Diva Diana; shooting star prices; example to follow

Much has been written and comments made on the vociferous fracas in the lobby of the Parliament of the Democratic – la la – Republic of Sri Lanka. While the seat of government and legislature ought to be a place of decorum and solemnity with members of dignity and decency, our Parliament is referred to as a zoo, a wildlife reserve, a place of donkeys and even a cesspit. All justified. And with the latest shenanigans it can be termed a gladiators’ Colosseum or even a pigs’ sty. The worst is that the chief combatant who seemed to have started the raucous argument and came close to blows, was a woman. Hence Cassandra’s comments though the incident is, as we say, stale news.

We had women prominently in the fray when in 2018 the Pohottu chappies and girlies made a bid to hijack government with Prez Sirisena attempting a coup – ousting PM Ranil W and installing Mahinda R in his stead. The fracas in Parliament was witnessed even internationally on TV. Remembered well are MPs Pavithra Wanniarachi very prominently among the male MPs who were destroying Parliamentary furniture and behaving disgracefully. Their women’s voices rose above the shouts of the men and their arms very prominent in the melee. We considered it an insult to the sari and were duly ashamed. The shame is greater in this latest fracas as it is solely a personal matter made very public.

More to blame

Cassandra blames Diana roundly. Cass couples the epithet ‘diva’ with her name Diana because one of its meanings is stated thus: “a self-important person who is temperamental and difficult to please.” Does not this definition fit State Minister Diana Gamage perfectly? At least it does in Cass’s reckoning judging by what she has heard and seen of the lady, nay dame, after she came into prominence. Brought into Parliament by one Party she votes with another to increase the power of that Party’s Head. However, it is clear she did it to gain personally.

From TV footage that was seen and shocked Sri Lankans in many foreign countries and which Cass studied, it seemed to be that Diana started the fracas by challenging Rohana Bandara. She got more vociferous and combative when Sujith Sanjaya Perera entered the fray as a peace maker. She challenged him to attack her and used her handbag as a threatening weapon. Her remark about clothes was indecent and reprehensible. In short, she was a disgrace to Sri Lankan women and womanhood as she ranted and raved in, of all places, Parliament. She seemed to be the instigator of the physical. Later, she raved verbally within the Chamber of the August House, acting the innocent injured. Then, with neck in a brace of sorts, she enters hospital as injured.

Cass blames the two male MPs involved too. There has been much talk of harassment of women MPs and women workers in Parliament. Often it looks as if the dregs of society, the scum of the earth are kapati suited in pristine white and sit in the Chamber. Their behaviour and speech are the epitome of vulgar Mariakade. To Cass however, very sadly, Diana outdid the two males.

We eagerly await the decision of the Police, appealed to by all three combatants. And most definitely the action the Speaker will take. However, the bet is that this incident will go the way of all such disgraceful displays of indecency in the House and be quietly forgotten.

Price hikes

The latest almost 20% hike in electricity tariffs has come like a lightning bolt and accompanied by the thunder of protests. People, except the very rich are actually thunderstruck. The middle class too finds it very difficult to manage living with prices of electricity, water, both increased and the price of essentials like vegetables not lowered at all. One comment made to Cass was: We have to pay bills, otherwise water and power are cut and restoring them costs so much more. So, we pay bills but live almost in the dark, saving on electricity and using water sparingly. The bills are now in the thousands when a year or two ago we paid in hundreds. So, we will pay bills and starve – no money left for food.

Cass dare not comment on the electricity matter as she is not adequately knowledgeable. She has, however, heard expressions such as ‘electricity mafia’; engineers paid in the millions; hydro power not utilised fully; power bought from private suppliers at high cost; use of solar power not encouraged. There was talk of privatizing the CEB. Too strong protests and the government backs out. Surely, surely, there are other

ways of earning money to meet shortfalls of government revenue rather than tax increases. For one, why aren’t perks of MPS curtailed if not withdrawn completely. Cass sees red when she sees on TV the huge limos they travel in. This scene occurs whenever a meeting is called at the old parliament building. Each luxury vehicle deposits just one personage. MPS never consider travelling together to save petrol.

How come ex-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa gets all the very expensive benefits given to ex-Presidents when he DID NOT complete his term of five years but slunk away after pushing the country to bankruptcy; his misguided, ill–advised policies aiding much in the decline. These sorts of expenses should be eliminated and thus saved millions given to the Treasury. There really is a limit to how much the population will tolerate ever rising cost of living.

Ideal President

A friend sent Cass a video clip of the August 24, 2021elected President and Head of Government of Zambia which country did away with the post of Prime minister. The first Prez elected in 1964 after independence was Kenneth Kaunda. He remained head till 1991 The present President – Hakainde Hichilema (b 1962) – is the 8^th. In 2017, he was arrested for treason for blocking the motorcade of the then President. It was a mere traffic offence but being in the opposition he was subject to eight days solitary confinement without food and any outside contact. International protests got him out and of course his popularity increased. He is a millionaire owning one of the largest cattle ranches in Zambia.

What the video showed was President Hichilema on a visit to Chingola Council, where he found that $200.000 m had been spent on new cars for the mayor, deputy mayor and another. He totally disagreed on sanctioning the money because, as he said, “Why do they want a VX? If you want to drive a VX, buy your own. That is tax payers’ money. The money spent could build a toilet in each of the markets in the constituency. Think along those lines.” He went on to say that on August 16 he was brought a purchase order to sign for $1.8 m. Asked what for, he was told it was an order for new cars made by his colleague for the newly elected president and his entourage. He questioned whether cars were available for the president, had they wheels, did they move? Positive answers had him cancelling the order. “I am conscious that this is not my money. I will not waste tax money for my use,” and added that he could not sign in any case as he had not been sworn in as President which would be on August 24.

Cass watched and admired the new President of Zambia. Remembering all the African Presidents who lived lives of luxury right next to hovels of the poor, and some of ours who were great imitators of Banana Republic Heads, she felt a tinge of skepticism. She hoped however, that power would not corrupt this now ideal Head of State.

Can we in bankrupt Sri Lanka hope for leaders of this ilk in the future? Only if the widely spread canker of corruption could at least be reduced, if not eliminated.

Sham

Keheliya R being removed from the post of Minister of Health in a recent minor Cabinet shuffle was termed cosmetic. Cassandra prefers to name the move a sham shame. He is given an equally important portfolio, when he should have been justifiably removed from the Cabinet. Even persons working under him in the health ministry have denounced him as corrupt. Bureaucrats within the ministry are rumoured to have made money from importing substandard drugs etc. But inevitably the blame comes to roost on the minister who is responsible for his ministry. So, his head had to roll first. Not in dear ole politics ridden S L.

A super verbal skit is circling. The Association of Undertakers (non-existent) are not perturbed that the number of deaths calling for their services is reduced with Keheliya R’s removal since now they could get timber very cheap to turn out coffins.