By Fr J.C. Pieris –
If you desire, if you want, a country with law and order; start with yourself. Do not give or take ‘santhosams’ or bribes. Do not cut the lines on the road. Stand up for your rights. When the rule is broken, by anybody whosoever, expose him. If you see something, say something; don’t be silent. The social media is there for it.
It is time that all the good people of the country seriously address the problems of the country and take matters into their hands. If we allow the country to be run by the present mafia (or junta) of smartly-tailored criminals and uneducated buffoons in Diyawannawa, we are going to lose everything, including our country. Come next presidential/general election we’ll do just that, take matters into our hands. We, The Grand Alliance of Good People (GAGP) shall form the governance we want. Good governance, respectful governance, sympathetic governance; governance by ladies and gentlemen intelligent, qualified, hardworking, unselfish with “Alpechcha” life styles and with fire in their bellies to put food in the bellies of every single man, woman and child in the country ASAP. “Not a single citizen will go to bed hungry” will be our noble goal.
Recently a man who climbed an arecanut tree to pluck nuts for sale fainted and fell off the tree and died. The post mortem revealed that he had not eaten anything for two days. – social media. The King and the Judge of the universe, Jesus Christ will condemn the government at the Last Judgement “I was hungry and you did not give me food.” Statistics of surveys have shown how many little ones are stunted for lack of proper nourishment. How many children drop out of school for lack of funds for books and busses. How many elderly and ill are dying of wrong medicines, adulterated medicines or bogus medicines, all because of Keheliya the criminal. The Supreme Court’s verdict on Rajapakses and their top administrative officers confirmed it. The goats of Diyawannawa and their partners in crime will all go to hell.
If we want a hunger less country let us be aware of the current dismal situation and not begrudge a meal to any hungry person we meet; a glass of water, a cup of tea to a thirsty man; clothes, books and bus fare to a child to go to school; help someone ill to get medical care. We need to foresee the type of country we dream and begin to create it now. System-change demands not just political changes but social, cultural changes and very specially changes in our attitudes.
If we dream of a country where people often smile and laugh, let us begin to smile and laugh now, in spite of all the hardships and tragedies of a bankrupt country run by scoundrels and fools. If we dream of a country where women and children are respected and protected on the roads and in the public transport system; let us start with ourselves now. If we dream of a country where people fraternally help one another; let us begin to be concerned about others, like Good Samaritans. As Mahatma Gandhi said; let us be the change we want for the country. This may sound like a sermon from a pulpit. I cannot help it; I am a catholic priest. But I am a citizen first and I am trying to do my duty by my country.
If we want a country run by A Grand Alliance of Good People; we must work towards it tirelessly. We have waited passively for the last seventy-five years allowing a few families, a kleptocracy, to do politics. And they cleaned out the country of all its wealth and indebted the future generations to the world. Now let us be active and take matters into our hands. We know where the GAGP is found at the moment. It is very clear to all.
All the old crooked political leaders and their robber barons who ruined this country are coalescing to defeat and destroy the base of the GAGP. But they will not succeed. After an electoral victory our primary task will be to punish them and recover the loot as much as possible. The people need it so that justice is seen to be done by them which will help them somewhat bear the economic burdens the criminals have imposed on them. For the truth of the matter is it will take time to get the economy of the country back on track. We need to patiently put in a lot of hard work.
Let us spread the good news by word and action that we can save this country and the only way to save it is to bring about a government of good people, honest people, committed people, peaceful and fraternal people, a GAGP. And we know where it is. While becoming the change we want for the country, which in other words is system-change in depth, spread the message of hope, inform and convince people and we shall overcome.
Naman / February 8, 2024
“When the rule is broken, by anybody whosoever, expose him. If you see something, say something; don’t be silent.”
Father, you are RIGHT to say this but not in SL, where the victims are made to be the accused.
What happened to so many whistle blowers/ journalists/cartoonists/ politicians who have suffered because of their stands. A student who said that Namal R had undue advantage during the Law examination, was harassed. Why are the security forces attacking/arresting peaceful protestors in the north on the Independence Day
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Naman / February 8, 2024
“The social media is there for it.”
When one uses the Social Media, he/she may be charged for breaking the currently passed bill on on-line safety.
Father, will you not accept that the country is BANKRUPT financially and morally
because of the ILL-TREATMENT OF THE MINORITIES [ including the up-country estate workers] for more than 7 decades. At least try to let the MINORITIES live in peace with their due rights. With huge contingent of defence forces in the North and East, aren’t they living in OPEN PRISON?
Serve JUSTICE equally to ALL SL Citizens.
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Sinhala_Man / February 9, 2024
Dear Fr J.C. Pieris,
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You gave us an inspiring article two weeks ago:
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https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/renascence/
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Thanks for following up with this. You speak very clearly, and about specifics. You also have a sense of humour which is of immense importance! No, it doesn’t sound like a sermon from a pulpit!
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If only others also could combine honest writing with the acknowledgment, “I cannot help it; I am a catholic priest.” And then you make this very important pronouncement, that you are a “citizen of Lanka first.” Of course, Catholicism brings with it a Universality, but not, you say, at the expense of identification with our people.
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I hope that this article will generate many positive observations. In the responses to the last article we were being harried by what Ruchira identifies as “concern trolling.” I looked up the term; it fitted exactly.
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But now, I’m getting more hopeful that “leelagemalli” will stop just spoiling the progress being made by the NPP. The two links that he has given here
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https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/npps-visit-to-india-learning-from-indias-success/
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make me hopeful.
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Panini Edirisinhe
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Ruchira / February 10, 2024
Dear Panini,
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Good that you looked up what the term concerned troll means.
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He is pushing the extreme right wing narrative I referred to in several comments I made under the last article written by Rajan Philips posted here few days back.
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Part of their strategy is discreditting the youth, particlularly Gen Z and even Millenials. Many reasons for this. But I wouldn’t go into detail here as SJ is already complaining I write pages and pages and make claims without a basis. He however hasn’t told me what those claims are that I make without a basis.
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But the relevance here is that lot of local youth support the JVP/NPP. Infact Aragalaya was referred to as an uprising of the youth who want a System Change. So this attack on the youth is infact an attack on NPP.
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That said some of these extremely right wing (known as far right or even alt right) individuals have vile personalities. Some are down right dark and may have the collection of personality traits known as the Dark Triad (you may look it up if you have the time) that consists of Psychopathy, Narcissism and Machiavellianism.
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Have a great weekend!
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Paul / February 10, 2024
‘If you desire, if you want, a country with law and order; start with yourself. Do not give or take ‘santhosams’ or bribes. Do not cut the lines on the road. Stand up for your rights. When the rule is broken, by anybody whosoever, expose him. If you see something, say something; don’t be silent. The social media is there for it.’
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Father you are right, but everyone knows what happens to those who protest against or expose criminality. Are you saying that this is the price the GAGP has to pay for a better tomorrow?
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Nathan / February 9, 2024
A Grand Alliance of Good People.
… let me think … .
Fr J.C. Pieris is making joke of Sermons!
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ramona therese fernando / February 9, 2024
Beautiful message! The message needs to be expounded and proclaimed from the pulpit! Our Lankans are just awaiting the Word.
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“The King and the Judge of the universe, Jesus Christ will condemn the government at the Last Judgement “I was hungry and you did not give me food…… the goats of Diyawannawa and their partners in crime will all go to hell.”
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You know what they will tell the Good Lord? This is what they will say: “We were doing Venture-Capitalism for the good of the people. We placed the money of the Hardworking-Suffering-Lankan-Worker on offshore Futuristic Gambles. But we lost it according to your Holy Will (they will actually try to blame God for it!).” Will God forgive Them? God is ever forgiving if they say sorry. And He requires them to lay down what is left of the amassed wealth they took out of the country, at the foot of the Lankan coffers. Then all will be forgiven and they won’t go to Hell.
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nimal fernando / February 9, 2024
Very Catholic, Ramona! ……. No wonder Old Codger thinks Mudukatuwa is all Fernandos.
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The last time he started it ……. people started cursing the Fernando caste – whatever that is! ….. God bless them!! :)))
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ramona therese fernando / February 9, 2024
Now what?!!!….never mind….I don’t come from there…..don’t know anyone who comes from there either……sounds a holy place.
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old codger / February 9, 2024
Nimal
Is Ramona from Mudukatuwa?
Anyway, where are these Lankan Coffers, may I ask?
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Jack / February 9, 2024
Grand Alliance of Good people (NPP)
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nimal fernando / February 9, 2024
“A Grand Alliance of Good People.”
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The Grand Alliance of Good People is already in place …….. Ranil + Mahinda + Basil + Tiran + Lanza + Presanna + …….. how much better can it get?
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Lankans always wish for things they already have!
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Native Vedda / February 10, 2024
nimal fernando
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” ….. how much better can it get?”
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Why have you left out Wimal, Champika, Udaya, Gota, Gevindu, Namal Baby, Lohan, Cabraal, …… ?
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chiv / February 11, 2024
Be the change you want inturn
you deserve what you wished .
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