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Believing God, the Military and Mervyn
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Beijing Olympics for some reason did not get hyped enough here, as did the third Test with India. Not much was in the media on the President’s trip to Beijing too, as it usually happens, except for a few photos and some news about the Chinese government helping out Sri Lanka. That was anyway said before, when the President landed in Beijing with a record 200 plus entourage. Wondered what obscured the President in the media and found it was Dr. Mervyn the Minister. He had once again made it to front-page news, attacking the Sirasa camera crew and removing a camera, when they were pitching themselves to cover the opening of the second phase of the Kelaniya fly-over bridge.
He was accused in the media for taking the camera and then he retorted by saying he is no cameraman to get interested in cameras. SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena was questioned by the media at a media briefing about Dr.Mervyn’s behaviour and was told there’s nothing he could do about it and the Gods would have to take care of Minister Mervyn. The diminutive Labour Minister then shot back saying he is a person who worships God daily and the Gods have nothing against him. Yet the Media Minister when questioned in parliament went on record to say what Mervyn did was deplorable and he is ashamed of all that with the JHU issuing a statement to say the people cannot wait till the Gods punish Mervyn. Who else could have had space in the media with all that about Mervyn? Not even the Colombo Magistrate who ordered the police on Friday to arrest all accused in the Sirasa camera crew assault could gain that much importance in the media.
So was S.B. Dissanayake who was given redress by the Geneva based United  Nations’ Panel on International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). S.B now has to be restored with Civic Rights and paid compensation by the Sri Lankan State as requested by the ICCPR. But as someone said, that ruling does not request the Sri Lankan government or the judiciary to seat him in parliament and S.B is like any other ‘Banda’ from Hanguranketha now, whose name is in the voters’ list. Well that’s something for him, whose name wasn’t as valid as those voters for 07 years with his civic rights deprived.
Civic Rights restored from Geneva does not mean S.B as the National Organiser would be able to take the UNP campaign in the two Provincial elections to new and cleaner heights. What clean, or how clean? The Election Commissioner himself has said it’s not possible to have clean elections, not because he doesn’t want them to be fair, but because he does not have enough independent officers to staff an election. So, its now clear the elections would not be fair even if the governing political party isn’t accused of any infringement, for the Election Commissioner had said so with an organisation that calls itself the National Intellectual Council, whose intellectuals say the Election Commissioner had promised them he would take action if any complaints are made to him on the use of State resources for election work. It was just a few days before that the JVP Secretary, Tilvin Silva doled out a long list of complains on election malpractices, assaults and heavy use of State vehicles and property for election work at a party leaders’ meeting with the same Election Commissioner.
There were other news stories too that lost their due importance last week like the ban on high rise buildings in the area half a km from Temple Trees and the cancellation of the annual Madhu festival. Two things intrigued me though, about these news items. Why should the government ban high rise buildings around Temple Trees with such heavy restrictions around it for security reasons? Who would want to spend a couple of billions to be in there, not knowing when they would be able to get out, if and when the area is cordoned off for VVIP travel? Heck, there may be people we wouldn’t know.
And then the cancellation of the Madhu festival. Who would want to go there now, when even the Sacred Statue of Our Lady of Madhu isn’t safe there? Mannar Bishop nevertheless says the Statue would be brought back to its original Madhu Church and enthroned after due penitential and purification services are held. Well then, may be the festival would be held next year.
 Madhu getting cleared and amidst all the shelling, bombings and air raids right on target all the time, the Military spokesman says for the first time perhaps since the war erupted under the Rajapaksa regime, the Security Forces did not shell or bomb Mullaitivu area on Thursday night as claimed by the LTTE and they are not responsible for any civilian casualties including the attack on the Mullaitivu hospital and the District Secretary’s official bungalow, injuring the DS herself.
It’s a tough game anyway. Tougher than for the Indians playing Tests here, for at least they have a review system though on trial that could either de-umpire or un-umpire any decision made on the field by the two umpires. We have to pray to God, who would also take care of Mervyn. So, here I go with a promise to be safe on my own. At least till the next week, unless you pray for me and for all.
Kusal Perera |
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The Real Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna - by Fredrica Janz
Saturday, October 04, 2008 (542 reads)
Watching the recent performance of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna there is but one overwhelming factor that emerges. And that is the JVP's finesse, to lie.
Spurred by an un-quenching thirst for power and the undeniable fact that it can never independently assume the trappings of complete power, the JVP has but only one end result to its deadly game of cat and mouse. And that is to win.
Gold diggers and murderers forsooth, the JVP is easily the most corrupt, hypocritical party that has walked the corridors of Sri Lanka’s parliament. Split by envy and hatred even against each other, the party is governed by humans that can be described in one word – evil.
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WEBTV.LK - click to watch
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Breakaway Tiger leader sworn into Sri Lanka parliament - Reuters India
Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:24:04 GMT
Exercise restraint, Sri Lanka told - Hindu
Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:00:45 GMT
Sri Lanka: international probe called into killing - The Associated Press
Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:41:29 GMT
Sri Lanka's Dialog subscribers up 17.4 pct to 5 mln - Reuters
Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:51:51 GMT
Military: Suicide bomber kills 27 in Sri Lanka - The Associated Press
Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:31:36 GMT
'Lanka saved due to prudent measures taken early on' - Hindu
Tue, 07 Oct 2008 07:44:07 GMT
Tiger suicide attack kills 27 in Sri Lanka - AFP
Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:45:45 GMT
Sri Lanka’s renegade rebel leader turns legislator amid protests - Thaindian.com
Tue, 07 Oct 2008 07:42:36 GMT
Tiger suicide attack kills 27 in Sri Lanka: officials - AFP
Mon, 06 Oct 2008 06:45:43 GMT
Sri Lanka bestow democratic decoration to a war lord - War ... - TamilSydney.com
Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:35:08 GMT
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Sri Lankan Genealogy and others of interest at F’s Place
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