Lies, Lies And More Lies As President Triumphs Over Lies
By Barbara Seneviratne -
Barbara Seneviratne
Barbara Seneviratne
Being suspicious of the outcome of the Provincial council elections the President insisted to appear in a live program “Janapathi Janahamuwa” which was broadcasted by the national and private television stations for three long hours. He gave a very convincing speech as well as hopes to the people who are facing the upcoming election. He called upon all government officials to execute all projects and attend to repairs immediately while blaming them for corruption, rape and crimes. And all of a sudden he announces in an election rally in the Tamil and Muslim dominated eastern province that he is the President for all races saying “I am not the President for Sinhalese, not the President for Muslims, not the President for Tamils but the President for all Sri Lankans,”. Well if that is the case why is he so reluctant to implement the LLRC recommendations? Why was he silent when mosques are being destroyed? Well he and his political goons must be thinking people of Sri Lanka are fools because any donkey can realize that these as usual are election gundoos (tricks) to swindle unsuspecting voters.
What puzzles the voters is why had the left leaders become a party to dupe the voters. These leftists of the communist party who are contesting this election separately claim they are doing so for several reasons. Those they say are to educate the voters to avoid electing thugs and corrupt individuals and to enlighten the voters about socio economic crisis in the country and as well as collapse of the law and order. But unfortunately whatever their intentions may be they too are partners of this corrupt government.
As another election gundoo (trick) the President requested the Indian government to expose the sacred Kapilawastu relics in Sri Lanka at this crucial stage. Of course, this too is once again a very thoughtful cunning way to rob the voters so that the attention of the voter is drawn from the burning issues they are faced with. He thinks that by marketing Buddhism to the Sinhalese Buddhist people he can get the votes he is so desperately seeking. All these years he was actually doing exactly this – marketing Buddhism to the gullible Sinhalese who think they have the sole right to dominate the minorities.
Well, this is not the first time or the first executive president who was a diabolic liar who duped the public with false promises. The first is J.R who they believed would give them 8 pounds of grain. Instead he changed the existing constitution expecting to carry on forever and created this mess. J.R introduced the Executive Presidency and also changed the UNP constitution likewise. But unfortunately with all his shrewdness he did not realize that Ranil unlike the late Lalith Atulathmudali or Gamini Dissanayake is not capable nor has he the credibility to manage both the country and the party.
Second is Ms Chandrika Kumaratunga who made an attempt to change the constitution acceptable by all, but failed due to the greed or shortsightedness of the UNP as well as her own party people. However, she stepped down to give way to the demands of the SLFP seniors to nominate Mahinda Rajapaksa. Pity she could have done a good job, if honesty prevailed with better advisers to guide her.
Thirdly is the current President who thanks to Srimavo Bandaranaike and of course to his late mother who taught him to be honest, decent and truthful and who requested Ms Bandaranaike to make him a member of the parliament. But never in their wildest dreams had they expected him to swindle the people of the nation.
The general public had great hopes since he was coming from a respected family being a cousin of great politician George Rajapaksa. George Rajapaksa was an honest man with integrity. He was never a greedy man but spent his own money to serve the people.
Besides, the President did do a good job during his tenure as the labour and fisheries minister. As the opposition leader he stood up for the workers demanding their rights and voiced his opinion over injustices. Hence, his nomination to be the candidate to the executive Presidency was hailed by majority.
After the victory over terrorists with the support of the Indian Government and the Sri Lankan armed forces the public expected not only peace and harmony but improved economic wellbeing as well. But within six years the people realized that they are being taken for a ride. It was not because of the war that the cost of living had gone up but due to the poor administration and corruption. That nepotism and impunity is the norm and that crimes against women, children and the ordinary people had increased alarmingly. People are aware that these are perpetrated by the very politicians they elected.
The very man who said that he will not allow family dynasty created the biggest Dynasty. The country is aware but since a fear psychosis has being introduced by the State with help of thugs, like Mervyn Silva, Julampitiye Amare, Duminda etc. People are forced to grin like in the bill boards that carry the President’s picture. He little realizes that people are fed up viewing his picture and mega cut outs. In fact Premadasa too did this same mistake during his regime by promoting a personality cult.
However, it is evident by the current state of affairs the country is moving towards a fascist regime. It is all so clear by his attitude of not taking seriously or merely turning a deaf ear to demands of the civil society. Some of the blatant examples are as follows.
The tax report which was handed over to the President in 2009 was completely ignored.
No action was taken on the findings of the COPE report.
Business mafia is supported to thrive fraudulently and the share market has been messed up.
He encourages the Health Minister to continue his corrupt deals knowing very well that the health sector is in a chaotic situation. This, alarming situation was created despite Sri Lanka one time being a role model to other Asian countries with regard to health indicators.
He and his political goons have messed up the education system completely depriving children and youth of their right to education. Theses very politicians who received free education from grade one to university are now against it.
Demands of the farmers of the country are completely ignored. Farmers are deprived of basic facilities such as water and fertilizer and are unable to engage in farming and the country’s food security is at stake.
Racial and religious intolerance is created. When mosques and churches are attacked he turns a blind eye.
Workers EPF monies are busted and he being the Finance Minister pretends that he is unaware of these corrupt deals.
Judiciary is attacked and manipulated. Law and order is a dream in this country now.
My dear voters this is what we have reaped during these last six years. Will there be a Sri Lanka for the future generation?
Super stuff Barbara – one great spunky lady. Wish that Ranil Wickramasinghe’s wife who claims to be a great feminist and hence must follow the motto that the “private is public” and the “political personal etc”.. would speak up, stop being a free rider, and ask her power-hungry husband to kindly get out of the UNP after loosing so many elections and enable democracy and a viable opposition and to empower a NEW GENERATION for change in Lanka!
Savithri - August 31, 2012
7:41 am
Well said on both counts.. the problem in large part is that there is no alternative between the dead left that supports the horrible Rajapassa regime, and the UNP led by the power-hungry creep Ranil W!
Barbara, can not someone file a case against the appointment to the SEC for Godahewa who has huge conflicts of interests – or the dead left support the half dead UNP to challenge this presidential appointment?
Dodo - August 31, 2012
7:54 am
In Egypt, Libya and Tunisia the alternate emerged from the people led by concerned amiable persons and it is followed in Syria; and the process is taking place in Sri Lanka. Every ‘true patriot’ (not the patriots of the corrupt, communal and violent politics) should shed away their petty differences and join the process to make it a success.
Mohamed Marzook - August 31, 2012
8:59 am
Savithri, for you to cheer this Stupid Barbara Seneviratne, once a supporter of MR and her Companian DEW Gunasekara still continuing with MR, hates RW more than the love you all had for MR sometime ago. To quote this woman, she says, ‘Well, this is not the first time or the first executive president who was a diabolic liar who duped the public with false promises. The first is J.R who they believed would give them 8 pounds of grain’.
I wonder whether this old bag is suffering from Alzheimer’s or Dementia or yet Cunning in her ways as always has been, has forgotten her one time friend who promised to give two measures of Rice free, even bringing from the Moon. Thereafter leave alone rice from the moon, the people had to go starving and many had to eat off dustbins. J.R. may have had his nurotics, but the people had enough to eat any amount of grain and dress better after ’77. So what is this Woman writing, cheered by her cronies?
gamini - August 31, 2012
8:11 pm
JRJ was a god awful creep whose cronies orchestrated the 1983 pogrom and the murder of thousand so Tamils and set Lanka on the path of 30 years war!
The sad fact is that none of Lanka’s presidents have done much for the country and have merely used their office to further their greed for power or wealth or both. Of course the current MR regime takes the cake for destruction of institutions and looting of the country. But least this lady Babs is speaking out and trying to make a change unlike Mairtree Wickramasinghe who is sitting pretty in pious white and letting he husband ruin the single largest political party and opposition in the country.. RW and MW are the pits!
Dodo - September 1, 2012
1:04 am
I have nothing to do with governing of Sri Lanka.
I was just paying my debts to my huonorobaal as he got me out of the noose.
so I had to do some thing for them, just few hundred bumpings, does it matter?. That is not thuggery.
I do not think so. because, they are not patriots to Sri lanka like my bosses.
You see how patriots they are, they raking money from western countries and tax heavens to Sri Lanka to develop like no other.
You See we got Electrical power lines to every toilets in the country,even there is no electricity power in National grid.
I hope Swiss Banks will come to Sri Lanka to barrow money very near future.
Who Else can do like that,
Evan we can make you disappear in one second, Grate magician HOUDINI could not do like that.
Pls Do not use the ward VOTING, THat Side, We will Look after. do not worry about that.
JULAAMPITYE AMARAYA - August 31, 2012
9:25 am
Everthing happening is taken on with a sense of humour which you
nor your name lacks`!
A good pastime for arm-chair commentators, whilst the Country goes
to the dogs.
punchinilame - August 31, 2012
1:51 pm
DEAR SIR, NILAME PUNCHI.
DO YOU THINK THAT, WE ARE NOT DOING SOME THING FOR OUR MOTHER LANKA.?
JULAAMPITYE AMARAYA
JULAAMPITYE AMARAYA - September 1, 2012
3:37 pm
I tend to generally agree with Gamini’s sentiments. It is only when the previously privileged classes are displaced from the trough that they start to squeal. Power has dramatically shifted from the Colombo/Kandy elites to the uncultured, uneducated former under-class and they are enjoying a kleptocratic, megalomaniac spree to make up for 50 years in the political/economic wilderness. The real shocker, unlike previous looting regimes though is the complete absence of shame, accountability and consequences for even the most heineous of actions! The only parallel I can think of with the brutal, crude, crassness that passes for leadership today is the short, unhappy reign of Saddam’s mentally defective sons. Some in the present regime could very well end up the way they did or then again, maybe, they will surprise everyone and unintentionally leave something of enduring value when they are gone. Dont forget that after initially getting suffocated, grass grows greener and taller in cow dung.
Janus - September 1, 2012
1:04 am
Excellent, thanks please keep it coming Babs! We need to expose the hypocracy of the regime and its partners like the JHU war-mongers in the name of Buddhism – the Saffron terrorists of Lanka, who are working to destroy the space for pluralism and religions and cultural diversity:
Athuraliye Rathana, the principle saffron terrorist says that his party will bring an act in parliament for preventing animal sacrifice and torture in the country. It would be more appropriate to being in legislature to prevent human sacrifices, white van dissapearances torture and summery executions of HUMAN BEINGS in Lanka by the current regime and Gota the White van goon’s private militia – the Rakna Lanka outfit. Legislation is needed to ban militarization and military businesses.
Don Carolis - September 1, 2012
2:31 am
Thanks Barbara,
Sri Lanka has become a country governed by one family at the helm, surrounded by another 100 of extended family and subservient goons, thugs and bootlickers. Take any important official top level meetingof international imprortance where important discussions, recommendations, dialogues and foundation talks are held.. who attend them.. just the three brothers….oneof whom has been given the right to have the hand in the kitty to throw public money in bying popularity, the other has his both hands and legs on triggers to hit anybody with threats and abuse to stop any criticism and the big boss’s life has been made easy and carefree.. MEET THE SRILANKA CORLONE(GODFATHER) FAMLY..The two brothers have been given unconstitutionl power and authority. How come the public has become so indifferent and inert.??
Lankamithra - September 1, 2012
8:08 am
I agree with all of Barbara’s facts – we all know them to be true.
However, I don’t quite agree with Babara’s analysis which places the blame on the politicians (from JR to Chandrika to MR to “left” political leaders to others; from SLFP / PA, UNP to JVP and other political parties.) Your analysis in blaming the politicians and political parties assume that the citizens of this country who elected these politicians / political parties are victims. Hang on! Didn’t these “victims” actually elect those who having being victimizing them for so long and continue to do so? (The only execeptions would be Wijeweera and Prabakaran because they were not elected, not because they did not “victimize” the citizens).
So who is really to blame? Those who victimize the citizens, or the citizens who repeatedly to elect those who victimize them?
You may ask – what are the alternatives? Do we not have to pick the “best” from the worst?
Here are some basic alternatives (there are many more – may be I will write about those another time) instead of electing the “best” out of a rotten set.
1) Select none (boycott)
2) Throw rotten eggs and vegetables at any who victimize you and carry out a civil disobedience campaign (remember that Arab spring was not an organized movement but actions of many completely fed up individuals to overthrow the system)
3) Stop listening to propaganda and start thinking for yourselves (sorry, I have to say this – though we in Sri Lanka boast or our very high literacy rate, to me, it does not extend beyond reading the board in front of a bus saying its destination / route).
Ruki Herath - September 1, 2012
9:05 am
Dear Barbra….Lies, Lies and more lies… Yrs very true.
But, who does not LIE in these days and times ??
Lies every where… Weapons of Mass destruction & what not…..
All politicians do and they indulge in abundance.
Furthermore insufficient priest to listen to confessions as Clergy themselves are involved in deceit.
dicky Bird - September 1, 2012
9:07 am
I salute this brave lady.
She is suited to lead the nation.
Sam - September 1, 2012
1:12 pm
Hi Sam,
Sorry, I disagree with you. While you and I both agree on the facts Babara has so clearly presented and the fact that she deserves our gratitude for the bravery she has shown, the love for the country she has shown and the clarity with which she has presented the facts, if we don’t realize that we the people are more at fault of what is wrong with our beloved country (as opposed to the politicians, who anyway are elected buy us!), we will be in the same s**t forever.
If we don’t realize this soon enough, our grand children (or great children) will have to rebuild this country from absolutely nothing.
Ruki Herath - September 1, 2012
1:21 pm
SAM THE MAN.
I HOPE YOU CAN LEAD THE NATION BETTER THIS LADY.
WE JUST LAYMEN, SO OUT OF THE LINE.
SERUVILA SENARATH
SERUVILA SENARATH - September 1, 2012
3:41 pm
When things go bad it is not right to blame the other parties.. UNP and SLFP had god given right to govern this country for a long time. They made a big mess. Leader is suppose to be a visionary, Dr. N. M. Perera was one of them but we chose JR and Premadasa then they introduced this executive presidential system (french fifth republic) which is half/half and no accountabilty.
Merril - September 1, 2012
6:05 pm
SERUVILA SENARATH
It worked every time and still a good excuse to use blame the former leaders, Works fine for Obama four years on Bush is the target so why not in Sri Lanka.
len - September 3, 2012
1:02 am
Rajapaksa is so convincing that I myself hoped that he will be a gem of a President for this country. It didn’t take long, however, for me to realize the truth. But, what is so exasperating is that, after so long, many still hope for some miracle to transform him into the benevolent leader they yearn for. I wonder what will it take for them to see the reality. I’m not holding my breath, though. When religion can convince people to believe in things without a shred of evidence, it is no surprise that these same people will keep believing in things that have no chance in hell of becoming a reality (use of ‘hell’ was intentional).
Samantha - September 3, 2012
9:24 am
THE SINHALA MEN ARE PONNAYAS. THAT IS WHY WE ARE IN THIS MESS.
WE WERE BETTER OFF WITH SIRIMAVO AND CHANDRIKA!!!!!!!!!
AYMAN - September 10, 2012
6:31 am