28 March, 2024

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Power Of The Powerless 

By Sarath de Alwis –

Sarath de Alwis

If you think nothing will change, then do not bother to read this essay. We control our future with what we chose now. If you think nothing will change, indeed nothing will change. The absence of resolve, the presumption of the impossibility to make a change is self-fulfilling. 

Powerlessness can be transformed into a force capable of achieving justice. History does not teach fatalism.

There are moments when the will of a handful of free men breaks through determinism and opens new roads. We can make 5th August such a pivotal moment. 

The success of the political class to perpetuate itself, mired in corruption and incompetence is because of the willingness of people to willfully disbelieve what they know to be true. They are ready to bearhug the brazen untruth, because it is so bloody convenient.  

In about ten days, on 5th August the powerless will speak to power. It will be a momentary tryst the powerless will have with the self-perpetuating political class. 

Every four or five years, the powerless go through this cycle of hope followed by disaffection. We call it representative democracy. 

The Italian writer Giuseppe Prezzolini who presciently saw the rise of Mussolini and authoritarian tyranny in his land attributed his lands misfortune to the backroom deals amongst counterfeit democratic contenders who were subverting democracy. He said it for all time. 

“Representative government is artifice, a political myth, designed to conceal from the masses the dominance of a self-selected, self-perpetuating, and self-serving traditional ruling class.”

The Chili powder thrower, the ultra-nationalist with dual identity gaming the Midas touch when the revolution is abandoned in favor of tribal roots, the bloke who sleep walked in to a sea side penthouse leased by this  wifey, the four times prime minister who has known Adam Smith from the time of Adam are all part of this artifice and the myth that we call representative competitive democracy. 

They all thrive on the hocus pocus that sovereignty lies with ‘we the people’. They all hope to be back in business in the first week of September by the grace of the sovereignty of the people.  

Why do we fall into this trap election after election?  

In his celebrated discourse – ‘The republic’, Plato describes how voters manage to elect the incompetent and the self-seeking. 

“Imagine yourself in a ship. There is a captain who is taller and stronger than any of the crew. The crew (that is the voters) don’t know that the man is a wee bit deaf and is also shortsighted. Plato argues that the crew – the voters are dazzled by the man’s appearances assuming that his relative height could mean that he is a better navigator. Plato’s allegory holds a lesson. The average voter does not possess the rational faculties or the adequate knowledge to elect competent rulers.  

The controversy over the demolition of the so-called royal audience hall of King Buvanekabahu in Kurunegala is a jaw dropping demonstration of the puerile politics that passes for sublime state craft. 

Nobody has bothered to ask why this pristine ‘Versailles’ of Buvenekabahu was leased out to a private party to run a roadside eatery. In the midst of the melee, the Prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa discovered that the king of Kurunegala had a Muslim concubine. 

When I listened to the former President, current Prime minister and redeemer who ended the war mumbling about the Muslim princess in the harem of an obscure monarch, I could only weep for him recalling the apt words of Gore Vidal the reclusive iconoclast. 

“As societies grow decadent, the language grows decadent, too. Words are used to disguise, not to illuminate. Words are to confuse, so that at election time people will solemnly vote against their own interests.” 

The farcical  exchange over the council chamber of king Buvanekabahu amidst a national election constrained by a pandemic is an indicator of the impudence and imprudence of those now in power demanding a two thirds majority to shape their own ‘council chamber’ and determine the composition and complexion of their concubines. 

Last night I watched Minister Johnston Fernando who apart from distilling spirits seems to know to locate the distilled essence of 13th century Sri Lankan architecture. I also discovered that Prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in addition to his many achievements is an authority on the cultural plurality practiced in the harem of King Buvanekabahu. 

In a sense the disarming nonchalance displayed by both Johnston Fernando and the Premier is a revealing guide of the morality or its absence in our politics. 

The national heritage site has earned many labels – a brothel a bar room or a roadside inn. The debate in the heat of a general election has turned out to be a funny kind of a moral triumph for the perverted mind.

A thief who has broken into a bedroom claims his sense of shame has been outraged, and by threatening the occupants with exposure of an immoral act he blackmails them into not bringing charges for burglary.

We are a nation state with a dysfunctional democracy. Our people are largely apathetic to corruption and transgressions by the ruling clique. Mesmerized by mass consumerism we simply don’t care to find out how and why the government keeps on printing paper money. We have become a society that has put its collective conscience in cold storage. 

I have borrowed the caption “The Power of the Powerless” from the same title of a seminal paper by the Czech playwriter, philosopher and four term President Václav Havel. 

It was meant to be a discussion paper for Polish and Czechoslovak dissidents about power and freedom. 

“The Power of the Powerless” was a seminal tract that challenged the foundational fallacies or miscalculations of doctrinaire Marxism and stampeding unchecked capitalism. In it the irrepressible Vaclav Havel the  playwright with a sharp sense for poignancy uses an anecdote of a ‘shop keeper’. Behind the window of his  small food stall, he places a sign that simply states “ Workers of the world, unite!” 

It is the phrase that Karl Marx used in his Communist Manifesto to call workers for a revolution that would destroy Capitalism.

Why does he do it? He is a small-time shop keeper. What does it matter if the workers of the world unite or devoured each other?  Which is what the workers usually do when led by aimless idiots. 

He puts  up the sign with the  slogan because everyone else has put up the sign. If he didn’t put it up he feels that he could get in to trouble. The shopkeeper does not have a choice in putting up the sign. He must declare his obedience and loyalty to the State, or he will suffer.

Vaclav Havel’s shop keeper tells us the difference of the oxygen we breathe after the last presidential election in our own land.

It tells us that a sense of fear perceived or real can force ordinary people to lie to themselves. Everybody wants a ‘strong leader.’ That is how people manipulate themselves in to declaring loyalty or express admiration for a regime that is rotten in its core with blatant nepotism and tasteless tribalism. 

Why is this state so rotten? Havel’s reasons resonate with what we experience here and  now. The individual is completely degraded with a collusive media depriving people of vital contemporary information. There is a markedly meticulous undercurrent that discourages free expression. The atmosphere stifles independent thought. The state is constantly engaged in finetuning power to manipulate the collective will of the citizenry.     

The “Power of the powerless” focuses on the quiet intrusion of an intimidatory state diminishing the individual and redefining the common good. 

Havel tells us that we must view our role in relation to others in our common predicament. 

We must create a better economic and political order. If we are to do that, we must stop trying to transform politicians. Instead we should transform ourselves. 

That transformation can come only through a profound existential and moral transformation of our society. The politician we elect is the mirror image of the we the people. If he is slimy and slippery, we must ask ourselves how slimy and slippery are we?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a strong man president. He must be strong willed in his conviction that he has been elected for a specific term. An electoral mandate is not a promissory note. The dignity of the individual is intrinsically linked to the common good. The state must value the person – the individual – the citizen.   

When I cast my vote on 5th August, I will remember the mistakes we made in the four and half years of the last parliament. What went wrong? We had no rational answer as to how we should use our freedom assured by the independent institutional structures set up under the 19th Amendment.

Those who want it repealed have a plan. I draw courage from Vaclav Havel’s Power of the powerless. 

Havel tells us to gain a sense of responsibility. That is the fundamental problem with democracy. He explains “A person who has no roots in the order of being, no sense of responsibility for anything higher than his own personal survival, is a demoralized person” If nothing else we must develop a strong sense of responsibility for the truth. 

When fascism was swallowing up Europe the poet W.H. Auden wrote the poem September 1st, 1939. It is a long poem. An extract serves the purpose of this essay. 

Defenceless under the night
Our world in stupor lies;
Yet, dotted everywhere,
Ironic points of light
Flash out wherever the Just
Exchange their messages:
May I, composed like them
Of Eros and of dust,
Beleaguered by the same
Negation and despair,
Show an affirming flame.

Democracy rests on human hope. We must exercise our vote to ensure an affirming flame. 

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Latest comments

  • 11
    4

    Wonderfully well written, Sarath!
    .
    Why should I try to emulate the quality of your writing? Let me say, bluntly, vote for the “Telephone” or the “Clock”.
    .
    Yes, man! People up here in Uva don’t know what a “compass” is – so instead of trying to act superior I suggest to the villagers that they should vote Telephone or Clock. I know it creates a problem for the JVP when a fellow like me calls upon people to support the Marxists. They get called “Red Elephants” – “rathu ali”.
    .
    Dammit! We’re not in a competition to see who writes the best English. Professor Kumar David of the JVP National List can write as well as Sarath, although he’s sometimes a bit careless, and has typos, which Sarath always irons out. Let’s hope that guys like Kumar get into Parliament, together with AKD, and Handunetti. They ought to put him in, although I don’t think that he’s really been a JVP guy. He’s been a life-long Marxist (with the LSSP).
    .
    It won’t be like Chrishmal Warnasuriya who fussed so much when he wasn’t allowed into Parliament for even a day. Now the guy has become a Green Elephant!
    .
    Personally, I’m going to play safe: I will vote for the “Telephone”. Some of us must shout these things out from the roof-tops – clearly and unambiguously.

    • 2
      8

      Mr Panini Edirisinghe,
      .
      “””The 8th January 2015 election was a lottery. The people lost. Someone ended in a Penthouse. It was as easy as a walk in the park – a Global Park.”””
      .
      Preaching Good Governance From A Penthouse
      – Sarath de Alwis
      – Colombo Telegraph on 2017 or so.
      .
      https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/preaching-good-governance-from-a-penthouse/amp/

      • 3
        0

        Mr PANNI Edirisinghe, And our controversal SCP@

        Whoever whatever being said and done against Good governance, at least within the 100 day period, they achieved a lot.
        .
        Alone 19 Amendment and subsequent independent commissions saved the nation. Saved the democracy.
        If Election commssion would not have been implemented, Rajapakshes would not be able to protect the nation at least to the content they achieved so far.
        .
        Now people as if they are born yestreday, they question what DID gg GOVT achieved for the people ?
        :
        Alone for the last 9 months, INCUMBENT govt led by alleged high criminals, have achieved nothing for the people. No price reduction even in essential daily needs.
        No medicine as was the case under Dr SENARATNE who brought huge price reduction for over 80 drugs and stents prices went that deep so that the burden on heart patients would be relieved to that extent.
        .
        But Rajakashes controlled the MEDIA crooks in this country not allowing the message be painted in the favour of the previous govt. Latter is the truth if LORD buddha s true teachings are the the truths.

    • 6
      0

      I thank all that pronounce not to allow thugs, rapists, chain robbers, parliament vandalists, cheaters of all nature incl. some fake monks such as “athana methana natana rathana and barbaric BBC head aka Ghanasara”.

      I heard almost many of the SM videos proved that regardless of the community, many in lanken society would at once want “SUNIL HANDUNETTI” be elected into the parliament than Mahinda Raajapkshe. But when it is going to read the outcome, all gaping people would have been robbed by Rajapakshes for some reasons.. this would be the outcome over the years, if this tendency would change this time is beyond questionable. I really dont know how our people would feel about a better future. I mean the average srilankens the manner how they long for a better future, by sending idiots into the parliament.

      This time, it is a mixture of all in each party but I believe, TELEPHONE led by young and dynamic Sajith Premadasa could do lot more good work since he has a heart to do lot more to the destitute people. Whoever whatever being said and done, over 40% of the population of the country are not exposed to be under poverty. Those abusive men in Rajaakhse family have made every effort to burry the real numbers in srilanken statistics, so as the case with COVID patients and the death numbers.

    • 5
      0

      SM I’m still waiting to have a Telephone line installed. It’s been many months!

    • 2
      1

      Sinhala_Man: I feel sorry for you and the people of your like. What a way to decide to vote and call others to vote “Elephant” or “Telephone”? Haven’t you forgotten or just woke up from “Deep Sleep” for a duration of 4 years or more from 2105 to 2019? Or else, you were “Born” in 2019? I know and have experienced at least seven decades of “Himalayan Down Hill” slopes that these “Political Criminals” have created for this country and the people. Do you know who are these “Elephants’, “Telephone” and “Pohottu” descendants are? In my assessment, all of them are the “Political Criminals” and their “Powerful Descendants” who today are once in five years take the baton and run that “Relay Race” in “One Team” to victory to secure a comfortable and easy luxury life. If people of your calibre from Uva, form that “POWERLESS”, (the Cheer Leaders) who don’t know their power, what more hope for the people and the country?

  • 15
    3

    People’s revolution gave the birth of 19th amendment to protect the country from dictatorship or military rule. Military is to protect the nation, not to govern the nation. It is the duty of the people to protect the 19th amendment and the country. People Power can only save this beautiful country.

    • 2
      6

      Hello Ajith,

      People’s revolution gave the birth of 19th amendment to protect the country from dictatorship or military rule.

      Not many observers would characterise the 2015 as a people’s revolution.
      The 2015 election result was the outcome of two factors, which are (1) a well-executed political coup (2) the unwillingness of sensible voters to accept a ‘President for Life’ like in Africa. The purpose of the 19th amendment was entirely to protect Ranil’s premiership. Sadly, he miserably failed and his final act is the destruction of the UNP.
      Protection of the country from dictatorship or military rule were unintended consequences.


      Military is to protect the nation, not to govern the nation.

      I entirely agree with you

      It is the duty of the people to protect the 19th amendment and the country. People Power can only save this beautiful country.

      I am not sure if ‘People Power’ is a factor because the voters can be easily fooled.

      • 1
        0

        Sunil Abeyaratne,
        I don’t agree with your first para. Of course, People and Civil society wanted to completely to gt rid of the executive presidency but 19th amendment is much better than complete executive presidency. Majority of the people agreed with that in 2015 after the experience and lessons learned from the past. Executive presidency was almost closer to dictatorship. It is true both Srisena and Ranil messed up with it and further helped to protect the political coup by Sirisena @ Mahinda. The failure of the executive presidency has a duration of nearly 40 years but 19th amendment proved that it stopped both Srisena and Ranil within 4.5 years.

        • 0
          0

          Hello Ajith,
          Thank you for your response.
          I agree with you that the 19th amendment resulted in a government where executive power does not exclusively reside with the President. As such, it is undoubtedly more desirable.

          My description of the circumstances that led to the government change does not contradict your view that the 19th amendment is more desirable than the Executive Presidency. In fact, my views are the same.

          Where we disagree is; on the ‘circumstances that led to the government change in 2015’. I struggle to entertain the proposition that People and Civil society have been exclusively successful in changing the government. In my opinion, the selection of a senior SLFP minister to contest MR was a major factor in the election outcome.

          It is impossible to definitively determine (nature of societal changes) what the outcome would have been if Ranil contested MR in 2015, although my view is based on Ranil’s previous performance in elections.

          August election would NOT be good indicator because UNP is split and I would not be surprised if MR winds up getting a two thirds majority.

    • 2
      0

      Ajith,
      .
      spot on.
      If there had been no 19 th Amd, Rajaakshes would have let poor folks to die by COVID for sure. Now them being that power intoxicated and go for an election above the insecure situation of the people, it is one hand is going to be AGAINST democracy becasue HOLDING elections is always connected with people’s safety. Right at the moment, the people are not safer.
      :
      Actually this ELECITON could be held october or so because even now the numbers of the ones getting INFECTED are on a rise.
      :
      As an island nation, we could be a model country to have contained the VIRUS, but stupid men being the leaders, we lost the chance. This is not means underestimated.

  • 3
    12

    Sri Lanka is not Europe and western ideals don’t work in such backward tribal societies that are hindu, Islamic or Buddhist. Buddhist being the lesser of the evils. Since 1947 conquered colonies such as India and ceylon have being trying to implement European ideas that took 1500 years to evolve. SL just arrived at the position that Italy were under Mussolini, germans under Hitler, Yugoslavia under Tito. To mention a few. The people who are going to come afterwards are probably going to usher in a better era.

    • 9
      2

      Really, westham!
      .
      This is disgusting from you.
      .
      No wonder people like Gnanasara have a field day.
      .
      It is amazing that a guy who probably has lived in Sri Lanka should refer to those who follow the Buddha Dharma “backward tribal societies”.
      .
      Donald Trump’s brand of Christianity could perhaps be called that. Let me proclaim that I know little of the Dharma, having been brought up an Anglican. I’m now agnostic, but let me tell you that Buddhism stands far higher worldwide among intellectuals than Christianity does.
      .
      This is the website of an Israeli man:
      .
      https://www.ynharari.com/

      • 6
        0

        Dear Mr SM,
        .
        I dont think Westham is fully wrong in that. To me, the manner MAHINDA RAJAPAKSHE behaves on the public stage is beyond that of a tribal leader.
        :
        Please listen to the video below:

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y5Mop9D-d8
        -The kind of public speeches would not be legally permitted in any civilized societies. But in srilanka or the media in srialnka or the like minded countries, the kind of speeches are considered as the some songs being recited by indian classical singers before a big gathering filled with various castes.
        .
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXZQomvJn4Q

        I have the feeling those adulate Rajapakshe yet today are similar to the gathering of this singer. please study as to why a single man is kept on a swing while others sit on the floor – nodding their heads to the manner – mercy cows would do !!!

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW-vIyjaXAk

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOVvkB_-V2U

        How many among the Childless people would worry about not owning a luck to have a child, but abusive man, has the audacity to attack their feelings, but publicly… is it the way the bo-tree licking man is taught by mahasangarathanaya ?

      • 4
        1

        Sinhala_ Man: Please be informed that it is not “Buddhism stands far higher worldwide, but “BUDDHA DAHAMMA” – The Supreme Teachings of Gauthama Buddha.

    • 4
      0

      Westham@
      .
      Western ideals have worked in Singapore, Malaysia and several other countries why not in Srilanka ?

      It is no right to say, that srilanken buddhists (they are not followers of true teachings of lord buddha but more into Jainism/Jathaka story based culture as preset by ” mahawansaya”) are lesser of the evils

      Did any other religious incite riots in srilanka other than the so called buddhagama followers

      -> very recent examples of that kind of riots – were displayed shortly after EASTER SUNDAY massacre took the lives of the innocient worshippers on that easter sunday 2019. – let alone today, nobody knows who was behind it, but to me, it is becoming clear, RAJAKASHE LED sinister groups were behind that since their power intoxications are not explainable by words.
      :
      Lybians had a problem – it was GADAFI
      Iraq had a problem – it was Saddam Hussaine
      Zimbabewe had a proble – it was Mugabe
      Uganda had a problem – Idi amin
      .
      Likewise dont you guys think – SRILANKAs problem is not MAHINDA Mlechcha Rajapkashe ??????

  • 4
    5

    At the Nov 2019 presidential elections why EVERYONE was silent on the abolishing of the Executive Presidency which was the main promise and the subject of discussion at all previous occasions?
    What was Sarath Alwis’s position – does any reader remember?

    Soma

    • 4
      2

      The reason I believe is the logical conundrum they ( the usual NGO, Civil Society cabal) faced while vigorously campaigning for Yahapalana candidate Sajit Premdasa. How can you deliver those above the clouds promises he was making if the Executive Presidency is abolished?

      Soma

      • 5
        0

        Soma,
        .
        I don’t care what Sarath (whom I respect) or Sajith (for whom I care not) or you, (intelligent and polite, but taking racist, anti-Tamil stands) Gamini Somaratne in real life, has been saying.
        .
        I have consistently been saying that I want the public to become knowledgeable about how to translate their wishes into marks on the ballot paper. So few knew that they could list two persons about whose personal integrity they were personally aware of before marking 3 for either Gota or Sajith.
        .
        I don’t want an Executive President. No autocrats. Hopefully 225 honest and intelligent people seriously discussing public concerns in Parliament.
        .
        I want Law Courts making impartial judgements which accord with my common sense.
        .
        I don’t like anonymous pronouncements.
        .
        Panini Edirisinhe (NIC 48 3111 444V)
        .

        • 1
          0

          Dear S_M
          Can you help me to understand why the subject of abolishing the Executive Presidency did not appear at the last presidential election?

          Soma

  • 8
    0

    Lanka is full of political hypocrites and in that Rajapaksas are “mother of all masters”. Establishment of an Archaeological task force elsewhere to grab land/ plant military and in Mahinda,s own backyard Buvanekabahu,s Versailles was leased out for his own men,(soon came with Muslim excuse) Mahinda promises to get ride of drug menace when recent arrest were all security and task force who were in possession and were cleared within days as innocent, (they were fully exploiting the Covid Crisis). Even yesterday BIA security personal was found to have kilos of Meth Amphetamine in his possession, Mahinda accuses Sajith and family as racist when he him self had organized post Easter violence and Shaffi,s drama, Mahinda once again proved he is uncouth by discussing about Sajith,s wife but talks about family values in public. Mahinda boasted saying even if the whole world is behind Tamils they will not get what they want (autonomy ) but promised the upcountry Tamils he will not let them down. The public seems to love such hypocrisy and wants more .

  • 9
    0

    A military administration is already in motion even before the elections are over and MR getting re-elected is a forgone conclusion. This will help in rubber stamping such administration as a democratic process for the sake of international viewers. The question now ???? is it going to be 2/3 tyranny or less which in my opinion dosent even matter at this point. Regardless Lanka will reach its own end and 2/3 will only make it sooner. I still remember how much MS tried to stay in power by expanding his term.People are responsible for their own destiny and when they give such unlimited powers to politicians, they who will face the consequence.

    • 5
      0

      Dear respected, decent and honoured “chiv”,
      .
      Since you live abroad, you cannot vote.
      .
      What the result is going to be, I have no idea. I will do what I can to stop the Rajapaksa tyranny.
      .
      Technically, my vote will remain one that is floating between the SJB camp (which is far from perfect) and the JVP (who have been honourable during the two decades of the 21st Century).
      .
      If the Rajapaksas succeed in getting “unlimited powers” it will not be owing to my doing, or yours.
      .
      Please encourage as many voters as possible to vote intelligently, but in a focussed way. Who gets Preferences should be a matter of personal judgement. Surely, nine days is enough time to make enquiries about three people.
      .
      Panini Edirisinhe of Bandarawela (NIC 48 3111 444 V), voting for Badulla District candidates.

  • 2
    1

    Dear Alvin Thank you for the article.

    Democratic values – you made a case for why you would not vote for someone and is very honourable position. However state of affairs has been ever since as an evolving Nation of people we have not applied the logic sensibly to effect change/progress/development etc…I always wondered why??

    Political parties/Politicians/Party members/Potential voters to a particular party should be very clear as to what/why/how/where/when etc for the deliverables promised in the manefesto?. This should be the campaign agenda to get the message across to the masses through media/door to door campaign/meetings etc.

    What as a Nation we have done is to spend time attacking the opposition whoever that maybe for whatever reasons and set out to do political killings without ever arguing what I believe in a democracy/how/why etc to deliver the manifesto should my believe come to power. We do this before the election, during the election and after the election……….a democratic process that requires people to support whoever is elected so the term in the office can be used to deliver their respective manifestos until the next slot comes available?

  • 5
    0

    Soma,
    .
    it is just because the LANKEN politics is similar to KUNUKANDA/Garbage dumps covered with SWEET ICING OUTER LAYER – is the term to describe the situation:

    Immediately after the war is no longer there, the costs that was then invested unnecessarily should have been invested in the alliviation of the poverty levels. But srilanken mlechcha Rajapakshe did otherway around, by pawning the county to CHINESE banks, made unborn srilanken eternal debtors.
    :
    This was a trick being applied by CHINESE govt for their SELF-SURIVIVAL of their 1600 million-population on long term. They invested in countries where they could suck the interests from the loans offered to them, for their own foreign exchange.
    They picked up several leaders in several countries where they thought their INVESTMENT INJECTION could easily help

    Belarus – we in Germany are not even familiar with this country, because the leader of nation is believed to be a dictator
    .
    Maldives – they had clashes between their politicians over the years – only tourism and fish industry brought them some income, they are a very small population and the leaders are caricatured by powerful nations easily – today, they are caught by CHINESE injection to the very same manner, srilanka has faced it.
    .

    • 4
      0

      contd
      ,
      Belarus – we in Germany are not even familiar with this country, because the leader of nation is believed to be a dictator
      .
      Maldives – they had clashes between their politicians over the years – only tourism and fish industry brought them some income, they are a very small population and the leaders are caricatured by powerful nations easily – today, they are caught by CHINESE injection to the very same manner, srilanka has faced it.
      .
      Nigeria – an oil rich country – but they are caught by Chinese suckers for their naivity.
      .
      Pakistan- Not Imran Khan but former leaders abused the state to the very same manner our Mahinda Rajakashe did it.. they became rich but the country is ruined. In the backdrop they allowed Chinese injectors to suck their blood, and today they are unhappy because nothing brought much to the nation through chinese loans.
      .
      Srilanka
      Our buffaloeS, being pompous by so called war victory – won against own people (be them tamils, muslims or other, they are all srilankens), let chinese leaders to rape him easily on the cost of our tax funds. Today, Rajapakshe is seen like balloon which could explode any time and leaving a vacuum – he is naked as no other high criminals in prisons.

      • 1
        1

        Dear leelagemalli
        You are not helping me understand why the NGO and Civil Society megaphones went totally dead on abolishing Executive Presidency DURING LAST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

        Soma

  • 2
    1

    Continued
    I totally agree if I am very poor and powerless the society that can punish me for asking the right questions too……these I know through my personal experiences in Vaddukottai where politicians/fellow citizens who can take away other fellow mans believe/wishes not through respectful discussions/arguments in a productive way but through shouting match/thuggery etc. I am sure this was the case for the rest of the country too. We have done this elections after elections that has resulted in we elevating our differences instead of removing them to be a united Nation. I agree this is a Human issue and perhaps is less prevalent in the developed Nation now.

    The result of parties setting citizens against each other instead of making their case to the people why they should be elected has indeed landed us all where we are today?…..that lead us to the miserable war taking away pressures life of the Nation……so the question is how we get can get back to democratic ways….temporarily I believe a transitional period is required for some sense of law and order/stability before the full benefits of the democracy can be applied??

  • 8
    0

    Ranil says he expects to win. “Then you will have to work with Gotabaya as President” said the reporter. “No” replied Ranil, “He will have to work with us”. What do politicians smoke these days?

  • 28
    3

    Mr De Alwis,

    Among the many ‘comments’ by the cad paid by the latest saviour of the poor, Lorry Kumara Welgama, let me say this.

    Your ramblings on behalf of the alleged ‘dispossessed’ sound only as honest and honourable as Ravi Karunanayaka’s claims to honesty.

    Thanks to almighty, your numerous quotes from unknown (and some known) Western literarti are not going to change the outcome of August 5 elections one bit.

    Subservience of people of your ilk to Western (sterile) social, political and literary values has to end.

    There seems to be no alternative to Lascarins of a bygone era, than accepting the local political and cultural mores and become ‘Sri Lankan’ once again.

    Hope you will take this simple idea to your ageing heart.

  • 6
    28

    somass

    “How can you deliver those above the clouds promises he was making if the Executive Presidency is abolished?”

    Please tell us how Father of Free Education Dr. Cristopher William Wijekoon Kannangara delivered free education to all people of this island at a time when D S S Nayaka and his Sinhala elites completely objected the very idea? Was he elected under presidential system?

    Please also tell us what the presidential system of authoritarian governance produced since 1978 and how it benefited the people at large?

    It produced more people with impunity, a sort of body armour, burned down Jaffna public Library, riots and state brutality since 1980s, 1983 riots, 1987 -91 all kind of human rights violations, 30 years of war, greedy family rule, more debts, sale of crown jewels, more riots, more dumpasses are being appointed ministers and advisers ……………… apart from making a few very rich and killing more innocent people than ever before, 500,000 unemployable dimwits been brought under arms and granded with impunity, what did it produce?

    • 1
      0

      Native
      I am with you.
      Here I am trying to understand why the usual call for abolishing the Executive Presidency went totally silent during last presidential election campaign.

      Soma

      • 2
        0

        soma

        “I am with you.”

        What are you after?
        Any cunning plan?

        • 0
          0

          I mean I will accompany you to a doctor.

          Soma

          • 1
            0

            somass

            “I mean I will accompany you to a doctor.”

            Finally you have agreed to see a doctor.
            Please hang in there, let me see if I could find a good one within the next few days.

  • 4
    0

    A fine piece of refined sarcasm by Sarath De Alwis. Iwish I could write like him instead of only making comments, which was once described by Sinhala Man as pungent!

    The style of Kumar David and Sarath are different in tenor. Each essay by any one of them, provided they do not attach their names, I could identify. One is a Power systems Engineer [Mathematics and all that or should I say cos theeta and all that ] the other a man of the Humanities.

    Anyway, the line in this essay,
    ………In the midst of the melee, the Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse discovered that the King of Kurunegala had a Muslim concubine……..
    This discovery, most probably, was made by Task force on Archaeology. The ellawela something Thero. Maybe she came from Pottuvil in the Eastern Province!
    There will be more discoveries as the days roll by and a New DISCOVERY CHANNEL will be announced by Rupavahini!

    • 2
      0

      Hello Plato,
      It would be great if Prof Kumar David is elected as an MP.
      He would grace the parliament and add to its dignity just like Dr N. M Perera, Dr Colvin R De Silva or Pieter Keuneman once did before the advent of people associated with questionable activities.

  • 1
    3

    Mr. De Alwis
    I know you can write well. However, the country has to decide on two alternatives. “A fool who is making un-sustainable promises with a foolish gang, wasting all money we have” OR ” An intelligent leader who can spend 50% money towards productivity of Country surrounded by fools , wasting remaining 50% to please the surrounding fools” I will go for Option 2 which is Gota led Government. It is the lesser of evils because we can not have no-choice. Forget about blood- thirst JVP who dragged country back many decades by leading one generation to graves. I know Sarath, you hate Gota, but people love him. Give him 4 years before criticising him. People are ready for that. Your writing would be best selling fictions among Colombo arm-chair critics and hapless diaspora. Have a good day Sarath.

  • 2
    0

    Dear Sinhala Man, I am humbled by your generosity, it is because of people like you, there is still some sanity and humanity exist in Mother Lanka. Unfortunately you seems to be in the minority.

  • 0
    0

    Sinhala Buddhism has its axial magnet that is more powerful than earth’s magnet. That is why Sarath de Alvis fell off this time. After, for long, patiently drawing illuminating, enlightening stories, Sarath de Alvis walked right to cesspool and knowing jumped into that.
    Election time; Sarath is blaming Royals for having demolished a historical royal building. After all Buvanekabahu II is Tamil Chola (Prince) King. Puvanam(Earth and its contents) is a Tamil word, born from ancient Tamil word Pumi (earth globe) The entire East is about to declared as ancient artifact sites, because Mubarak and Hezbollah declaring that Mohamed was born in Sigiriya not in Mecca. Further Hakeem has challenged that East is pure Muslim province and this time SLMC must capture the East and rule it. But Senerath Dissanayake, Archeology department chief, saying the building brought down was not associated any Sinhala Buddhist royal kings. King has said that he was planning to expand the road for long time, but the hotel owners blocking his project with false claims.

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