Endorsing Religious-Nationalism On Independence Day
By Tisaranee Gunasekara -
“Have you learned nothing from history?”Freud (The Future of an Illusion)
Sri Lanka’s President Rajapaksa gestures during a meeting in Colombo
President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Independence Day speech contained three main themes/ideas.
It reiterated national sovereignty, which, in today’sSri Lanka, is a cover for Rajapaksa absolutism. The Siblings want a free-hand, and, as the impeachment-travesty demonstrated, they abhor even judicial restrictions.
The speech also indicated that devolution is not on. The Rajapaksas do not want even a minute-dilution of their power; they are as allergic to separation of powers as they are to devolution. Their current concern is how best to do to the 13th Amendment what was done to the 17th Amendment, the Chief Justice and judicial independence.
The President’s speech also contained a tacit acceptance of the anti-pluralist version of Lanka’s past and a coded endorsement of the Sinhala supremacist vision of Lanka’s future peddled by the JHU and the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS).
The President began his speech with a brief history of Trincomalee and it was a Sinhala-Buddhist history. It need not have been. Had he wanted to, he could have used proven historical facts to highlight the rich pluralist past of Trincomalee. For instance, when he said, “the monks who brought higher-ordination from the ancient land of Siam also arrived at Trincomalee”, he could have added that those monks came as a result of a mission sent to Siamby the non-Sinhala monarch Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe (the second Nayakkara ruler of the KandyanKingdom). He could have also mentioned that this momentous event could not have happened without the cooperation of the Dutch because Trincomalee harbour was under Dutch control during that period[i]. That one incident could have been used to showcase the rich pluralist history of Trincomalee and the momentous non-Sinhala contributions to the protection/promotion of Lankan Buddhism. Instead it was depicted as exclusively a Sinhala-Buddhist triumph.
At a BBS meeting in Matale (December 2012), the organisation’s titular head Ven. Kirama Wimalajothi Thero said “This is a Sinhala Buddhist country; we created its history, culture and civilisation”[ii]. The President could have torn this dangerous myth apart by allowing real history into his narrative. For instance, he could have mentioned that the same non-Sinhala Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe also built the inner temple of theTemple of the Tooth; or mentioned the ancient Koneswarm Kovil of Trincomalee
Alternatively he could have showcased the secular history of Trincomalee; such as its mention in Claudius Ptolemy’s Geographica; or its connections with the famed world-traveller Marco Polo.
The President’s decision to ignore the pluralist and the secular histories of Trincomalee and to give that multi-ethnic/religious city an exclusively Sinhala-Buddhist past was not an accident, as is demonstrated by his subsequent mention of the controversial Trincomalee Buddha statue: “You will recall what the LTTE Tigers subsequently did to gain control of this port and city that had become a nerve centre in the Indian Ocean. The Buddha Statue at Trincomalee was protected with barbed wire fencing round it. There was no peace or freedom even for the sacred statue”.
The Trincomalee Buddha statue was not a creation of an ancient Sinhala king. It was installed, literally overnight, by the Three Wheeler Drivers Association of Trincomalee, in 2005. The pre-fabricated statue was transported and set up near the Trincomalee bus-stand under cover of darkness. The JHU was believed to have been the prime-mover behind this ‘guerrilla-style operation’ and a section of the Navy reportedly backed it.
Trincomalee city was already seething with ethno-religious tensions, stoked by the Tigers and by Sinhala-Buddhist extremists. The sudden appearance of a huge Buddha statue intensified these tensions to a fever-pitch. The Tamils called a protest-hartal; Tamil and Sinhala mobs clashed causing one death. The Muslims, who held the demographic balance, sided with the Sinhalese.
The sudden erection of the statue was not only an act of studied provocation. As it was installed on state-land sans permission, it was also illegal. As the Town hovered on the edge of calamity, the Attorney General filed a case, seeking judicial permission to remove all unauthorised religious structures in the town. The Trincomalee magistrate granted the permission.
The judicial order was loudly decried by Sinhala supremacists of all stripes; JHU monk-parliamentarians disrupted parliamentary proceedings. The Chief Incumbent of the China Bay Temple petitioned the Supreme Court, against the AG and the UDA. Eventually a bench headed by Chief Justice Sarath N Silva gave the statue legal approval.
The Trincomalee Buddha statue is thus not a symbol of consensual peace or ethno-religious harmony. It was installed for the most profane of reasons, by opportunistic and voracious Sinhala politicians (lay and ordained) who misuse Buddhism to gain/hold power. It is also a symbol of Sinhala supremacism and of a Sinhala – as opposed to a Lankan – peace. The President’s needless endorsement of this divisive structure in his Independence Day speech is a coded-acceptance of the JHU/BBS vision of a Sinhala-supremacistSri Lanka.
Sinhala supremacists, even at their most venomously anti-minority, do not think they are being racist. According to their worldview, the Sinhala-Buddhists can never be racists; racism is a malady which can affect only the minorities. Thus there is no cognitive-dissonance in the likes of BBS/JHU calling themselves anti-racists, while accusing their minority-victims of being racists. Or in the fact that the BBS’s Facebook page contains resounding rejections of racism, cheek-by-jowl with crude anti-minority ranting[iii].
Or that President Rajapaksa rejected racism in a speech dripping with Sinhala-Buddhist supremacist symbolism.
Doing Business with Fanatics
The BBS, like its ideological progenitor the JHU, belongs to the global trend of temporal religious revivalism, which aims at making the state more religious and religion more political. This revanchist movement seeks to negate one of the most important legacies of the Enlightenment and the French Revolution – the secularisation of politics.
In the post-Socialist world, religious over-determination had trumped ethnic-over-determination. Every major religion has staked out its ‘natural/hereditary’ territory and aims at claiming/reclaiming it for its beliefs and values – whether it is the American evangelicals, the ultra-right Catholics in Africa/South America, Afghan/Pakistani Taliban, the BJP in India or the JHU/BBS in Sri Lanka. They promote a brand of anti-secular, religious nationalism/patriotism based on the trinity of race-religion-armed forces. They promote a ‘politics of salvation’ (in the here-and-now, rather than in after-life). Their version of democracy is rule of, by and for the ‘chosen people’, chosen on the basis of primordial identities.
Bringing religion into the public sphere is a dangerous venture, politically, economically and socially. Extremism knows no limits; its constant search for the ‘other’ can threaten the very existence of pluralist societies, such asSri Lanka.
Currently the Rajapaksas might be puppet-masters and the BBS the puppet. The Siblings might be intending to use the BBS, asWashingtonthought to use Islamic extremism against the Soviets inAfghanistan; and the Mossad’s plan to use the Hamas to weaken the secular PLO. But it is a dangerous business, doing business with fanatics. Fanatics inhabit a different mental universe, a psychological-wasteland in which reason does not exist, excess is the norm and barbarity is permitted, against the ‘Inimical-Other’.
And once summoned, fanatics assume a life of their own, uncontrollable and uncontainable, even by their one-time masters.
An incisive analysis by the best political columnist of the present day. Many Sinhalese progressives praised Mahinda’s speech for his anti-Extremism remarks. But, underlying the entire speech, as Tisaranee has clearly demonstrated, is Mahinda’s own extremism. Sadly, the majority of the country subscribe to this form extremism. In fact, they love it.
The Real Tamil - February 7, 2013
7:57 am
Yet more lucid analysis without fear or favour. Thank you Tisaranee. I suppose that the fanatic hounds from hell AKA the Rajapaksa Sycophancy will open up on you with both barrels now, seeking to confirm the absolute rightness of the Rajapaksa vision for Sri Lanka!
Aney Apochchi! - February 7, 2013
8:28 am
A very incisive analysis revealing the hidden meanings which would normally escape the mind of an innocent reader. The video reveals the absolute hatred and racist ideals of the BBS and the mob. The country is sitting on a time bomb set to explode.
Safa - February 7, 2013
8:40 am
Please read the following editorial in the Daily Mirror to understand why Mahinda Rajapakse is failing far short of expectations:
http://www.dailymirror.lk/opinion/172-opinion/25560-if-the-shoe-doesnt-fit-must-we-change-the-foot-editorial.html
This editorial complements the incive analysis of Tisaranee.
His feet are too small for the shoes he was expected to wear, as the accompanying cartoon has illustrated quite well. We were not wrong in expecting much of him, but unfortunately he was unable to rise up to our expectations and hopes. The small man within him has asserted itself over the much bigger man he could have been! Sad and disappointing.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran - February 7, 2013
9:30 am
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
A section of Tamils who put all their eggs in Rajabaksa’s basket now seems to be very unhappy about what he had delivered or did not deliver.
Their anti LTTE mindset saw no evil, heard no evil and did want to speak no evil of the clan. On the other hand a section of pro LTTE mindset Tamils saw no evil, heard no evil and did want to speak no evil of the LTTE. These Tamils now regret for putting all their eggs in LTTE’s basket.
Sinhalese being stupid just like their Tamil brethren, wants their fate sealed by the clan as long as the clan does continue its construction of monolithic Sinhala/Buddhist Ghetto in the Indian ocean.
Majority of the people were and are caught between devil and the deep blue sea. One is gone and one remains.
Are you disappointed now because you kept hoping in the goodness of Sinhala/Buddhists?
Native Vedda - February 7, 2013
12:12 pm
Native Vedda,
Yes, I yet do believe in the goodness of the Sinhala- Buddhists as a people and in the goodness of all other people in Sri Lanka. However, I have lost faith in the politicians of all hues and at all levels, representing all communities in Sri Lanka. I am destined to die in a country that has been failed by its politicians. It is a country where all prospects are nice, but the politicians are vile.
Dr. Rajasingham Narendran
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran - February 7, 2013
3:10 pm
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
Generally I don’t see any goodness in Sinhala/Buddhists nor in any Tamil/Saivaite.
Native Vedda - February 8, 2013
12:40 am
Well said Sir!
P.B - February 8, 2013
2:48 am
One of the best comments I’ve seen in CT. Hats off.
Dominique - February 8, 2013
5:50 pm
I am glad to note that light is dawning on you !!!
I knew Mahinda could not fill the big shoes he had to fill, a small and insignificant (for many but very telling) event many years ago is revealing !
Soon after assuming the presidency of the SLFP/SL the SLFP convention was help, Mahinda had a banner at the back of the stage and had the pictures of his father/SWRD/Sirimavo but completely omitted Chandrika due to his anger against her.
Him not having her picture as one of the leaders of SLFP, a woman who really turned the fortune around for the party was petty minded, that was revealing of the man that is Mahinda, sad it has taken so long for many to see him as he is but its better late than never !!!
Dev - February 7, 2013
2:47 pm
While I am critical of the president’s failures, especially after it reached a critical mass with the CJ impeachment, I will yet give him plenty of credit for the leadership he provided to decimate the LTTE , for the care of the IDPs and the post-war infra- structure development in the north and east. He has lost his direction thereafter, because this success has gone to his head, as it does with all small men. His mission in life is apparently over and he is likely overstaying his welcome.
Dr.R.N
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran - February 8, 2013
4:50 am
Splendid piece as always from Tisaranee
eureka - February 7, 2013
10:03 am
material for peace education and for lessons on logic
eureka - February 7, 2013
10:04 am
“…. it is a dangerous business, doing business with fanatics. Fanatics inhabit a different mental universe, a psychological-wasteland in which reason does not exist, excess is the norm and barbarity is permitted, against the ‘Inimical-Other`…. ” By missing the long Lincon shoes
logically one must expect a Somarama to be created/born from this mass/mess?
punchinilame - February 7, 2013
10:24 am
Somarama made things worse than had SWRD been alive. We seem to be incapable of ruling ourselves with equality in a fair and just manner that the UN, China or India may have to do it for us like in colonial times.
In the days I used to frequent Velanmulivaikal for coconut plucking, the farmer I lived with kept reminding me that in the near vicinity of the jungles there was a carved in rock inscriptions that prophetically had stated the rule of Portuguese, Dutch, English and the last line of the 4 line verse and/or prediction referred to a yellow people with slit eyes. It’s strange that no one else has come by this rock or did VP and the LTTE blast it had it truly been there?
m c spencer - February 8, 2013
9:44 am
Dear Thisarana Saranee Gunasekara.
As You says in your article:.
“”"”The Trincomalee Buddha statue was not a creation of an ancient Sinhala king. It was installed, literally overnight, by the Three Wheeler Drivers Association of Trincomalee, in 2005. The pre-fabricated statue was transported and set up near the Trincomalee bus-stand under cover of darkness. The JHU was believed to have been the prime-mover behind this ‘guerrilla-style operation’ and a section of the Navy reportedly backed it”"”.
When you are mentioning the Trincomalee Buddha statue,
that is not an 80 ft or so a statue. just a small statue.
but made a very big horrible situation. not only in sri lanka but Foreign arena also.
It is pity that, You did not see the one Huge BUddha’s statue built at the Fort Fredric and the Saiva god’s statue at Thirukoneswaran Temple site.
I was a Resident of Trincomalee nearly 45years, and seen lot of transformation of Hindu temples, Islamic Mosques, and christian, Catholics, Some protestants churches too.
this your referenced Buddha’s statue was erected by the Three Wheeler Drivers Association of trinco city.
and Tamils and musliman drivers also contributed to that.
but It was not J H U as you said the prim mover like Norway Supporting the converting Thmil Hindus to Many sects of protestant christian. [ some saint's, some mother's, some body's churches ... list is too long].
I have no idea, that later the J H U joined them or not.
to your knowledge that more than 18 Hindu temples have sprung in Orr’s hill area of Trinco Town and Gravate.
and No body raise any voises for that.
THE BUDDHAS SATUE AT THE OUTER HOURBOUR AREA, [IN FRONT OF THE PRESENT NEW MUNICIPAL COUNCIL TAHMIL LIBRARY,] IS DESTROYED ,
THIS WAS DONE LITERALLY OVER NIGHT,BY THE UNDER COVER OF DARKNESS. THE HINDU EXTREMISTS ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN THE PRIME MOVER BEHIND THIS GUERRILLA STYLE OPERATION AND A SECTION OF LTTE REPORTEDLY BACKED THIS.
[not in my words but yours] .
And it was not protected with barbed wire fencing round it and no navy to back it.
once former dean Hon Mr Arthur C Clark mentioned that lot of broken and destroyed temple’s stone Buddhist statues are in the Sea bed in front of THIRUKONESWANRAN HINDU TEMPLE.
ps
SO, I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THIS AND,
I am Not a statue worshiper either.
JULAAMPITYE AMARAYA - February 7, 2013
11:07 am
Getting the three wheeler or four wheeler drivers to install any thing is not difficult at all. You can even get them to install a statue of a donkey. Relious vandalism has been the culture of Buddist. Other religious people just go about praying in their own temples mosques and churches. Just because the Buddhist are unable to do that and lead a religious moral ethical life they are hellbent to destroy all other premisses. Their question is I don’t pray so why should you.
Lanka Liar - February 8, 2013
8:22 am
BIG LIAR IN LANKA,
AS YOU SAYS;
” Other religious people just go about praying in their own temples mosques and churches.”.
THEN LET THEM TO INSTALL, CURVING OR BUILD AS THEY LIKE . WHY WANTS TO DISTURB.
BELIEF OF RELIGION IS A ANY BODY’S LIKENESS AND
RIGHT.
IF YOU LIKE YOU CAN INSTALL STATUE OF A DONKEY AND WORSHIP. WHO CARES.
MY BELIEF IS IN MY MIND,THAT IS NOBODY’S BUSINESS.
YOUR REPLY SHOWS THAT, YOU ARE AN EXTREMIST OF A KIND.
DONT BE A LIAR AND DO NOT AFRAID TO SAY A TRUTH AND SIT ON THE FLOOR.
JULAAMPITYE AMARAYA - February 8, 2013
11:25 am
Thanks for providing insight. The writer should get her facts correct before arriving at wrong conclusions.
Dominique - February 8, 2013
5:57 pm
Departing from the usual venue of the Capital city, holding this year’s Independence Day celebrations in Trinco is a populist move aimed to please the Buddhist-Sinhala chauvinist electorate that the Rajapakses have pitched their flag in the Capital of what the LTTE
- as apart from the Tamil people – planned as their Capital in the NEP. The forced placing of the Buddhist Statue in the centre of what was a Tamil-majority town is a rude reminder Tamils are a subject nation. Tamils are already the 3rd larger community in the District whereas they were throughout the largest since the arrival of the British and prior to that. The watershed period in which the future will be defined will have to be the 19th century demographic statistics.
Rajapakses harangue in Trinco was more aimed at the UN and India. To the UN the threat was “whatever you do in Geneve I do what I want”
and to India, possibly “Here’s my latest spin despite all my previous assurances – you can stuff your 13th Amendment you know where. I have the Chinese to protect me?”
TG wastes her time reminding the Rajapakses of Buddhism and those many good steps the Tamil Nayakkar King had done to Buddhism in Kandy. They fall in deaf years. It is best to get ready to survive the next few months where the recently ordered tear-gas cannisters and anti-riot
automobiles will be put to full use in the streets of Colombo and elsewhere. When the new energy pricing-policy is forced on the people they will get more than just a shock.
Senguttuvan
Senguttuvan - February 7, 2013
2:32 pm
Website of Sri Lankan High Commission in London:
Sri Lankan High Commissioner Dr. Chris Nonis and several British Parliamentarians were invited to address the Multifaith Forum in British Parliament, during Multifaith week in the UK. In his address, Dr Chris Nonis spoke of the multiculturalism of Sri Lanka and the spirituality of its people, and the value of faith as a unifier across communities. He also spoke about the progress Sri Lanka had made in the post conflict era, and that it was incumbent upon all communities to open their hearts to each other, to respect the diversity of each other, thereby providing each other dignity, which in turn will ensure a durable peace in Sri Lanka in the post conflict era.
The Multifaith Forum was chaired by Brij Mohan Gupta, President of the National Council of Hindu Temples,UK, at the invitation of Seema Malhotra MP. Several other Members of Parliament also addressed the gathering, including Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Don Foster MP, Virendra Sharma MP, Keith Vaz MP, and Glyn Davies MP.
The High Commission of Sri Lanka
London
24 December 2012
eureka - February 7, 2013
3:05 pm
Yea in Sri Lanka people of all faiths are kidnapped. KIdnapper too belong to many faiths.
Lanka Liar - February 8, 2013
8:17 am
eureka
“that it was incumbent upon all communities to open their hearts to each other, to respect the diversity of each other,”
Could we have this message copied to JHU, BBS, MR, Gota, Nalin, Kamalika, ………..Dinesh,Champiha……..
Native Vedda - February 8, 2013
3:53 pm
Tisaranee has missed one point – this is the beginning of the campaign for future elections.
A winning strategy without a doubt.
Siri - February 7, 2013
7:17 pm
It would be good if someone can give the gist of what the Buddhist monk says in the video.
eureka - February 7, 2013
10:25 pm
What I see from the video is some yellow dressed big fat Pi…gs trying to waste some excess energy and blocked Yan and Yin. (please compare their bodies to rest of the ordinary people who look like lizards)……
If the Govt. could organise some Rugby matches ot Soccer games or Boxing matches will help them to use their blocked energy, before their energy get burst. (remember Somarama)
May be they could bring in some Gold medals to Sri Lanka in next Asian or Commonwealth Games or olympics which we never won a single medal during the last five games, and I am sure they could be the best bet.
USING TALENTS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF HE COUNTRY IS THE BEST DEED.
Mahela - February 7, 2013
11:05 pm
BRAVO!!!!
THESE BIG FAT HULKS COULD BE HIRED BY RUGBY CLUBS INSTEAD OF IMPORTING
FOREIGNERS.
THE OTHER OPTION, WE CAN START JAPANESE SUMO WRESTLING OR AMERICAN FREE STYLE WRESTLING.
OTHERS CAN BE SENT TO AMBEWELA FOR STUD PURPOSES.
AYMAN - February 9, 2013
4:20 pm
Incrasingly failing on the economic front,getting isolated from the civilized world, and unable to contain the sprouting seeds of destruction within his ranks, Mahinda Rajapakse has increasingly leaned toward a narrow religious nationalism. He will come down along with the country
chandraprema - February 7, 2013
11:16 pm
Thank you Tisaranee for yet another brilliant piece of analysis. I seriously fear for what the next few months might bring to this beautiful land and yearn for the day when Sri Lanka will be free from the toadiness of the brand of politics that marches on seemingly unstoppably and the radicalism of ethno-religious eruptions such as what the BBS is engaging in with absolute impunity.
It was mind-numbing to listen to extreme views expressed in the speech by someone who claims to be spreading the dhamma by virtue of the robes he has donned. Shame, shame, shame.
Sad for Lanka - February 7, 2013
11:56 pm
Tisaranee you are an optimist to think that this uneducated, uncultured
moron would know the history of Trincomalee. Some idiot would have told him what to say.
Leon - February 8, 2013
1:49 am
Tisaranee
We need to know what fraction of Tamils is still left in their original coastal villages and towns to be pushed inland in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
eureka - February 8, 2013
2:48 am
I think Thisaranee should be appointed by a pro people future Govt as it’s advisor. Leaving that aside thank you for explaining the mindset of Fanatics of every hue may be religion or ethnic. If there are enlightened lay Buddhists and enlightened Buddhist clergy in this country( They are in the minority)should seriously look at the behavior of Buddhist monks in Universities, in political rallies or holding religo-political positions.Their behavior fits into Thisaranee’s analysis of fundamentalists as they are a law unto themselves and their irrational utterances rouse the base ,primitive instincts of their adherents once let lose they cannot be controlled even by their masters.What I cannot fathom is the same Buddhist clergy clamouring for independence from the British and their lay followers acted so rationally and heroically than now.
They followed in the path of true Buddhism -Non-Violence.
Sunila Mendis - February 8, 2013
7:29 am
Sure the TG deserves a very special place in SL and would like to see her face to see if she has a 3rd eye opened?
m c spencer - February 9, 2013
12:18 am
If Ms Thisaranee’s take on our Trinco is correct,King kirti Sri Rajasingham seems an OK dude.
I am not so sure about the Dutch though.
Had Mr Sambandan ,still the official rep of our inhabitants there,and his Leader Mr Prabakaran looked after us ,the same way as King Rajasingham did.Mahinda Rajapaksa would have been happy to address his subject from Torrington Square which was abandoned by it’s regular tenants the Colombo Elite, this time.
K.A Sumanasekera - February 8, 2013
9:00 pm
Beware….. Thattya Kattaya. I saw them running like crazy in Colombo streets leaving their slippers on streets, raising their yellow robes like sarongs shouting ‘Koti Enawo” running all over somewhere 1985 when somebody told Tigers have come to colombo.
This is just another Muppet show to get more funds from Prime Minister D.M Jayaratne for buddhist Clergy and for their temples.
What language Lord Buddha spoke when he came to Sri Lanka…….What happened to “Handa Hava” the rabbit in the moon…..
We have a police to take care of people and property. Buddhism is a Philosophy and not a Religion. There is a big difference between two.
Hope they do not cross the red line. Next could be a religious war….so Maharaja could extend his state power and could stay in his Seat longer.
WHO LET THE DOGS OUT…….REMEMBER WHAT SIR JOHN KOTALAWELA SAID TO BANDA.
Jayantha - February 12, 2013
7:35 am
I think these yellow robe cheevarayas as well as the President is mis using the respect given by people.
First I don’t know who introduced this Honorary designations of “ATHI UTTAMA” or “Athi Garu” to President calling ‘Athi Garu’….. Janadhipathi’…..
Who gave this honour title “Athi Garu” to President……Nobody called JR Jayawerdena who was a President “Athi Garu”. So why now…… How can you call Athi Garu to a “Athi Hora”……
These honour names should be stopped immediately as these are the same crooks who misuse and abuse these respect people give them while steal their liberty, justice and freedom.
Also I totally disagree Kneeling Down or worshipping Buddhist Monks or any other laymen….other than your parents and your Gods.
These are the same monks and laymen who abuse these over respect given to them while misleading the public.
What is “Athi Garu” doing other than living from our tax money.
PLEASE REMOVE THESE “ATHI GARU” and other honor titles from these “Athi Horu” and stop worshipping them for the sake of our country, it’s people and their childrens dignity and self esteem.
I think these kind of words and kneeling down lower us and our childrens self esteem while giving absolute authority to dominate us and our children.
PLEASE THINK DEEP.
Mahela - February 12, 2013
8:35 am
Mahela,
There was a woman from the slums of Dematagoda who rose somehow.
She lost her head in no time and, at one stage, was entertaining
dreams of Queen Elizabeth coming to a family wedding – ignorant as she was. She was curious why everyone calls her husband respectfully as “H.E” (she pronounced it as echchi) and asked one of
many English-speaking sycophants around what it stood for. It was explained to her. Her private reputation, at any rate, was opaque. So she innocently asked what she should be addressed as – and it was explained to her, tongue in cheek, as “F.L” (First Lady) The poor woman could not possibly understand at her level the cheeky pun involved.
Senguttuvan
Senguttuvan - February 15, 2013
1:06 am