Features
One reference to Budget 2022; congratulations to a newspaper printer
Cass does not know enough to comment on budgets but one point she noted as given in headlines in the The Sunday Island of November 14 roused her approval plus ire. ‘Budget transfers ‘black’ profits of Perpetual Treasuries to govt. coffers’. Cheating must be avenged. However, to her this statement smacked of partisanship, punishing one financial offender who benefited stupendously by being favoured during the Yahapalana Government and reaped illicit gains. It has been mentioned that incorrect or cheating moves were made by the CB during the previous, regime too. But no going beyond the Yahapalana Government. Then she asks tremulously, fearing being axed, what about the recent sugar scam and some other; was it garlic or salt or what? And what about that Nadesan couple with a Rajapaksa half, mentioned one among the very few of this land revealed so far in the papers flying out of Pandora’s Box. The wealthy couple is in really high company with the likes of Putin and other bigwigs named. So, Sri Lanka may be a dot in the world, but it has made it to the Pandora Papers. Such is the corruption here! Glad the bond scam during the Yahapalana regime has to be paid for by illegal gains being acquired by the government, but it would have been laudatory if all or the largest scams perpetuated by others were also exposed and punished.
Sabry saves his post
A teeny weeny change of wording (sure only letter not spirit) in a contract or whatever and Minister of Justice, Ali Sabry, does not have to carry out his threat of resigning from the Cabinet over the resounding slap he received from the Prez appointing the yellow robed Gnanasara Thera as Head of the Task Force to thrash out One Country One Law business. Well, we lost our respect for this one Cabinet Minister whom we heartily approved of, even admired. He is educated, suave, handsome to boot and such a contrast physically, mentally, educationally and in manners to most others in the Cabinet. We thought here was one Minister who would carry out his threat. He did receive shameful treatment since he was totally unaware of the appointment to a post that comes completely within his portfolio. But no, he was placated or he placated himself and did not resign. Cass invariably sees the glass half full, so she boosts her righteous indignation with the consoling thought that one Minister of State the public can look up to, stays on in the Cabinet.
Congratulations on 40th anniversary
Cassandra congratulates The Island on its 40th anniversary which was on Tuesday 16 November. And thus a word of thanks to all newspapers that come off Upali Newspapers Ltd printing presses, particularly in Cass’ case the The Island and The Sunday Island. This is a remarkable achievement in Sri Lanka for a newspaper to live so long and impart the impression it will live on, in spite of obstacles and difficulties. As the chairperson, Lakmani Ratwatte Welgama notes in the 40th Anniversary supplement: “The Island was not started solely to cater to the people’s right to be informed. Promoting the national interest was also one of its main objectives. The reading public is appreciative of the manner in which The Island has safeguarded national interest in a country which engages with and is open to the rest of the world.”
Yes, it has maintained an even keel, balancing well between political parties and governments and giving the public unprejudiced, generally unslanted views and opinions, also pointing out lapses when necessary. We remember with gratitude the founder, Upali Wijewardena. His untimely death was one of the greatest losses to the country. It was said his plane nose-dived into the sea on his way home to Sri Lanka from a business trip to a South East Asian country, leaving no clues or traces whatsoever. Some however, would not accept this explanation. Another future leader, Gamini, who would really have led the country to peace, if not prosperity, was assassinated by the LTTE. This was during the regime of Premadasa Senior. Upali and Gamini were able to do so much good for the country, and poised to do so. That is the fate of this country, or was it Kuveni’s curse at work. This curse seems to be very busy nowadays!
As Cass mentioned earlier, the tone and slant of the newspapers that roll off the printing presses of Upali Newspapers Ltd., report news and views which are not strongly slanted to one race or one religion.
The fate of the s… ship
Cass gave only the first letter of the earned name of the Chinese ship carrying organic manure along with micro-organisms injurious to our soil. The Sinhala translation of that sobriquet, as heard pronounced by a monk, is much more telling. The ship navigated in mysterious ways across seas but finally came to Sri Lankan waters just south of the port of Colombo, determined to unload its unholy cargo in spite of a refusal backed by scientific test results. The arm of the Sri Lanka government seems to be twisted: A third scientific test is demanded. Cass hopes very fervently the ship won’t be allowed to unload its tonnes of s… manure. This is while conjecturing on the fate of our beloved country on Wednesday, November 17. The manure is from a Chinese company but the representative of the government of China here in Colombo, is moving strong in the matter. China has been benevolent to us and we have been more than welcoming. Are we unloading the cargo and distributing it too disregarding potential adverse results to precious agricultural land? Cass remembered how President Premadasa proclaimed Great Britain’s ambassador to Sri Lanka, David Gladstone, persona non grata merely because he made some remarks after visiting a polling booth during a general election. We were upstanding and not corrupt then.
On that note Cass says bye bye, hoping the ship with its organic manure intact would have moved back to China. Also, that some relief will be forthcoming from the soaring costs of bare essentials for mere existence, to us Ordinaries and thousands disadvantaged.