“GONE TO JOHN BAAS!”

 

From time immemorial, Sri Lankans have been very familiar with the phrase “ Gone to John Baas!” whenever something goes wrong drastically, although it is of unknown origin.

However, having recently seen the antics of one senior cabinet member of the Yahapaalana government, one could be excused for thinking that this particular person is none other than the one who had been referred to as the original “John Baas”.

The recent incident where this particular Minister was seen by all and sundry over television screens screaming and even uttering unprintable words at some journalists who were only doing their job in providing information to the public, is indeed deplorable by any standard.  In fact, this is not the first instance of this minister behaving in such indecent manner in public.  It is really tragic if not funny when one considers that the subject of Christian affairs comes under this minister : very Un-Christian-like and an insult to the religion as well.

The main partner of the Yahapaalana government, the UNP, was making such a ha-ho about the palace joker aka Dutugemunu-incarnate in the previous government who behaved in an uncontrollable manner in public.  Unfortunately, the very same UNP has now come up with their own version of a palace joker in the form of this particular ageing minister and one wonders if such a joker is an integral part of any government in order to provide free entertainment to the long suffering members of the public.  Perhaps this is a tradition which dates back to the time of the ancient Sinhala Kings who kept clowns and jokers to keep them in good spirits.

But, we the public, are definitely not amused.