As one of the million or more citizens of our beloved land, living/working abroad, I am sure I speak for most Sri Lankans when I say that I find it sad and disturbing that the 'powers that be' have relegated us to the 'forgotten' heap in the run up to the general election. We are striving hard in foreign climes, sending back literally hard-earned money back to our home-land and we are not even allowed the courtesy of provision for casting our votes! Are we to consider ourselves 'DISPLACED SRI LANKANS" just because we choose to work overseas for a living? Where is the justice in this?? Right up to the 3rd/4th week of September, the Sri Lankan embassy had still not received any directive from Colombo as to whether overseas voting would be available to us or not. During the time of the invasion of Kuwait, we had to be registered with the embassy in case of evacuation. In like manner, at some point during our stay, we have had occasion to visit the embassy/consulate, hence, a record of our names and addresses here should be with the embassy. I cannot comprehend that it is such a daunting task to instruct the various embassies abroad to accept overseas voting. Although it is too late for us to cast our votes for the current elections, I hope this letter reaches both, the relevant authority, as well as the general public, to highlight the dissatisfaction and disillusion in being deprived of our right to vote.
While every human being should condemn the attack on the rehabilitaiton camp in Bindunuweva, more worrying problems come to my mind: Is a movement parallel to that in Jaffna taking place in the Hills? The organised counter-provocation among hill country youth appears to be only a tip in an iceberg. Has there been a sinister underhand campaign by Chandrasekeran & Co? Rousing ethnic feelings and hatred is an easy step to power. Has our Defence Forces no spy network in the hills ? It is not too late to develop one immediately. Much trouble can be nipped in the bud this way. Or are we sleeping as we slept in Jaffna?
During the last election the Prime minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake's voice on the platforms was " we will never involve Norway again, no more constitutions, 'thawalama','sudu nelum' were our stupid activities all those are gone, no more talks with LTTE but we will fight the LTTE to an end. How ever Norway is back. President CBK openly is writing letters to them to be involved. Dr Gunadasa Amarasekera had published a nice article on the Sunday 'Divayina' paper of 22nd October 2000 with the caption 'Raigamaya and Gampolaya'. Raigamaya was the Prime Minister while Gampolaya was the President. Both have cheated the 'Sinhala Gona' meaning the Sinhalese. It conculded saying now the 'Gona' has re-elected the PA they can be viewing the stage play of these two for the next 6 years. Most probably before the end of 6 years the 'kotiya' will have finshed the 'Gona' and solved the problem.
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