Pistol-packing mamma and spoilt political brats Hog Limelight

There were a few more shocks in store for Sri Lankans, still reeling after the devastation, destruction and murder caused by attacks in Ampara and Digana incited by racists of the worst possible kind. This was to see a damsel not in distress but in blind rage, pointing a pistol at a man while her husband assaulted him. The very worst kind of threatening intimidation, and a shame for all women that one of us, who is also a mother, should behave in this most un-seemingly, appalling manner. One wonders if she learned this from her late father in law, well known in the underworld or at the night club where it is rumoured she was employed before marriage. 

This incident was followed by media reports that the son of MP Keheliya Rambukwella had attacked another in a night club with a gun. This is not a surprise and certainly in keeping with his earlier similar exploits. Still another incident, which sent shock waves through the nation was an announcement by a sibling of the former ruler that he would contest the Presidency if it was offered to him and give up his American citizenship. We then heard that monk Ven. Gnanasara Thera who often represents the Bodu Bala Sena, and presents himself as the saviour of the Sinhala race and Buddhism, like the formers ruler’s sibling who has a resident visa in Japan. So both these so called saviours, who are rumoured to be good friends, have a refuge to vanish to, in case of trouble here, as they have residence in other lands. All these so mentioned are supporters of the former ruler. That this kind of thuggery and violence all happened after the recent local government elections, seem to me to be a foretaste of things to come if this lot ever got the chance to rule our nation again.   

This is an eye opener once again, a warning perhaps sent by the Almighty, to warn the Government to pull up its socks and act fast and soon against those wrongdoers of the past who are roaming the world, going back and forth to the countries of their domicile and others, while claiming to be saviours of our nation. The rebuke by the people at the recent election followed by these acts of violence and statements of one sort or another, must not only open the eyes of the government but also those of the people. So to think hard before they vote. Do any of us seriously want a return to those horrific years of murders, violence, rampant corruption,family bandyism, rule of horror, white vans that were the trade mark of the Rajapakse years?   

Ranil Wickremesinghe as a politician and as a man, is made of stuff bred in the bone,which money cannot buy, that is a hall mark of his stance, through both the mountains and the valleys of his political life

It is also a reminder to those who sit in the government enjoying the perks and privileges of power,while publicly going on media in diatribes of verbal diarrhoea on changing the UNP Leadership, criticizing the choice of senior Ministers on the National list who were there to support the party in the hard times when their critics were enjoying privileges of being in the former government,or laughing at the reshuffle of the cabinet. Today there is no room for those who claim their right to high places because of family names. Those of my generation continue to respect and appreciate our former great Leaders. But the new generation that has emerged today, doesn’t know or don’t want to know about them.

There is thus no place for legacies and dynasties in politics today. The voters want deeds not words, and resent those who try to ride piggy back on family names, trying hard to thrive on the reflected glory of those greats of the past. Some of these critics were on the other side, deserted the party at the worst times and returned to the fold when they knew victory was round the corner in 2015. They have no right whatsoever, to ask for changes in the Party Leadership or to talk about reshuffles. They should resign from their posts. That would be the honourable thing to do. But unfortunately the word honour has lost its meaning today. There are many young people in the UNP today, who have stood with the party through the lean times, who have because of their loyalty to the party, through ‘the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune’ earned the right to make suggestions about structural changes in the party. But this too should be done within the party, not voiced to the media. 

Those who want publicity at any cost, not caring about the party, as they were not there right through, continue to abuse the freedom they have got after the change of government. Those who shout loud and most often now, taking every opportunity to get publicity,were deaf and blind, burying their heads like ostriches in the sand, to all the atrocities committed by the former ruler, when they were part of his team. They didn’t dare to speak out and continued unashamed in that regime,using all perks and privileges given to them. Their memories of this time remind me of Kylie Minogue’s skirts, they are way, way too short! 

There is thus no place for legacies and dynasties in politics today. The voters want deeds not words, and resent those who try to ride piggy back on family names, trying hard to thrive on the reflected glory of those greats of the past

They are taking full advantage of the freedom we have now, because we have a Gentleman as the UNP leader, whoever resorted to this kind of criticism of the former ruler when on that side, would have been dealt with in the way that others who dared to criticize him were dealt with. They may not have even lived to tell the tale! Ranil Wickremesinghe as a politician and as a man, is made of stuff bred in the bone,which money cannot buy, that is a hall mark of his stance, through both the mountains and the valleys of his political life. No-one except Jesus Christ on the cross has been attacked in this slanderous fashion.   

This incident was followed by media reports that the son of MP Keheliya Rambukwella had attacked another in a night club with a gun. This is not a surprise and certainly in keeping with his earlier similar exploits

‘Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it’s the courage to continue that counts’   

Winston Churchill