Day of Mourning; way to go in reviving tourism; way to go in governing

Monday June 20

Cassandra opened her email in-box in the himidiri udey as Buddhist monks are fond of pronouncing when their sermons are in the early morning, and found a black framed message: “Day of Mourning ”. Wondered which VVIP had died recently, so scanned further down. “Birthday of … the 8th President of Sri Lanka ”. It is a day of mourning, the notice says. Cass does not disagree. She set more firmly the sackcloth and ashes she has donned almost from the inception of GotaGoGama, metaphorical though it be, and recollected for the umpteenth time that near starvation, high prices of rice, vegetables and fruits, irreparable damage to the tea industry – our steady forex earner; and lack of money (the rich not taxed as Gota came to power in 2019) had resulted from this 8th term of presidency instead of the splendour and prosperity promised by the novice politician ascending the highest seat of State. All stupid, the drastic decisions made by the one man and nodded approval of by many cunning idiots and slipper lickers cum bum suckers.

   All these days are ones of mourning as queues get longer, frustration grows and deprivation of essential items and hunger stalks the land. The present government does not seem to have alleviated the dire situ even a jot. Only the CB Governor is taking positive steps and giving us hope. Despair seen as father and son emerge from hiding in the stronghold of the Trinco Naval Base like worms from the woodwork and not even questioned about the dastardly acts of May 09. Rescued and given safe passage by the PM for sure. Cass believes 99% adult Sri Lankans believe this saviour theory so it has to be correct; also pronounced by political VIPs. If not for the Aragalaya and other watch dogs, by now printed money would have been freely distributed to those politicians whose houses and offices were attacked that night and a mausoleum in Medamulana reconstructed to greater splendour and prosperity with government money: our money.

Tourism

On the same day – Monday 20th – an article in The Island by Capt Gihan A. Fernando gives pragmatic advice on “Tourism and earning urgently needed valuable foreign exchange”.

He stresses eco-tourism being the way to go. Cass particularly applauds and endorses his suggestion to convert the ‘Loneliest International Airport in the World’ – the Mattala Mahinda Rajapaksa International Airport – to a wildlife park. Hurrah! Cheers! And for goodness sake erase the name off. This Mahinda Rajapaksa, as pictures that circulated on social media showed, has a wildlife tourist resort in some African Sate with his name emblazoned on the decorative iron gateway to the park. I don’t know whether it is a concocted picture but…

    Gihan Fernando adds “Converting Mattala into a Tourist Hotel will create a money spinner. Let us ‘bite the bullet’ and cut our losses in these difficult times. As experts say ‘mistakes pave the way for innovation, growth and creativity.’” Cass adds: mistakes and corruption also make way for being toppled down; totally disrespected and despised and the person who got vanity edifices built will be an Ozymandias, King of Kings, ending up as two massive legs and a visage half buried in the sand. Dry Hambantota was fed with costly diverted water to have an animal park, garden, cricket grounds, apart from a massive meeting hall and of course airport and port during MR’s term of presidency 2010-15. All built with elephant corridors invaded, elephants driven away or killed and thousands of peacocks shot, we heard. Ozymandias, in Shelly’s poem, cries out “look at my Works and despair”. We oblige. Despair and curse the money spent to perpetuate a name, which now is detested by most.

   Gihan Fernando gives valid reasons why the Mattala airport is ideal to be converted to a tourist resort and its infrastructure including fences, etc., be transported to Ratmalana to enhance that necessary airport.

Personal money or from the State coffer?

   Social media sent out a message and two pictures of a minister and a buxom dame wearing a crown on her head of all ornaments, with the caption “gone to Dubai and the UK”. Flight number given; question asked: whose money? His or the government’s? What canvassing tourists in the UK and Dubai if he went on a promotional tour for the Ministry of Tourism. Canvas from Colombo. Indian and other closer neighbours who are not so picky about holiday destinations and their governments not advising travel warnings at the slightest hiccup in the inviting country, are our likely tourists in the short term.

   In spite of the biting remarks made by people in queues as they wait days on end for fuel or cooking gas, the high-ups live in luxury and go jetting around with favourites in tow instead of attending to ministerial duties which are best attended to at home – in the country. They are cursed roundly for they care not a jot for the suffering people, though they bear the guilt of having brought the suffering on.

Tuesday June 21

Attendance in Parliament

   The Speaker bemoans the fact that MPs cannot travel to Parliament and so sessions will be ill-attended. The immediate question is: Does every b…. MP have to travel in his state-paid-for, gas-guzzling limo? Many developed and richer countries have their MPs and even Cabinet Members travel under their own steam: some on bicycles; smart Brit politicians in underground trains and Indians in India-made modest vehicles. Not champagne living on toddy income Sri Lankan politicians. If there is a truly competent Parliament Admin Head like Nihal Seneviratne was, whose two books on Parliament Cass has read with great interest, he would arrange for a van or two to go around picking up MPs to bring them to Parliament and later drop them off. And a competent Speaker like Karu J would have insisted that all travel to the House by the Diyawanne in a provided van – VVIP Minister and most recent backbencher probably sharing a seat. Being in close proximity they would not fling brickbats and insults at each other in the confines of the van. Space and safety are needed for this pastime; provided in Parliament.

Wednesday June22

   Everyone should read the 4/5th page letter by Krishantha to Sajith Premadasa in The Island of June 22. Titled Act now, or regret! It forcefully presents what most of us feel about the immediate future of our loved country, torn down to shreds of poverty, despair and pervasive ennui. Krishantha points out how low the Rajapaksa men particularly near destroyed Sri Lanka and PM Ranil W has done next to nothing so far. So, he tells Sajith: “Silence and armchair criticism are not options today for any political leader who truly aspires to serve and save our people.” He advises uniting all opposition parties and taking over the governing of this country, with, if necessary, the present Prez and PM in office. He specifically mentions those who should be roped in and given powers: Harsha de Silva, Eran Wickremaratne, Champika Ranawaka. M A Sumanthiran and Harini Amarasuriya, mentioning their special qualifications and expertise. Many other competent and country-loyal persons are in the Opposition. Krishantha presents justifications, specifics, dos and don’ts and a rebuke about procrastination. Many are those who care for the country and feel sympathy for the suffering majority. They must take the ruling reins in their combined, cooperative hands, eschewing all forms of dishonesty and corruption. And here, Cass does not mean after a general election. It means here and now!

   Cass adds her strident voice: Useless boycotting Parliament; nonsensical wearing black arm bands or full suits to make a point of protest; senseless thundering about incompetence of present leaders and mistakes made. Do they shorten queues and bring us necessities? Does the ranting help feed hungry kids and allow retirees who gave of their best to the country to die in peace? NO, to all. So Sajith and others: arise and save the country and its fine people!