New Year celebrations… in Melbourne – The Island
The Sea of Troubles is inland, surrounded by the Indian Ocean, which will soon stir to send us its southwest monsoon winds. No sharp light of relief is perceptible in the mists and vapors of rain and people’s continuous cries of protest. But the hope lives on.
The people braved the torrential rains and scorching sun, renounced the usual national New Year routines and continued their efforts to send a strong, determined, sincere and unanimous message to the government. They even dared to retaliate because who knew what the cornered president would order. Heartfelt admiration and heartfelt gratitude are extended to all who protest and to those who help them with necessities. Most of them belong to the upper strata of society: professionals, academics and others; their clothes, their good dress, their sober demeanor and the absence of racial and religious divisions prove it. Foreigners participated in the demonstrations, both in sympathy and agreement, and expressed their admiration for the dedication of the demonstrators. The police are also to be appreciated. They showed courtesy and restraint, although strongly provoked by some protests, mainly those of university students. The very recent incident of the use of live ammunition is the exception.
There was always a hidden fear, underpinned by the Prez’s penchant for giving high posts to former members of the army, and an inherent mistrust, that the army would be called in to quell any uprising. Who knows if they were contacted but failed to oblige? We appreciate that since the protests, starting with the Pangiriwatte Road in Hirunika, were and are peaceful.
The whole country is caught in a dilemma. How is this going to unfold? We only hope peacefully with great changes made and without violence. The call went from Go Home to Go to Jail and Return Stolen Wealth. Very correct; justified. Simply returning home peacefully is not enough for the bloodsuckers who have dried up the country and sent millions to starvation and deprivation. The most dishonored is the kurrakan satakaya who was thrown over the shoulder with pride and elitism and found himself in GoGotagama draped around trash bags. What a fall! Here we admit that the Prez did not follow the sataka tendency. It makes one wonder if, without brothers, he would have at least steered the ship of state without it sinking or bowing, though his glorious panoramas of splendor were ridiculous! The most offensive brother seems to be the ancestor of the phrase “Kaputas takes off and hits the plane” which echoes derisively around the world. There was a tall, sinister-looking Kaputa recently among protesters on Galle Face Green and vehicle horns are sounding at the kak kak kaputa kak kak refrain. A friend of Cassandra’s – a retired professional – went alone to check out the GFG and stayed there all day. “People all over the island and the races were so friendly. I have a strong sense of national pride and loyalty in my heart.
The government’s recent soft washout as it rushes to power electing a 17-member cabinet has impressed no one but the SLPPers and elected officials themselves, as well as other Ministers of State. They are generally young but mostly mediocre. Sop useless to Cerberus! Is there among them a distinguished economist or financier? He’s the kind of person we need right now. No outstanding professional either, although there is a teacher. The best decision (Cass’ euphemism for the worst, deplorably bad) was to appoint Minister Lohan Ratwatte, who was holding a gun to the foreheads of one by one terrified Tamil prisoners at Anuradhapura Prison. He is now a minister, promoted on the basis of his loyalty to his masters and his happy trigger.
This decision to appoint a new Cabinet does not stand up to vigilant protesters. Nor with most Sri Lankans. Nor does the Prez’s apology for mistakes made in banning chemical fertilizers etc. and not addressing the IMF much sooner. No forgiveness for his mea culpa as he deliberately, disregarding the advice of farmers, sent the country organic overnight, and his appointed governor of CB maintained that the country would go his way. When further crop failures bring famine, no prediction from Akka nor any mantra invoked from the gods will avert the curses directed against him, his brothers and his nephews. Curses will rain down faster and in greater abundance.
Two honored Sri Lankans congratulated
Dr. Rohan Pethiyagaoda won the Linnean Medal awarded annually to one or two biologists as an expression of the Linnean Society’s esteem and appreciation for service to science. It is open worldwide to any scientist in academic research in the natural sciences: taxonomy, evolution, ecology etc; I. ea botanist or zoologist. It was instituted in May 1888, the centenary of the Linnean Society of London. The medal is to commemorate Carolis Linnaeus who is accepted to be the father of taxonomy, which was gold until 1976; now an ally but, needless to say, its prestige has not diminished but increased with the crowding of scientific fields with researchers and scholars. Professor Sebsebe Demissew, an Ethiopian botanist, won the co-prize.
Cass quotes part of the Society’s citation in awarding the Sri Lankan: “Rohan has played a vital role in understanding and conserving the astonishing diversity of freshwater fish in Sri Lanka and the wider region, through original research and support from others.
He was in government and semi-government service and last, chairman of the Tea Board. What I remember with a big smile is that he demolished point by point Dr Padeniya’s arguments for banning chemical fertilizers in an interview, the video of which went viral and was talked about in many cities around the world where Sri Lankans live. Rohan was precise facts, but simply stated, without an iota of hubris or malevolence.
Rohan being completely less proud and very straightforward in his demeanor may not approve of Cass highlighting this interview, but it sheds some light on who Rohan is and the Prez and his evil advisers. Rohan has also won many other international awards and discovered new species of frogs/lizards in Sri Lanka.
The grinning winner of the Laurence Olivier Award for 2022 presented by the Society of London Theater in recognition of excellence in professional theater in London was received with an enthusiastic welcome at Katunayake Airport on Monday 18th April. He did not stay at his adopted home in the UK, to celebrate his success, as he sympathized strongly with the Sri Lankan youth who were protesting for real democracy and the elimination of corruption with the corrupt. What a heartwarming sight to see Hiran Abeysekera, an excellent Thespian, award winner and deeply national-minded, return from Sri Lanka to join the young protesters.
The Olivier Awards, internationally recognized as the highest honor in British theatre, originated in 1976 and were named after Laurence Olivier in 1984 and awarded to those involved in the West End and other non-commercial theaters based in London, covering plays, musicals, dance, opera productions.
Hiran Abeysekera won the best actor award for the theatrical adaptation of Life of Pi, a philosophical novel by Yann Martel (2001) adapted into a film in 2012 which won numerous awards including director Ang Lee’s Oscar. The book itself – about Pi Patel crossing the oceans in a raft with a hyena and a Bengal tiger – won Martel the Man Booker in 2002.
It is reported that in an emotional speech, Abeyesekera said he was overwhelmed and paid tribute to his home country: “I am thinking of you and I would like to be there with you”. He even used the term “machang”. True to his word, he is here, ready to go through tough times with the protesters, loyal to the country and wanting it to recover from corruption, bandyism, lawlessness and near-tyranny.
Congratulations to you, Rohan Pethiyagoda and Hiran Abeysekera! You have made Lanka proud, now an almost bankrupt state, despite all the brilliant people we have.
Goodbye to Khan should be temporary
In the northwest, Pakistan’s parliament expelled the prime minister with a flurry of votes. Many here are saddened since Imran Khan was for democracy and against militarization. No Prime Minister of Pakistan has ever served a full term.
Cass for his part was jubilant when Imran Khan was elected Prime Minister of Pakistan in 2018 when his new Tehreek-e-Insaf (Movement for Justice) won the election. He is a polite, a great sportsman, even a playboy in the days of the salad, a well-rounded personality and sincere in his quest for democracy for his militarized country.
It is hoped that his ouster from the post of prime minister will be short-lived and that he will soon regain power. How else to hope for a handsome man with a strong personality!
