Elections in the village

Quite early in the period leading up to the elections, people grouped themselves behind various candidates. Then they went around distributing leaflets saying: "Vote for this person, who will do anything for me"!! By the end of the canvassing period, people were playing safe, they were not involved - the possible winner had emerged and now it was a different refrain: "These people, they only promise you the moon and stars till they win. When they do, they will not even know you". But two days prior to the election the possible winner met with the village in a private house and the inhabitants did go and sign a register because word had gone round the village that those whose names appear on the register will be accorded preferential treatment when it comes to handouts and favours to be granted.

On the day prior to the election boys went around in cliques of three, distributing little cards with a candidate's number and photograph and others were green with envy at their daring. But they need not have been. The high-handed action perhaps lost the candidate any support mustered during the canvassing period. 

The village knew the election laws and thoroughly disapproved of the actions of such candidates, but made no outward comment, instead, mentally seemed to mark the candidate down. This is the only time the village folk have the freedom to do as they please. I listen and watch but make no comment.

Political dependency is a way of life in the village. They do not see these candidates as people who are responsible for the welfare of the village and as those who are duty bound to help uplift the village and set moral standards. Instead they're placed on pedestals to be venerated as "from whom all blessings flow".

Individual gain is their primary motive in selecting a candidate.

The Provincial Council is the place that the village inhabitants frequent in order to get anything done. The poor have been taught to be servile. If demands are made retaliation can make one an "oddity" in the village. A stigma that ostracizes one from the activities of the village.

Public officers are treated as demigods and no one dares contradict them. If poverty is the result of ignorance, dependency, apathy, disease and dishonesty, then we can see it all in our society. 

When will our people learn - "He who thinks with his own head is a free man. He who struggles for what he believes to be right is a free man. Even if you live in a country that has every freedom, if you are lazy, callous, apathetic, irresolute, you are not free but a slave - though there be no coercion and no opposition. Liberty is something you have to take for yourself. There is no begging it from others".

Damro goes to Kerala

By Nilika de Silva 

Located on Saho-daran Aiyappah Road, the modest building decorated in green and yellow, the colours of Damro had a story to tell. 

As vehicles drove past the four storey building, many drivers paused to look up at the shop windows and the name board bearing Malayalam, and Sinhala letters. The spectacle would, no doubt, have filled any Sri Lankan's heart with joy. 

But, this was not the first time that Damro expanded its borders.A branch office in Chennai had opened in 2000, also a showroom in Kodambakkam. Damro Furniture Limited also won the award for the Best Foreign Product being sold in India.

"We hope that furniture would become a main source of international revenue for Sri Lanka," Damro's Managing Director, Damitha Ramanayake told journalists at a news conference held minutes after the opening ceremony. 

The lighting of the traditional oil lamp, was more poignant for me as a sarong-clad native of Kerala asked me if Sri Lanka also had this tradition. Until that moment I thought it was ours and ours alone, but since then I have come to understand that borders only exist in a geographical sense. 

The genius behind Damro Furniture Pvt. Ltd., Ramanayake (40) from Pallewela in Mihirigama, explained that in India, furniture has not attained the heights reached by other products made there. 

"Damro Exports is a BOI project. During the course of next year we intend to start marketing Damro furniture in two other Asian countries," Ramanayake said.

He explained that since 90 percent of the raw materials required for producing the furniture is found in Sri Lanka Damro plans to mainly go into this line. 

In Sri Lanka the Damro Factory is located in Nittambuwa, with 20 show rooms and 1,800 dealers located island wide. The operation commenced in 1986.

Tamil Nadu State Marketing Manager of the Damro, J. Srinivasan, said, "We are expecting 10 million (Indian Rupees) within a couple of months, as we have received a very good reception." 

At the first showroom in Chennai, Damro had 50-60 dealers and now have 150 dealers, in Tamil Nadu and already earn Rs. 6 million on average, Mr. Sri Nivasan explained. "Even if we export six items, Sri Lanka can be rescued from its present economic predicament," Ramanayake added, showing clearly the patriotism concealed in his modest demeanour.