These days there are massive protests going on not only by the government but also by the opposition with regard to the appointment of a UN panel. The government members are threatening that leave alone the United Nations, no country in the world will be allowed to poke their fingers into internal affairs of Sri Lanka.
The opposition is also crying that the UN does not have powers to appoint such a panel.
The Foreign Minister and other influential ministers of the government are threatening that none of the members of this UN panel will be allowed to set foot on Sri Lanka.
And so, those sitting in the public Gallery are shouting Hoorahs and singing Hosannas, and clapping at this display of bravado by our politicians.
So, now everybody is happy. That’s the end of the matter. Or. at least that’s what they all think.
But nobody bothers to look into the origins of this problem. Nobody wants to study how past instances of a similar nature had been handled by those in charge. And nobody even thinks of learning any lessons from the past.
There is one thing that everybody should pay attention to in this instance. That is the fact that nobody could initiate legal action against Sri Lanka in any International War Tribunal. If such a thing is to be feasible, Sri Lanka should have entered into and signed a convention to accept its contents. Although such a Convention had been presented to Sri Lanka in the year 2003, Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe who was the Prime Minister at that time had wisely refused to sign it.
At that time, those advocates of human rights who were in the opposition saw this act as a violation of human rights and isolation of the country from the international community. But Mr. Wickremasinghe did not budge an inch and refused to sign that convention. Therefore, no one has a right to file legal action against Sri Lanka in a War Tribunal now.
But since, the USA has signed this convention, it is possible for American citizens to be brought before such a tribunal. The government says Sarath Fonseka is an American citizen. The opposition says Gotabhaya Rajapakse is an American citizen. If these claims are true, then these are the people who should be afraid of going before a War Tribunal.
Therefore, it is clear that this talk of someone summoning Sri Lankans to go before a War Tribunal is pure imagination in the minds of the government, just to draw a red herring and to earn kudos from the public. So these protests about the UN Panel are also just a magic show aimed at satisfying the Gallery.
During the latter part of the eighties, the United Nations was initiating an investigation into human rights in Sri Lanka in response to a petition filed by the then opposition member Mahinda Rajapakse. At that time, what President Premadasa did was to send Ranil Wikremasinghe to USA as his personal emissary. Whilst in USA, Mr. Wickremasinghe invited the members of Human Rights organizations and the American Congress to visit Sri Lanka to see for themselves the actual situation. Also, the government at that time facilitated such visits by extending all due courtesies to them.
After visiting the country and getting a first hand knowledge of the situation, these members reported back to the United Nations that the actual situation in Sri Lanka was not so bad as Mahinda Rajapakse had complained and therefore, there was no need to appoint any investigative commissions.
It is indeed poetic justice that Mahinda Rajapakse who at that time went after the UN begging for investigative commisisons to be appointed to look into human rights violations in Sri Lanka; has to now shy away from facing such commissions himself.
If Mahinda Rajapakse wants to avoid facing such commissions, all he has to do is to do what President Premadasa wisely did at that time.
Otherwise, issuing threats to the UN and declaring that members of the panel will not be allowed to set foot in Sri Lanka is not going to take us anywhere and will only result in getting the country into a worse situation as far as the world body is concerned.
Because, although those members may not be allowed to come to Sri Lanka, the government might not be able to stop people who want to give evidence from going out of the country to other venues in order to do so.
So, at least now, what the government should do is not to play to the Gallery with its foolish acts but to act intelligently and diplomatically following the precedents.
What the Government has forgotten or deliberately ignored is that not everybody likes to sit in the Gallery and enjoy cheap shows and there are other people too who sit in Balconies and other classes, and observe such foolish acts with much disdain.
Monday, 5 July 2010
Sunday, 4 July 2010
MONKEY TRICKS
In Sinhala literature of yore, there is a very interesting story of a monkey.
This particular monkey was very loyal to his King and was even prepared to sacrifice his life for the King.
But, alas, he was only a Monkey!
One day as the King was sleeping soundly, a fly who came from nowhere started to disturb the king’s slumber. The monkey, due to his sheer dedication to the King, thought that the fly was going to disturb the king’s royal sleep, took the King’s sword, and stuck. The fly, of course, flew away. But, the King died instantly due to injuries from the sword.
Unfortunately, thanks to the monkey brain, the King went into eternal slumber.
This story is well known to politicians of Sri Lanka.
But, what is unfortunate is that these politicians still depend on monkeys. And continue to take advice from monkeys and get cheated by monkeys. And finally, destroy their whole political careers by following advice from monkeys.
Chandrika Bandaranaike came into political field when no one expected it. Within a matter of a few months, she succeeded in becoming a Chief Minister, Prime Minister and finally the President, due to “Chandrika Attraction” which was spreading all over the country.
But, after a short period of 7-8 years, she started to lose that charisma. Currently, she has just become a non-entity as far as Sri Lankans are concerned, just being a name only and not as a character who rode the highest echelons of the country.
This happened to her because she took advice from the monkeys who were surrounding her. Finally, the monkeys prospered whilst Chandrika’s political life ended with the monkey’s sword.
These are very good lessons for everybody.
Today, what is happening to the government as well as the opposition is the same. The main opposition is in disarray with members washing their dirty linen in public even going to the extent of ignoring Lord Buddha’s wise words of not to take house fires out of one’s own house.
When such unfortunate things happen, the government controlled media is putting more fuel into the fire and make merry with headlines over headlines in their newspapers and increasing their profit margins.
Why did this happen to the Opposition. It can be summarised in just one sentence: due to taking advice from monkeys. Especially, the influential monkeys surrounding the leaders of the opposition parties.
But unfortunately, these leaders of the opposition are so naive that they cannot see the damages being inflicted by these monkeys to their reputations and their carreers due to their blind faith in monkeys.
Therefore, they carry on merrily until the monkeys kill them with a big blow from the sword.
Not only the opposition, the situation with the government is also the same.
President Mahinda Rajapakse had the golden opportunity, after the war victory, to unite the whole country and march towards real development coupled with a new political culture.
But the monkeys surrounding him did not allow him to do so.
What really happened is unfortunate in that there have been more and more internal and external divisons due to advice from monkeys.
Even the opportunity which presented itself at the first commemoration of war victory for reconciliation had been marred by the President’s speech which contained certain ideas engineered by these very same monkeys.
As pointed out by well wishers, if the President fails to look afresh at the problems facing the people and lead the country on a new path, it will be so unfortunate that neither the President nor the people would even be able to enjoy the fruits of the well-earned war victory.
It would definitely do well for the politicians on both sides of the divide to shun these monkeys and safeguard their political lives from their monkey tricks.
This particular monkey was very loyal to his King and was even prepared to sacrifice his life for the King.
But, alas, he was only a Monkey!
One day as the King was sleeping soundly, a fly who came from nowhere started to disturb the king’s slumber. The monkey, due to his sheer dedication to the King, thought that the fly was going to disturb the king’s royal sleep, took the King’s sword, and stuck. The fly, of course, flew away. But, the King died instantly due to injuries from the sword.
Unfortunately, thanks to the monkey brain, the King went into eternal slumber.
This story is well known to politicians of Sri Lanka.
But, what is unfortunate is that these politicians still depend on monkeys. And continue to take advice from monkeys and get cheated by monkeys. And finally, destroy their whole political careers by following advice from monkeys.
Chandrika Bandaranaike came into political field when no one expected it. Within a matter of a few months, she succeeded in becoming a Chief Minister, Prime Minister and finally the President, due to “Chandrika Attraction” which was spreading all over the country.
But, after a short period of 7-8 years, she started to lose that charisma. Currently, she has just become a non-entity as far as Sri Lankans are concerned, just being a name only and not as a character who rode the highest echelons of the country.
This happened to her because she took advice from the monkeys who were surrounding her. Finally, the monkeys prospered whilst Chandrika’s political life ended with the monkey’s sword.
These are very good lessons for everybody.
Today, what is happening to the government as well as the opposition is the same. The main opposition is in disarray with members washing their dirty linen in public even going to the extent of ignoring Lord Buddha’s wise words of not to take house fires out of one’s own house.
When such unfortunate things happen, the government controlled media is putting more fuel into the fire and make merry with headlines over headlines in their newspapers and increasing their profit margins.
Why did this happen to the Opposition. It can be summarised in just one sentence: due to taking advice from monkeys. Especially, the influential monkeys surrounding the leaders of the opposition parties.
But unfortunately, these leaders of the opposition are so naive that they cannot see the damages being inflicted by these monkeys to their reputations and their carreers due to their blind faith in monkeys.
Therefore, they carry on merrily until the monkeys kill them with a big blow from the sword.
Not only the opposition, the situation with the government is also the same.
President Mahinda Rajapakse had the golden opportunity, after the war victory, to unite the whole country and march towards real development coupled with a new political culture.
But the monkeys surrounding him did not allow him to do so.
What really happened is unfortunate in that there have been more and more internal and external divisons due to advice from monkeys.
Even the opportunity which presented itself at the first commemoration of war victory for reconciliation had been marred by the President’s speech which contained certain ideas engineered by these very same monkeys.
As pointed out by well wishers, if the President fails to look afresh at the problems facing the people and lead the country on a new path, it will be so unfortunate that neither the President nor the people would even be able to enjoy the fruits of the well-earned war victory.
It would definitely do well for the politicians on both sides of the divide to shun these monkeys and safeguard their political lives from their monkey tricks.
BUDGET BLUES
The people had high hopes for the 2010 Budget. It was during the last Presidential Elections that the President promised to increase the salaries of public servants.
It was also during the same Presidential elections that a slew of promises were given to take a number of steps to reduce the high cost of living.
When nothing happened even after the Presidential elections and when the people were eagerly waiting for fulfilment of those promises, the government yet again promised that all those relief measures would be announced in the forthcoming budget for 2010.
Even before the Budget, the prices of many essential items went skyrocketting. And there were hints in the government controlled media that relief is definitely on way for the consumers who are suffering due to high prices of food items.
But a few independent media were instrumental in letting the public know that whatever it says, the government will be forced to prepare the next Budget as per the dictates of the IMF. And obviously, the government controlled media never mentioned this fact.
The controlled media then started giving massive headlines in their newspapers saying that the Government was not prepared to “betray the country for a few more dollars by agreeing to the unjustified terms of the international community”.
Due to these headlines and the various speeches of the President and the cabinet, the unsuspecting people in Sri Lanka truly believed that the “proud father” i.e. the President would this time prepare a people-friendly budget for “his children” in the country.
Therefore, no one bothered to read through the IMF announcement of 21st May. Actually, the people thought why listen to “foreign uncles” when their own “Father” says things would be alright for them.
This is what the IMF said: The 2010 Budget of the government which aims at reducing the recurrent expenditure and considerably reducing the budget gap, would be presented to the Parliament soon.
Of couse, the government controlled media and other faithful followers in the media, and the general public did not even care to give any thought to that statement from the IMF – since when the “Father” promises something, why listen to “uncles”.
Then the IMF issued another statement on June 28th. It said: The strict implementatioin of this budget would result in revision of taxes and reduction in recurrent expenditure for the period under review, by giving careful consideration to the lapses which occurred in the past financial management.
The IMF statement obviously gave away the budget secrets in advance by clouding it in economic jargon that there will be no relief for the consumers in this budget and instead there will be more taxes and reduction in recurrent expenditure.
It did not stop at that. The IMF issued another statement concerning the Budget for the year 2011.
There will be amendments to tax concessions, increase in excise taxes, expansion of VAT and Income Taxes as part of the Budget for 2011.
In this background, the Minister of Finance (i.e. the President) did not even come to the Parliament to present the Budget speech.
Not only that, he was not even present in the country as he knew very well who the real architect of the Budget was.
But the sad thing is people like Wimal Weerawansa and Champika Ranawaka, who event went to the extent of demonstrating and protesting in front the IMF offices (remember the pledge to “unplug” ?), and those government controlled media, did not know who the real architect of the budget was – or pretended to be so.
So, no wonder the ordinary people were also in the dark as to the true origins of this Budget.
But, those in the know are aware that the real Father of this budget is a foreign Uncle !.
It was also during the same Presidential elections that a slew of promises were given to take a number of steps to reduce the high cost of living.
When nothing happened even after the Presidential elections and when the people were eagerly waiting for fulfilment of those promises, the government yet again promised that all those relief measures would be announced in the forthcoming budget for 2010.
Even before the Budget, the prices of many essential items went skyrocketting. And there were hints in the government controlled media that relief is definitely on way for the consumers who are suffering due to high prices of food items.
But a few independent media were instrumental in letting the public know that whatever it says, the government will be forced to prepare the next Budget as per the dictates of the IMF. And obviously, the government controlled media never mentioned this fact.
The controlled media then started giving massive headlines in their newspapers saying that the Government was not prepared to “betray the country for a few more dollars by agreeing to the unjustified terms of the international community”.
Due to these headlines and the various speeches of the President and the cabinet, the unsuspecting people in Sri Lanka truly believed that the “proud father” i.e. the President would this time prepare a people-friendly budget for “his children” in the country.
Therefore, no one bothered to read through the IMF announcement of 21st May. Actually, the people thought why listen to “foreign uncles” when their own “Father” says things would be alright for them.
This is what the IMF said: The 2010 Budget of the government which aims at reducing the recurrent expenditure and considerably reducing the budget gap, would be presented to the Parliament soon.
Of couse, the government controlled media and other faithful followers in the media, and the general public did not even care to give any thought to that statement from the IMF – since when the “Father” promises something, why listen to “uncles”.
Then the IMF issued another statement on June 28th. It said: The strict implementatioin of this budget would result in revision of taxes and reduction in recurrent expenditure for the period under review, by giving careful consideration to the lapses which occurred in the past financial management.
The IMF statement obviously gave away the budget secrets in advance by clouding it in economic jargon that there will be no relief for the consumers in this budget and instead there will be more taxes and reduction in recurrent expenditure.
It did not stop at that. The IMF issued another statement concerning the Budget for the year 2011.
There will be amendments to tax concessions, increase in excise taxes, expansion of VAT and Income Taxes as part of the Budget for 2011.
In this background, the Minister of Finance (i.e. the President) did not even come to the Parliament to present the Budget speech.
Not only that, he was not even present in the country as he knew very well who the real architect of the Budget was.
But the sad thing is people like Wimal Weerawansa and Champika Ranawaka, who event went to the extent of demonstrating and protesting in front the IMF offices (remember the pledge to “unplug” ?), and those government controlled media, did not know who the real architect of the budget was – or pretended to be so.
So, no wonder the ordinary people were also in the dark as to the true origins of this Budget.
But, those in the know are aware that the real Father of this budget is a foreign Uncle !.
Monday, 1 March 2010
SJ & SJ (Shameless Jokers)
Arjuna Ranatunge was a “king” in the cricket field. He not only contributed heavily to the less experienced Sri Lankan cricket team to win mathes, but also brought great glory to the whole country by winning the Cricket World Cup. Those great victories on cricket field were a real consolation to the war weary public in Sri Lanka at that time. That Arjuna, who was a great pride to all of us, then fell to a trap laid by the then President, Chandrika Bandaranaike, and entered politics. After 6 years of doing politics, it is a pity to look at the sorry status he is currently in today.
He is now merely a candidate seeking re-election from a group belonging to the JVP.
There is no guarantee that he will win in the forthcoming election. So this is how a great hero in the cricket field ended up: as a political refugee.
Now it is Sanath Jayasuriya’s turn. And Susanthika Jayasinghe’s turn. Commonly known as SJ & SJ. It is their turn now to suffer the same humiliation as Arjuna did.
It is their turn to be the laughing stock of the public who had been keeping them on a high pedestal.
What an ordinary person cannot understand is, why a person of the calibre of Sanath Jayasuriya who had earned kudos internationally and in the process earned substantial amounts of money, should get into the murky field of politics. Is it to earn more money as the other politicians usually do. Or is it to become the President of the country one day?
Let us then analyse independently the reasons for such personalities to get into politics.
This type of “stars” always think of what is going to happen to them when they retire from their fields. They have already become VIPs in the country, so in a way they cannot go and mingle with the ordinary folk on road sides or go about buying their grocery. Because they are special people. In countries like USA, such retired sportsmen go and play Golf with their contemporaries or take up jobs as commentators on TV and Radio. Or else, start a sports academy with their own money to coach poor students. Or write a book.
But, our guys are incapable of doing any of these. So, the best thing they could do is to get into Politics: especially in a country like Sri Lanka, politics is the only “profession” (if one could call it that) where no basic qualification or experience in any field is required. One only needs to look at all sorts of actors and actresses choosing to enter politics when they are at the tail-end of their careers.
They feel that they cannot behave like ordinary citizens because they are “stars” It is the ordinary sports lovers and spectators who made them in to “stars”. They, therefore, feel that they should not be second to the youngsters who enter their particular fields as new comers. That’s exactly why cricketers like Sanath Jayasuriya still try to hang on in the team – if not through the selection board, then through presidential directives!.
Generally, parents and elders say that youngsters should take over from them when they become old. But, in the case of these stars like Sanath and Susanthika, they never think like that and dread even to think along those lines, and still try to hang on to their particular positions in their chosen fields. According to their theories, even though the flesh is weak, the mind is willing !
It is this mentality of the “stars” that crooked politicians like Chandrika and Mahinda take advantage of. The reason being that with such a mentality, they easilly fall prey to the machinations of corrupt politicians. These politicians also know that if such “stars” win elections and go to the parliament, it is a very easy thing to control them as they do not know any “poli-tricks” and also they have no strong base in their political parties.
It is really funny that members of parliament are known as “law makers” . One wonders what legislative knowledge such uneducated “stars” have to function as law makers. Having a bunch of such jokers in the parliament is a great boon to the experienced politicians to take everybody for a right royal ride, while at the same time enjoying all the luxuries and making loads of money. While this goes on, all what the ordinary man and woman who voted them into power can do is to gaze at the sky to see the “stars”
One could only think of Sanath and Susanthika as those who betrayed the adulation of the general public for their own personal benefit.
And with such shameless acts, they even betrayed the souls of those who adulated them as “stars”.
He is now merely a candidate seeking re-election from a group belonging to the JVP.
There is no guarantee that he will win in the forthcoming election. So this is how a great hero in the cricket field ended up: as a political refugee.
Now it is Sanath Jayasuriya’s turn. And Susanthika Jayasinghe’s turn. Commonly known as SJ & SJ. It is their turn now to suffer the same humiliation as Arjuna did.
It is their turn to be the laughing stock of the public who had been keeping them on a high pedestal.
What an ordinary person cannot understand is, why a person of the calibre of Sanath Jayasuriya who had earned kudos internationally and in the process earned substantial amounts of money, should get into the murky field of politics. Is it to earn more money as the other politicians usually do. Or is it to become the President of the country one day?
Let us then analyse independently the reasons for such personalities to get into politics.
This type of “stars” always think of what is going to happen to them when they retire from their fields. They have already become VIPs in the country, so in a way they cannot go and mingle with the ordinary folk on road sides or go about buying their grocery. Because they are special people. In countries like USA, such retired sportsmen go and play Golf with their contemporaries or take up jobs as commentators on TV and Radio. Or else, start a sports academy with their own money to coach poor students. Or write a book.
But, our guys are incapable of doing any of these. So, the best thing they could do is to get into Politics: especially in a country like Sri Lanka, politics is the only “profession” (if one could call it that) where no basic qualification or experience in any field is required. One only needs to look at all sorts of actors and actresses choosing to enter politics when they are at the tail-end of their careers.
They feel that they cannot behave like ordinary citizens because they are “stars” It is the ordinary sports lovers and spectators who made them in to “stars”. They, therefore, feel that they should not be second to the youngsters who enter their particular fields as new comers. That’s exactly why cricketers like Sanath Jayasuriya still try to hang on in the team – if not through the selection board, then through presidential directives!.
Generally, parents and elders say that youngsters should take over from them when they become old. But, in the case of these stars like Sanath and Susanthika, they never think like that and dread even to think along those lines, and still try to hang on to their particular positions in their chosen fields. According to their theories, even though the flesh is weak, the mind is willing !
It is this mentality of the “stars” that crooked politicians like Chandrika and Mahinda take advantage of. The reason being that with such a mentality, they easilly fall prey to the machinations of corrupt politicians. These politicians also know that if such “stars” win elections and go to the parliament, it is a very easy thing to control them as they do not know any “poli-tricks” and also they have no strong base in their political parties.
It is really funny that members of parliament are known as “law makers” . One wonders what legislative knowledge such uneducated “stars” have to function as law makers. Having a bunch of such jokers in the parliament is a great boon to the experienced politicians to take everybody for a right royal ride, while at the same time enjoying all the luxuries and making loads of money. While this goes on, all what the ordinary man and woman who voted them into power can do is to gaze at the sky to see the “stars”
One could only think of Sanath and Susanthika as those who betrayed the adulation of the general public for their own personal benefit.
And with such shameless acts, they even betrayed the souls of those who adulated them as “stars”.
Sunday, 27 December 2009
POWER CORRUPTS
“ A Court in Pakistan allows investigation into bribery allegations levelled against President Sardari”
“Swarnavahini says TV station is not sold to a Rajapakse”
“Rajapakse Brothers looking to acquire coconut estates in Kurunegala”
Sri Lanka has fallen into 97th place among the most corrupt nations in the world.
Back in 2004, we occupied 67th place among the most corrupt nations globally. So, now we can imagine to what depths we have fallen in a matter of 5 years: down by 30 places on the scale.
Although economists warned that the Rajapakse Brothers have cornered 70% of the country’s economy, the ordinary man in the street never understood the seriousness of this charge. Same way, they never took serious note of the allegation that the Rajapakse brothers had shares in the American Stock market. The ordinary man also never completely understood it when there were stories that the Rajapakses had an Aston Martin car. Most probably, the public must have thought that Aston Martin is also another motor vehicle like Toyota.
Also, when it was pointed out that most of the country’s wealth is being siphoned off by the Rajapakse brothers, still the people never understood its seriousness.
All this because the common man did not have a good understanding about the 70% of the economy and about the American stock market.
The other reason is that the people were only concentrating about the war. They thought if the war is successfully executed, then there is no need to worry about other matters. They may have thought that if the war is won, even if the Rajapakses gulp down the whole country’s wealth, it does not matter much to them. So, the Rajapakses too merrily carried on knowing very well that the public are only looking at the war situation.
But, now, things are different. People feel the unbearable cost of living and they are slowly realising that war is not the only reason for this, and that there is massive corruption in the country.
From one hand, because of Nimal Siripala’s corrupt activities, people get medicines with broken pieces of glasses.
On another hand, about 60% of the country’s transportation expenses, goes to the government by way of taxes.
On the other hand, no one is able to find out what really happens to the massive loans taken by the government.
In such a sorry situation, when someone says that Swarnavahini Television station is being bought by a Rajapakse Brother, then people start opening their eyes and take note. That is why Swarnahavini itself had to announce that they are not selliing their TV station.
The reality is now different. If anyone says that Rajapakses have robbed this or that, then people start believing it. That is how the public opinion is moulded. First the middle class educated people start probing into these allegations to establish their veracity. Thereafter, this information is filtered down to the working classes. When this happens, the common man starts to believe there is corruption going on in the government.
This is what is happening to Rajapakses now. Some people might remember Wimal Weerawansa’s charge during Ranil’s short-lived government that Ranil was going to sell Sigiriya to some foreigners. People even started believing that canard at that time. This is what has happened to Rajapakse’s now.
Corruption is like a Boomerang.
It is possible to indulge in corruption for some time. But when it comes into public domain, such ill-gotten wealth itself starts to come back as a Boomerang to hit the perpetrator.
That’s what has happened to Pakistan’s President, Sardari, now. He was involved in so much corruption and amassed ill-gotten money when his wife was the Prime Minister. Now, the judicial system which he himself helped to establish, has allowed legal steps to be taken against his misdemeanours. There is a mass agitation demanding his resignation from the office of President. That is how natural justice works.
That is the current situation in Pakistan which has a standing of 137 among the most corrupted nations in the world. And who is to say that Sri Lanka which is in the 97th place, will not face such a situation as time goes on.
For that to happen what his required is a free media and an independent judicial system.
We hope and pray that we will be blessed with such a free media and a judicial system.
Power corrupts absolutely, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
“Swarnavahini says TV station is not sold to a Rajapakse”
“Rajapakse Brothers looking to acquire coconut estates in Kurunegala”
Sri Lanka has fallen into 97th place among the most corrupt nations in the world.
Back in 2004, we occupied 67th place among the most corrupt nations globally. So, now we can imagine to what depths we have fallen in a matter of 5 years: down by 30 places on the scale.
Although economists warned that the Rajapakse Brothers have cornered 70% of the country’s economy, the ordinary man in the street never understood the seriousness of this charge. Same way, they never took serious note of the allegation that the Rajapakse brothers had shares in the American Stock market. The ordinary man also never completely understood it when there were stories that the Rajapakses had an Aston Martin car. Most probably, the public must have thought that Aston Martin is also another motor vehicle like Toyota.
Also, when it was pointed out that most of the country’s wealth is being siphoned off by the Rajapakse brothers, still the people never understood its seriousness.
All this because the common man did not have a good understanding about the 70% of the economy and about the American stock market.
The other reason is that the people were only concentrating about the war. They thought if the war is successfully executed, then there is no need to worry about other matters. They may have thought that if the war is won, even if the Rajapakses gulp down the whole country’s wealth, it does not matter much to them. So, the Rajapakses too merrily carried on knowing very well that the public are only looking at the war situation.
But, now, things are different. People feel the unbearable cost of living and they are slowly realising that war is not the only reason for this, and that there is massive corruption in the country.
From one hand, because of Nimal Siripala’s corrupt activities, people get medicines with broken pieces of glasses.
On another hand, about 60% of the country’s transportation expenses, goes to the government by way of taxes.
On the other hand, no one is able to find out what really happens to the massive loans taken by the government.
In such a sorry situation, when someone says that Swarnavahini Television station is being bought by a Rajapakse Brother, then people start opening their eyes and take note. That is why Swarnahavini itself had to announce that they are not selliing their TV station.
The reality is now different. If anyone says that Rajapakses have robbed this or that, then people start believing it. That is how the public opinion is moulded. First the middle class educated people start probing into these allegations to establish their veracity. Thereafter, this information is filtered down to the working classes. When this happens, the common man starts to believe there is corruption going on in the government.
This is what is happening to Rajapakses now. Some people might remember Wimal Weerawansa’s charge during Ranil’s short-lived government that Ranil was going to sell Sigiriya to some foreigners. People even started believing that canard at that time. This is what has happened to Rajapakse’s now.
Corruption is like a Boomerang.
It is possible to indulge in corruption for some time. But when it comes into public domain, such ill-gotten wealth itself starts to come back as a Boomerang to hit the perpetrator.
That’s what has happened to Pakistan’s President, Sardari, now. He was involved in so much corruption and amassed ill-gotten money when his wife was the Prime Minister. Now, the judicial system which he himself helped to establish, has allowed legal steps to be taken against his misdemeanours. There is a mass agitation demanding his resignation from the office of President. That is how natural justice works.
That is the current situation in Pakistan which has a standing of 137 among the most corrupted nations in the world. And who is to say that Sri Lanka which is in the 97th place, will not face such a situation as time goes on.
For that to happen what his required is a free media and an independent judicial system.
We hope and pray that we will be blessed with such a free media and a judicial system.
Power corrupts absolutely, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
" A TOMORROW FOR THE YOUTH"
These days one is able to see a considerable number of Sri Lankan artistes and sportsmen appearing in many advertisements over the TV and Radio.
The sole aim of these advertisements, organised and paid for by the voluntary organization called “Tharunyata Hetak” ( A tomorrow for the youth) is to urge the viewers and listeners to vote for Mahinda Rajapakse.
Any artist or sportsman in Sri Lanka has every right to make such an appeal and one should respect their decision.
But, the real story behind these advertisements is something else.
These advertising clips have been scripted, filmed, edited and produced by “Tharunyata Hetak” which is a voluntary organization.
This voluntary organisation has to foot the bills for the transport, accommodation, food and drinks etc. of the artistes who appear for these advertisements. Further this same organization is spending an amount of Rs. 8 million per day for the purpose of telecasting and broadcasting these advertisements. To date, the total sum spent by this organization for these advertising clips has exceeded Rs. 100 million.
Now, let us see what this organization is and from where it gets so much money.
The Chairman of this organization is Namal Rajapakse who is a son of the President Mahinda Rajapakse. His other son, Yositha, is a member of the Board of Directors of this organization.
The objective of this organization according to their official website is: “ To band together the youth of Sri Lanka in the name of peace, for their advancement“
They have openly said that with the above objective in mind, they solicit and receive funds from various public and private business organizations in the country and overseas.
A Director of this organization, when interviewed by a newspaper recently, has said that they prepare various project reports which are submitted to both public and private business organizations and those who accept those project reports donate various sums of money to the organization. Further, such donations are solicited through their website too.
But what is really happening, is something else.
Millions of rupees collected through donations purported to be used on “development of youth activities” is brazenly being spent on Mahinda Rajapakse’s election campaign.
Needless to say, production of advertisements for Mahinda Rajapakse’s election campaign does not fall withiin the objectives of this voluntary organization.
There is no way one can condone the use of such funds collected through donations from various business organizations here and abroad for the express purpose of the future development of local youth, being spent on the future welfare of their own family.
On the other hand, it is a shame that the so called artistes and sportsmen of this country take part in such activities without at least checking and finding out the real aim of this organization.
Some of these artistes now take part in press conferences to say that they did not charge anything for appearing in these advertisements. What one can deduce from these announcements is that the other majority of artists did in fact got paid for appearing in the advertisements.
It is a pity that those artistes who claim they did not charge for their appearances, fail to realise that that there are millions of rupees spent per day on producing and broadcasting these advertisements.
What a pity! Whither the youth of this country.
The ‘Tharunyata Hetak’ (“Tomorrow for youth”) of President’s son has become a ‘Thaththata Hetak – Horakamata potak’ (“A Tomorrow for my father and an avenue for me to loot”).
Reproduced below is a news item from Lanka E News of 22 December 2009, without comments !
Ayesha’s predicament with a Tharunyata Hetak leader
Lanka E News
2009-12-22 12.05 PM
A popular model faced quite a predicament during the party that was held at the Fingara Hotel following a dinner held for the artistes who participated in the Tharunyata Hetak advertisements organized by Namal Rajapaksa.The model, Ayesha, had been engaged in various amorous activities inside vehicle bearing number WP HE 9972 with a leader of the Tharunyata Hetak Organization when villagers in the area had started to attack the vehicle in protest.Ayesha had then been compelled to run out in her under garments. Finally, several Thuarnyata Hetak members had arrived in the scene in the vehicle bearing number 64-6764 and helped the two escape from the angry villagers.
The sole aim of these advertisements, organised and paid for by the voluntary organization called “Tharunyata Hetak” ( A tomorrow for the youth) is to urge the viewers and listeners to vote for Mahinda Rajapakse.
Any artist or sportsman in Sri Lanka has every right to make such an appeal and one should respect their decision.
But, the real story behind these advertisements is something else.
These advertising clips have been scripted, filmed, edited and produced by “Tharunyata Hetak” which is a voluntary organization.
This voluntary organisation has to foot the bills for the transport, accommodation, food and drinks etc. of the artistes who appear for these advertisements. Further this same organization is spending an amount of Rs. 8 million per day for the purpose of telecasting and broadcasting these advertisements. To date, the total sum spent by this organization for these advertising clips has exceeded Rs. 100 million.
Now, let us see what this organization is and from where it gets so much money.
The Chairman of this organization is Namal Rajapakse who is a son of the President Mahinda Rajapakse. His other son, Yositha, is a member of the Board of Directors of this organization.
The objective of this organization according to their official website is: “ To band together the youth of Sri Lanka in the name of peace, for their advancement“
They have openly said that with the above objective in mind, they solicit and receive funds from various public and private business organizations in the country and overseas.
A Director of this organization, when interviewed by a newspaper recently, has said that they prepare various project reports which are submitted to both public and private business organizations and those who accept those project reports donate various sums of money to the organization. Further, such donations are solicited through their website too.
But what is really happening, is something else.
Millions of rupees collected through donations purported to be used on “development of youth activities” is brazenly being spent on Mahinda Rajapakse’s election campaign.
Needless to say, production of advertisements for Mahinda Rajapakse’s election campaign does not fall withiin the objectives of this voluntary organization.
There is no way one can condone the use of such funds collected through donations from various business organizations here and abroad for the express purpose of the future development of local youth, being spent on the future welfare of their own family.
On the other hand, it is a shame that the so called artistes and sportsmen of this country take part in such activities without at least checking and finding out the real aim of this organization.
Some of these artistes now take part in press conferences to say that they did not charge anything for appearing in these advertisements. What one can deduce from these announcements is that the other majority of artists did in fact got paid for appearing in the advertisements.
It is a pity that those artistes who claim they did not charge for their appearances, fail to realise that that there are millions of rupees spent per day on producing and broadcasting these advertisements.
What a pity! Whither the youth of this country.
The ‘Tharunyata Hetak’ (“Tomorrow for youth”) of President’s son has become a ‘Thaththata Hetak – Horakamata potak’ (“A Tomorrow for my father and an avenue for me to loot”).
Reproduced below is a news item from Lanka E News of 22 December 2009, without comments !
Ayesha’s predicament with a Tharunyata Hetak leader
Lanka E News
2009-12-22 12.05 PM
A popular model faced quite a predicament during the party that was held at the Fingara Hotel following a dinner held for the artistes who participated in the Tharunyata Hetak advertisements organized by Namal Rajapaksa.The model, Ayesha, had been engaged in various amorous activities inside vehicle bearing number WP HE 9972 with a leader of the Tharunyata Hetak Organization when villagers in the area had started to attack the vehicle in protest.Ayesha had then been compelled to run out in her under garments. Finally, several Thuarnyata Hetak members had arrived in the scene in the vehicle bearing number 64-6764 and helped the two escape from the angry villagers.
Monday, 21 December 2009
The "LAST SUPPER"
WE have all heard of the “Last Supper” hosted by Jesus Christ.
However, during these election times, we get to hear of more popular “suppers” hosted by the chief occupant of the “King’s House” or the “Temple Trees”.
These “suppers” are a good example to show that today, the total expenses of the government’s election campaign are borne by the poor public. Upon announcement of the Presidential Elections, the President started this practice of inviting various sections of people to the Temple Trees and treating them as part of his re-election campaign. He has invited public officials, policemen, journalists, members of reconciliation boards, teachers and so on numbering more than 10,000 to his abode and after chairing what is called conferences and discussions, provided them with meals.
Each participant is provided with a packet of food, short-eats, a bottle of water, tea or soft drink costing around Rs. 800.- per head. In addition, for some other functions, foreign liqour such as whisky and beer is also provided. It is calculated that the total cost of this “Presidential Dan
Sela” * amounts to about Rs. 2 million per month. Further, for the purpose of holding these political seminars and meetings, an additional building has been constructed inside Temple Trees premises, by the Sri Lanka Ports Commission spending lakhs of rupees.
It is compulsory for the public servants to participate in these gatherings. Therefore, in order to safeguard their jobs, they creep into the Temple Trees, regardless of their political affiliations.
It is no secret that most of them are not happy when they return from these gatherings as they know these are political gatherings. The President, while holding these meetings and giving them a treat with a smiling face, is indirectly bribing them to vote for him.
The President, who speaks like a saint adhering to election rules, does in fact break all those rules by his actions. These gatherings are actually used to bribe the participants to get their votes directly and indirectly. The Elections Commissioner has advised the President’s secretary in writing that it is a violation of election rules for the President to invite and treat public servants after declaration of the presidential elections. The Commissione has further stated that it is illegal to spend public money to give treats to public servants during these election times.
Even prior to issue of these instructions by the Commissioner, there had been several complaints of the President inviting public officers for parties in his official residence and spending public funds for this purpose and on all such occasions, the Commissioner had remiinded the President’sl secretary of the election rules and the necessity to adhere to same. But, it is obvious that the President had conveniently ignored all those warnings.
The ordinary man in the country is now in a very bad shape as far as his living standard is concerned. Sri Lanka’s economy has gone down to such low levels hitherto unheard of. The country is about to lose the GSP+ facility as well. Even after 6 months from the conclusion of the war, the country is in the same adverse situation as far as its economy is concerned. Whilst the ordinary man is is in a hand to mouth existence, the President is merrily carrying on spending public money for his own high living and that of his family members while at the same time asking for votes for his re-election bid.
It is understood that a large hall capable of seating 5000 persons and costing millions of rupees is being constructed inside the Port facilities in Colombo. In addition to food expenses for those who are invited to the Temple Trees, there is also the additional expenditure for providing transportation to them in buses.
They have still not paid for the buses “hired” to bring in supporters for the recently held SLFP convention. Further there is an unpaid bill for Rs. 176 million for the use of National Television for advertising purposes of the President during the previous Presidential Election.
The President is openly using institutions which are required to be be indepenndent under the statutes, for his own election campaign. This is the very reason why the President has disregarded the implementation of the 17th Amendment to the Constitution which is aimed at making the government institutions independent entities.
The Election Commission has powers to stop misuse of movable and immovable property of government and semi-government organisations for election purposes. However, since the 17th amendment which establishes the Election Commission is still not in force, the Commissioner of Elections is presently vested with those powers under the Constitution.
From the day of proclamation of the presidential elections and until the conclusion of voting, it is prohibited for any candidate to use government property – movable or otherwise – and use helicopters etc. belonging to the government, for electioneering. Further the free use of government offices, buildings, holiday bungalows etc. belonging to the government is not allowed for election campaigning purposes by any candidate. Also, it is not allowed to transfer, promote, appoint any officers or staff including calling applications for new vacancies and holding of interviews, to government departments or semi government institutiions during election times. Further, the deployment of public servants for mobile services, exhibitions, opening ceremonies etc. of the government is not allowed during election times. However, in spite of all these rules and regulations, it is apparent that starting from the president himself down to his associates and minor staff, are openly flouting these rules in misusing government propertly for election propaganda.
However, not only the invitees but also the general public are very much averse to these treats at the Temple Trees. Also, it is quite apparent that all those who take part in these get-togethers are not necessarily supporters of the President’s political party. A fine example of this is the party given by the President to the local artistes the other day in Temple Trees which was attended by almost 2000 invitees. At this party given by the President, the artistes enjoyed expensive liquor and good food and went away but when they were invited by the convenor, to attend a meeting to support the president’s election campaign a few days later on another venue, only about 50 artistes participated.
Also, the policemen who were invited for a get-together were not completely happy with what had been provided to them. Further, around 1700 mediamen and journalists had been invited for another get-together a few days back. For the first time, mediation council officers had been invited for a get-together and it would not surprise anyone if judicial offers too were invited for such a get-together (“Dan Sela” ) in the Temple Trees.
At the moment, the President is inviting public officials in separate groups to the Temple Trees for get-togethers and indirectly canvassing them for votes at the expense of the general pubic. This can actually be termed as indirect bribing of government servants.
There are currently 62 types of various taxes in this country which the government is using to extract funds from the general public. It is from this money tken from the poor people of the country that the President and his extended family, members of parliament, ministers in the Jumbo Cabinet and all those who do long jumps from the opposition to the government side; are living luxurious lives.
The other day, the president’sl secretary had informed the Elections Commissioner that although the President was giving parties at his official residence, those are not paid for with public money. If that is the case, then the President must be an exemplary human being who brings funds from his home to feed the poor members of the public.
Some may say that even that is not a difficult thing to do, when one considers the amounts of money gained by the President and his family through so many shady deals of which the public is well aware.
What a noble deed it would be if the President continues to give free food and drinks to the general public even during the periods when there is no election.
But what really happens is that the people who enjoy free food and drinks given by the President during election times, have to starve until the next election comes around.
Note:*
(“Dan Sela” in Sinhalase, means an outlet providing free refreshments and food to weary pilgrims during mainly, Buddhist religious festivals)
However, during these election times, we get to hear of more popular “suppers” hosted by the chief occupant of the “King’s House” or the “Temple Trees”.
These “suppers” are a good example to show that today, the total expenses of the government’s election campaign are borne by the poor public. Upon announcement of the Presidential Elections, the President started this practice of inviting various sections of people to the Temple Trees and treating them as part of his re-election campaign. He has invited public officials, policemen, journalists, members of reconciliation boards, teachers and so on numbering more than 10,000 to his abode and after chairing what is called conferences and discussions, provided them with meals.
Each participant is provided with a packet of food, short-eats, a bottle of water, tea or soft drink costing around Rs. 800.- per head. In addition, for some other functions, foreign liqour such as whisky and beer is also provided. It is calculated that the total cost of this “Presidential Dan
Sela” * amounts to about Rs. 2 million per month. Further, for the purpose of holding these political seminars and meetings, an additional building has been constructed inside Temple Trees premises, by the Sri Lanka Ports Commission spending lakhs of rupees.
It is compulsory for the public servants to participate in these gatherings. Therefore, in order to safeguard their jobs, they creep into the Temple Trees, regardless of their political affiliations.
It is no secret that most of them are not happy when they return from these gatherings as they know these are political gatherings. The President, while holding these meetings and giving them a treat with a smiling face, is indirectly bribing them to vote for him.
The President, who speaks like a saint adhering to election rules, does in fact break all those rules by his actions. These gatherings are actually used to bribe the participants to get their votes directly and indirectly. The Elections Commissioner has advised the President’s secretary in writing that it is a violation of election rules for the President to invite and treat public servants after declaration of the presidential elections. The Commissione has further stated that it is illegal to spend public money to give treats to public servants during these election times.
Even prior to issue of these instructions by the Commissioner, there had been several complaints of the President inviting public officers for parties in his official residence and spending public funds for this purpose and on all such occasions, the Commissioner had remiinded the President’sl secretary of the election rules and the necessity to adhere to same. But, it is obvious that the President had conveniently ignored all those warnings.
The ordinary man in the country is now in a very bad shape as far as his living standard is concerned. Sri Lanka’s economy has gone down to such low levels hitherto unheard of. The country is about to lose the GSP+ facility as well. Even after 6 months from the conclusion of the war, the country is in the same adverse situation as far as its economy is concerned. Whilst the ordinary man is is in a hand to mouth existence, the President is merrily carrying on spending public money for his own high living and that of his family members while at the same time asking for votes for his re-election bid.
It is understood that a large hall capable of seating 5000 persons and costing millions of rupees is being constructed inside the Port facilities in Colombo. In addition to food expenses for those who are invited to the Temple Trees, there is also the additional expenditure for providing transportation to them in buses.
They have still not paid for the buses “hired” to bring in supporters for the recently held SLFP convention. Further there is an unpaid bill for Rs. 176 million for the use of National Television for advertising purposes of the President during the previous Presidential Election.
The President is openly using institutions which are required to be be indepenndent under the statutes, for his own election campaign. This is the very reason why the President has disregarded the implementation of the 17th Amendment to the Constitution which is aimed at making the government institutions independent entities.
The Election Commission has powers to stop misuse of movable and immovable property of government and semi-government organisations for election purposes. However, since the 17th amendment which establishes the Election Commission is still not in force, the Commissioner of Elections is presently vested with those powers under the Constitution.
From the day of proclamation of the presidential elections and until the conclusion of voting, it is prohibited for any candidate to use government property – movable or otherwise – and use helicopters etc. belonging to the government, for electioneering. Further the free use of government offices, buildings, holiday bungalows etc. belonging to the government is not allowed for election campaigning purposes by any candidate. Also, it is not allowed to transfer, promote, appoint any officers or staff including calling applications for new vacancies and holding of interviews, to government departments or semi government institutiions during election times. Further, the deployment of public servants for mobile services, exhibitions, opening ceremonies etc. of the government is not allowed during election times. However, in spite of all these rules and regulations, it is apparent that starting from the president himself down to his associates and minor staff, are openly flouting these rules in misusing government propertly for election propaganda.
However, not only the invitees but also the general public are very much averse to these treats at the Temple Trees. Also, it is quite apparent that all those who take part in these get-togethers are not necessarily supporters of the President’s political party. A fine example of this is the party given by the President to the local artistes the other day in Temple Trees which was attended by almost 2000 invitees. At this party given by the President, the artistes enjoyed expensive liquor and good food and went away but when they were invited by the convenor, to attend a meeting to support the president’s election campaign a few days later on another venue, only about 50 artistes participated.
Also, the policemen who were invited for a get-together were not completely happy with what had been provided to them. Further, around 1700 mediamen and journalists had been invited for another get-together a few days back. For the first time, mediation council officers had been invited for a get-together and it would not surprise anyone if judicial offers too were invited for such a get-together (“Dan Sela” ) in the Temple Trees.
At the moment, the President is inviting public officials in separate groups to the Temple Trees for get-togethers and indirectly canvassing them for votes at the expense of the general pubic. This can actually be termed as indirect bribing of government servants.
There are currently 62 types of various taxes in this country which the government is using to extract funds from the general public. It is from this money tken from the poor people of the country that the President and his extended family, members of parliament, ministers in the Jumbo Cabinet and all those who do long jumps from the opposition to the government side; are living luxurious lives.
The other day, the president’sl secretary had informed the Elections Commissioner that although the President was giving parties at his official residence, those are not paid for with public money. If that is the case, then the President must be an exemplary human being who brings funds from his home to feed the poor members of the public.
Some may say that even that is not a difficult thing to do, when one considers the amounts of money gained by the President and his family through so many shady deals of which the public is well aware.
What a noble deed it would be if the President continues to give free food and drinks to the general public even during the periods when there is no election.
But what really happens is that the people who enjoy free food and drinks given by the President during election times, have to starve until the next election comes around.
Note:*
(“Dan Sela” in Sinhalase, means an outlet providing free refreshments and food to weary pilgrims during mainly, Buddhist religious festivals)
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