5th Column

My dear Mother Lanka,

I am writing to you today as you mark 76 years of ‘independence’ from Britain. I don’t think we can call it a celebration because, we were ‘dependent’ only on that country then whereas now, we are dependent on India, China and the IMF, so I don’t know what this ‘independence’ really is.

There was a lot of fuss at this time last year because it was the 75th anniversary. It was also the first ‘Independence Day’ since the ‘aragalaya’ that ousted an elected President. A year later, I feel that only the anniversary has changed from 75th to 76th, everything else has stayed the same, if not worse.

The same people who governed us, still do so. There is nothing wrong with that, of course, because major elections have not been held. However, the way they govern us has also remained the same and at times, it makes us wonder whether we will ever change, Mother Lanka, even by distant 2048?

Consider, for example, what happened when that MP died in an accident last week. His vehicle was travelling at a speed of at least 150 kilometres an hour, well above the speed limit, Police say, when it hit the rear of a container. One would have thought the right thing to do is to clampdown on speeding.

Not for the Einsteins in our Parliament.  Both ‘Kappam’ Prasanna and Lokuge who lingers like a bad smell say it is the fault of the ‘aragalaya’ because it was that struggle that led to the MP’s house being burnt down. That is why he returned to Colombo in the night and that is why he died, they say!

If we take that argument a bit further, it was the same MP who tragically passed away who, along with Deshabandu who is ‘acting’ and playing leading role now, led the attackers to ‘Gota Go Gama’. That is what led to the MPs’ houses being burnt down. Then, is he at fault for his own demise?

We also heard a priceless gem from Bandula who is, in fact, in charge of Transport and Highways. Some vehicles travel too slowly on expressways leading to such accidents, so they will be fined, says he. Not a murmur is said about politicians travelling at breakneck speed and this MP doing the same!

If our ruling party politicians maintained the same low level of intelligence from last year to this year, the wisdom of some of our opposition parties has declined more. That is because Sajith and the ‘telephone’ chaps, the largest opposition party in Parliament, wish to become a political refugee camp.

First, they did a deal with G.L. and Godahewa. Then even the racist Jayasumana of ‘Shafi’ fame was welcomed. The latest to join the ranks is former Army Commander Daya, much to the annoyance of the Field Marshall. After all, it was Daya who summarised charges against Fonny at his Court Martial.

True, Fonny has been making rude noises about Sajith’s leadership but the way the ‘telephone’ party is heading, it already has the ‘pohottuwa’s former Chairman, economic advisor and a key military man in its ranks. So, as Fonny said, don’t be surprised if an invitation is extended to Gota maama too!

If memory serves me right, when Sajith was asked to take over the government at the height of the ‘aragalaya’, his argument was that he couldn’t do so because he cannot be with the ‘rogues’ from the ‘pohottuwa’. Now though it looks as if he has taken over the opposition with the ‘pohottuwa’ in it.

If such changes baffle you, Mother Lanka, you can rest assured that some things never change. For example, Keheliya is accused of a drug scam worth millions which also affects the lives of patients and it takes months to arrest him- but those protesting against him are arrested immediately.

Then, this time last year, Deshabandu was not the IGP but was behaving like he was. Today, he is still not the IGP but is ‘acting’ in a drama called the ‘Yukthiya’. What a drama that has been with cops in civilian clothes shooting drivers dead and Deshabandu offering a million rupees in compensation.

Another institution similar to the Police is Shammi’s Limited Cricket. Its boss has also decided he and he alone can lead it and allows no one else a chance, despite all the allegations against him. We may lose games to teams such as Afghanistan and lose our ICC status, but he too may be around till 2048!

Seeing all this, is it surprising that we are disappointed, Mother Lanka? All we can see is that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Many expect this year to be different, with elections on the horizon. We certainly hope it will be so, but I wouldn’t bet a kilo of carrots on that happening!

Yours truly,

Punchi Putha

PS- During the ‘aragalaya’ everyone wanted the presidential system abolished. An election is due this year but none of the leading candidates talk about that now. Instead, we have candidates multiplying by the day. My guess is that, come 2048, we will still have a President- and he might be the same one!