A coin need not be tossed to decide on the mismatch between Fonseka and Rajapaksa.
S.L. Gunasekera comes in between to provide a stimulating, hilarious and swashbuckling account of the contest to make the thinking man walk that extra distance to the polling booth--more valuable to Rajapaksa than all the propaganda pulp his hurrah boys have so far churned out to benefit his cause.
Gunasekera has dedicated the booklet to his mentors H.L. de Silva and E.D. Wikremanayake with words appropriately applicable to him, still more- “… rarest types of sons of Sri Lanka, genuine patriots who had no hidden agendas and served their motherland solely for the purpose of serving her with no thought of reward for themselves or any other objective”.
Wonder whether Fonseka, if he cares to read the book, would comprehend the damage he has done to him by his own conduct? Doubt it, as he has fallen foolishly, for a while, to a trap woven by international/local forces, playing on his twin weaknesses of ambition and hatred, impliedly to discredit Sri Lanka, by creating divisions. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
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| On the campaign trail: Gen. Sarath Fonseka |
Shed a tear for him, after the contest he will realize his folly and Gunasekera, no doubt, will restore him with a chapter on his heroics in an edition on the war.
Fonseka’s place is not the dustbin but the sin bin; a right royal spanking across his bottom deservingly admonished by Gunasekera, a pedagogue for the nation, a blunder a schoolboy proudly waving the national flag will not make.
Gunasekera determines ‘modesty’ is not a virtue associated with Fonseka and he suffers from an acute “I” disease.
The gem is on the 13th Amendment where Gunasekera opines, “what is most frightening about Fonseka’s promise [to go beyond the 13th] is that it is evident from his statement that he is unaware of the provisions of the 13th Amendment for he has promised to ‘do a thorough study of the 13th Amendment no sooner he assumes office’. (Daily Mirror 30.11.2009)”.
On Gunasekera’s research, if Fonseka is proposing to read the amendment after assuming office, it virtually means he may never get the opportunity to read it! Are we hearing Fonseka senior or junior? Can a presidential candidate make pronouncements on the hottest issue with such disdain?
In Gunasekera’s words promises are a “stock-in-trade of the professional politicians”. Of course politicians don’t ever take ‘stock’ and only ‘trade’ in parties for their upward mobility. It’s the people who are fools to believe in ‘promises’ and vote to regret and then decide to teach a lesson of a lifetime to politicians. Sadly, people never learn the lesson on promises!
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| On the campaign trail: President Mahinda Rajapaksa |
Gunasekera commenting on Fonseka’s promise of a Rs. 10,000 salary hike for public servants on the basis of costing of Rs. 113 billion which will be accounted for according to Fonseka by saving Rs 170 billion on eliminating waste, asks the simple question most forgot to frame. From where is Fonseka producing these accounts? Is it from a study of eco-maniacs!
The book draws attention to Fonseka’s plea for security on retirement of 600 soldiers and 12 security vehicles including two bullet- proof cars as well as having roads cleared when he passes together with an official residence befitting the Commander.
The author raises the issue if “indeed these are the demands on the public purse while holding no public office, one dreads to imagine what his demands would be if he is elected President”.
His promoters would not have been required to make much effort to convince him to run for the office of President. Gunasekera quotes Fonseka describing himself as being “Born again for the sake of the country”. Modesty for sure.
Wish S.L. Gunasekera excluded the chapter on Corruption and Nepotism on the defence of Rajapaksa. A point Gunasekera has omitted to mention are the joys the palace guards would have enjoyed, creating man-made rifts between the President and a powerful Defence Secretary had they not been affectionate brothers. Without either, the war would not have been won as Gunasekera properly convinces in the book.
Still, I wonder whether after a few more years Gunasekera, honorable and honest, to boot, will hold the same views expressed in this chapter only.This book should be on the best sellers list as the funniest book for the educated man on the Presidential Election of 2010 and wish he would do the same for the General Elections. If this book is hilarious that will be riotous. |
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