Carters. For Cass’ great good luck she was able to see and hear her best American Prez conduct Sunday School at the Marathana Baptist Church in Plains in 2008. Photographing with the couple was permitted after the service with the strict order of No talking, not even thanking. But Carter spoke to Cass wishing her country Sri Lanka success after the travails of the civil war.
Successful marriages as seen, noted and recorded along the grape wine of gossip about our topmost couples seem slight. Definitely JRJ and Elena are in: devoted and apparently loving. The present Prez too is blessed with a Missus that the public approves of completely.