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When will our politicians learn? While the country continues to go up in smoke, our politicians of all hues, keep hurling thick soot at each other, forgetting their roles in the steady destruction of this country; without getting down to trying sincerely, even at this late stage, to pull this country out of the hell-hole into which it has fallen. Let them stop attempting to score cheap political points, by senseless name calling and slander, and mere meaningless rhetoric.

The JVP and the JHU keep spitting out their shrivelled tonsils, shouting themselves hoarse, that no discussions should be held with the Tigers, till terrorism is wiped out from this country. How hopelessly naïve of them! Why doesn’t the JVP, from which surely the Tiger cubs learned a few lessons, gather the troops they once mobilized to unleash a reign of terror in this country, and lead a dedicated anti-terrorist group against the Tigers?

But then their leader, who pulls the strings tied to the local puppet leaders usually from his safe-house provided by Her Majesty’s Government, I remember, some years back threatened to give the Tigers hell, if they touched a single member of the JVP! So we know the true picture. These patriots, who claim they are the only party that does not have their own agenda, and whose sole aim is to save this country, will act only if the Tigers maim or kill one of their supporters. Never mind if our top security men and other non-JVP civilians are slaughtered. These patriots will not shed tears. They will not act, except to ensure that the UNP will never come back. That is their obsession, apart from gaining power themselves. So much for their patriotism.

The UNP flays the present government for the deteriorating security situation forgetting that just as a former UNP President opened the doors wide to the ‘robber barons’-- after which the barons not only poured in from abroad, but sprouted up in droves on our own soil, to reap rich harvests for themselves – it was the present UNP Leader who in a peace pact signed without even consulting his own cabinet, and certainly not the Leader of the Opposition, opened the city gates wide, some years back, to the sleek, smiling, striped kind, who infiltrated the city with lazy ease and impunity.

Today, the UNP Leader has run to Mother India complaining of being betrayed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and refused to co-operate with him because he is enticing the members of his own party to join the government. Without berating his party members, those who are being enticed, he blames the government. This is like a husband blaming the man who seduced his wife, without blaming his wife for being unfaithful. Should he not rather ask himself, whether the double cross is not due to his own impotence? The game of crossing-over has been played by all parties. Even red shirts have rubbed shoulders with green sleeves!

The Tigers, unlike successive Sri Lankan Governments, are not prone to indulging in knee-jerk reactions. They plan meticulously over the years, planting their men and women with care, study strategically important places and people, buy up greedy southerners, including security personnel, receive accurate intelligence and pounce with deadly accuracy to kill and maim.

While few in this country, north or south, agree with their aims and means of achieving their objectives, perhaps the south could learn from the efficiency of their intelligence network and their dedication to their cause, however misguided that cause might be. It would be rare indeed to find a Tiger who would sell his dream of a homeland for a bagful of silver.

The people of this country are fed up with the politicking not only of politicians, but also of top officials and advisers, the henchmen and women – who pat their political patrons on the back saying all is fine, we are growing – ignoring for their own gain, the true picture. Yes, a few are growing richer and richer, while the mass of the people grow poorer, having to bear the burden of the scams, the swindles and the sell-outs.

I am sure the majority of the people would join me in this exhortation to our so-called political leaders, blue, green, red and saffron, and the chosen few who’ve helped them in the great betrayal, the betrayal of a people and their beleaguered and benighted motherland. “Be gone!/Run to your houses, fall upon your knees/Pray to the gods to intermit the plague/That needs must fall upon this ingratitude.”

Ingratitude towards a motherland that nurtured and nourished them and a people who voted them into positions of power.

On a Black Thursday in June,
The heart of the terrorists was shown
“Top full of direst cruelty”
Like Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth,
Nay worse!
For who could kill innocent babes and pregnant mothers,
What Tiger’s heart could do this?
The poor villagers were coming by bus,
Coming in a crowded bus.
But they came to be killed or maimed for life.
How must they weep, who lost their dear ones?
When we, who watch, do weep,
To see their corpses and mass graves.
Is this your fight, you human Tigers?
For nature’s tigers are much more kind.
And do you fight for a homeland?
Yes, you do deserve one,
A homeland in hell

The current tussle between satellite TV stations and the law of the land has taken its toll on the public of this country. Ironically, the law of the land allowed these satellite stations to sell their products to the public for many years.

Thousands of people obtained satellite connections during this period. The public was beginning to enjoy a new horizon.

The people living outside Colombo and its immediate outskirts were always deprived of a proper education and the so-called luxury of quality entertainment.

This, I believe, has contributed towards extremism among our youth and frustration among the rural public.

Yet sadly, the state has decided to deprive this very sector of a minimum standard of life in today’s context. The satellite channels gave the rural children an opportunity to view quality programmes, including educational ones. Their standard of knowledge was just beginning to improve, when someone patriotic decided that the satellite stations were doing something illegal.

In effect, the authorities have punished the people of Sri Lanka for obtaining a television channel that was available in the open market at great cost to the individual.

I personally know of some families obtaining satellite TV with the only savings they had, because they wanted their children to view quality educational channels. The satellite stations have taken the money of the people, and they must be happy. So the state has encouraged another sector to hoodwink innocent people and get away.

This is a clear indication that no one in this country holding any responsible state office cares an iota for the rural masses.

Satellite TV entertainment is commonplace all over the world, and has become an efficient modern tool of mass communication. It is no longer a luxury and the people of this country should not be deprived of it too. Certain sections of our community believe that Sri Lankans must not be allowed to enjoy anything termed luxury. That’s why we are the only country that operates “semi-luxury” buses.

There has been much discussion about the refusal of Lt. Gen. Parami Kulatunga’s request for accommodation at Army Headquarters.

Who is responsible for denying this officer this basic security facility? Is it the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces who is the President himself, the Defence Secretary, the Chief of Staff or the Army Commander himself? It is hard to believe that the Army Commander, a colleague of Lt. Gen. Kulatunga who was killed in a suicide bomb attack did not have the clout to grant this request. It’s sad that such unbelievable stories emerge only after the damage is done. In this instance, it’s difficult to explain to the people that the army could not accommodate its No. 3 officer in its premises despite the availability of space.

Even if there was a problem of space, surely there should have been a way to get accommodation for him. This is an indictment on the army administration itself.

Hopefully, such a situation will never arise again and the high command in the security forces would be given maximum protection.

I have watched with amusement the cause espoused by the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) vis-à-vis the alcohol and cigarette control legislation.

Smoking is voluntary and legal. It is however, harmful to the health, that is known. I cannot understand why such a song and dance is being made about cigarettes as there are more harmful, toxic and noxious substances being emitted to the air that we all breathe, by vehicle exhausts, garbage burning and other waste and industrial fires. I feel that priority should be given to what is more dangerous and uncontrolled than what is controlled and the inherent danger of which is understood. There is also the widespread use of narcotics and betel chewing that are more hazardous than smoking.

Meanwhile, given that Sri Lanka has a high rate of per capita alcohol consumption, it is understandable that something should be done about reducing its adverse effects. But what is astounding is that currently 67% (up from 62%, since last year), of the gross total consumption is of illicit alcohol or kasippu. Thus promoting more controls on the legally available spirits and soft alcohol products will only encourage the illicit alcohol trade.

Taking into consideration this scenario, it is confounding as to why the JHU is promoting something that brings about a benefit to the illegal, more lucrative and dangerous aspects of this trade.

I am not sure whether the JHU is fully aware of the implications or is it merely a smokescreen. I dare not hazard any guesses as to who does actually benefit by these additional controls and the spin-offs to the kasippu trade.

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