STAR WORSHIP

The latest craze of the so called Class One "patriots" seem to be worshipping "stars" of another kind - young movie actresses.

One such nubile actress is enjoying all the spotlight currently down South to the exclusion of all those who had toiled for the governing party for quite some time. The special attention given to this actress by the highest in the land defies all logic. It is in fact a shame that some of the constituent partners of the UPFA whose daily mantra is to usher in a society based on the Dhamma are turning a convenient blind eye to these antics. And the deafening silence maintained by other hangers on who shout from the top of their voices about the virtues of our unspoilt culture is also rather puzzling. All these people appear to be mesmerized by the beauty (?) of the actress.

This episode more or less reflects a local version of the very popular soap opera "Bold and the Beautiful" which some of our viewers are definitely familiar with. Remember, Brook - Ridge and Ridge's father !

We have heard of numerous instances of South Indian movie actresses who are being virtually worshipped by their admirers even going to the extent of building temples in their names and offering poojas to their statues. Those, of course, one can ignore on the basis that such admirers are illiterate villagers who are mesmerised with their performances in the movies.

But, in a country reputed to be over 90% literate in Asia and where movie actors and actresses are not held in so much awe, this latest craze pioneered by none other than the highest in the land and part of his family is to say the least rather hilarious. One particular Minister from the South who ridiculed the UNP when it fielded an actor (Ranjan Ramanayake) and a former beauty queen (Rosy Senanayake) saying those are cheap shots and the actor was a parachutist from another city (beats me, because Sri Lanka is one country!) is now shamelessly keeping his mouth shut about this former beauty queen /actress who herself is a parachutist to the South. It is unfortunate we have to live among such shameless double-tongued people.

Those who matter will do their best to ensure victory for the young movie actress as it is one of the "pet" projects of the "Tharunyata Hetak" movement. So the question which naturally comes to mind is "Is this the Tomorrow projected for the Youth of Tomorrow". And would the first temple dedicated to a movie actress spring up in down South.