In defence of the Defence Secretary – The ‘four-letter-word’
Posted on August 5th, 2012

P.A.Samaraweera, Melbourne

During the last couple weeks there had been unusual publicity to some comments made by the Defence Secretary due to provocation by the Sunday Leader Editor. As people are aware, the ‘four letter word’ is freelyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ used in the Army, Navy and the Air Force. As I was in the Air Force many years ago I can vouch for this and it comes down traditionally fromƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ colonial times.

This wordƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ is commonly used in the developing countries not only by the adults but by the kids as well. When I was working as a part-time teacher in New Zealand I reprimanded a student for using this word. Without batting an eye lid he said that he as well as some of his friends, use this word in their daily conversations evenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ at home. Further, the use of this wordƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  is popularƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in films and songs. And these films and songs are not banned in Sri Lanka.

The Defence Secretary built his career in the army and until he came back to Sri Lanka lived in the states. So in his mind this word is not alien despite the fact that he is now in theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Public Service. Therefore, it is not surprising when someone keeps on provoking, to use this word in anger. Then, it is common knowledge that the Editor of the Sunday Leader, the NGO’s, LTTE backers areƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ after him for his role in winning the war. So they can’t standƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the victory against the terrrorists.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ She tried to link him to the White Flag case. But it back-fired. Sunday Leader tried to make a big story out of this recent comment. For her great disappointment the local media ignored this incident. It was only the NGO’s and human right activists who started jumping up and down. Others treated it as a storm in a tea cup !

15 Responses to “In defence of the Defence Secretary – The ‘four-letter-word’”

  1. M.S.MUDALI Says:

    GOTA was in the signallers corp which is really made many plans in defeating the LTTE. I hope a daughter of my friend too in that army.

  2. Lorenzo Says:

    It all depends on TO WHOM HE USED THE F WORD.

    If he used it against a patriot, it is bad.
    If he used it against a traitor, it is good.

    In this case he used it against a traitor so it is good.

  3. AnuD Says:

    Why Frederica is so scared to the F – word.

    It is used here in between every words like and when the sentence is over they had used it at least five times. That is the common language.

    I think, hatred towards Defense Secretary is organized force operating in the back.

  4. M.S.MUDALI Says:

    Mudalis fought but Lorenzos never did~

  5. Dham Says:

    “As people are aware, the ‘four letter word’ is freely used in the Army, Navy and the Air Force.”

    We are aware that 4 letter word is used everywhere in the white world. Just look at any white movie. Just on your TV you will here this word as a normal word.
    It is used as a welcome word in the construction industry anywhere in the dveloped world except Sri lanka. It is part of the national language of the common Australian.

  6. Marco Says:

    Whilst the contribution made by Gota in the collective effort to eliminate terrorism from our country is much appreciated as well as his capability to get things done such as transforming of Colombo to a clean & scenic place, his aggression & outbursts he displays time and again cannot be condoned. Many fingers are pointed out that he has taken the power of his brother HE the President. When similar things happen regularly such comments get confirmed. Publicly Gota has displayed such behavior at numerous TV interviews. It is ample proof that the claim for such behavior over the puppy dog issue is not a fabrication though Gota tries to downplay it.
    He must remember that he is appointed to a high office of the government of Sri Lanka elected by the people of the country and paid by its citizens. It is common sense and moral responsibility for a Civil servant to conduct in a responsible & disciplined manner & maintain the dignity of the position that he is holding. The language used is very coarse & unacceptable in civil society. Letting out of such verbal diarrhea is extremely crude even on a man, leave a side it been on a woman. Being a younger sibling of the President of the country on whom the HE depends much, such conduct is undoubtedly of immense pain and embarrassment.
    If we are thinking of making Sri Lanka the Wonder of Asia, it is not only economic development that we should hope to display to the world, but a collection of many things including good governance, acceptable health standards, better per capita income, good education as well as high moral values and professional standards of both within and outside the government.
    The whole Rajapakse family traditionally uses USA for their benefit in various ways. They take citizenship there. They invest there, they agitate the uninformed rural people against America to exploit their paranoia, and still depend on their diplomatic and military assistance. Now Gotabaya goes to the extent of using American street language to cover up his foul mouth! How shameful!
    Please take good things from the US, like the notion of citizenship, respect for freedom of expression, investment in education, research, etc. Please stop abusing US for your petty politics

  7. M.S.MUDALI Says:

    A true Lankan never ask Gota or support against Gotabhaya .

  8. Dham Says:

    Mudalith,
    Yes Marco bugger is worse than you ! Must be a Tamil from Inida.

  9. douglas Says:

    How strange it is to justify the use of foul language in a telephone conversation and that too by a high rankng public officer attached to a Govt. Ministry. We, in Sri Lanka alway hold in high esteem the exemplary behaviour both in action and word of mouth by all irrespective of anyone being in high office or not. The conversation(as reported) that took place between a journalist and a high ranking official of the State did not at all measure upto any standards of decorum and did not reflect well on our nation. One could argue it to be of no infringement of good behaviour comparing to the USA standards; but one has to remember this is Sri Lanka and not USA. When you are in Rome you have to be a Roman.

    Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa is by all means entitled to import a “puppy dog” or as a matter of fact anything, provided he complys with the laid down rules and regulations. As revealed in the conversation, he had met with all the requirements and he had well explained it. He should have stopped at that and referred the journalist to get all other information she was seeking from the carrier i.e. SriLankan Airlines. The matter would have ended there.

    We need people like Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa and I think it is permissable for us to say “sorry” and apologize on his behalf to the journalist. Yet a reminder to the journalists : Please rally round and help us to build this country rather than getting involved in trivial matters like importing a “puppy dog”.

  10. zelanica Says:

    To Smaraweera.
    and Moda MUDALI.
    So many Daughters with so many connection Were in the Army .
    Readers are not bother about that.
    As Samaraweera said;

    “”As people are aware, the ‘four letter word’ is freely used in the Army, Navy and the Air Force. As I was in the Air Force many years ago I can vouch for this and it comes down traditionally from colonial times.””

    Any Idiot in Army Or Navy CAN Use Filth As That is Their Up Bringing. No body canot Change That,

    As Example
    DOGS ARE URINATING LIFTING THEIR HIND LEGS .
    THAT IS THEIR NATURE.
    WE CANNOT CHANGE THAT.
    BUT WE DO NOT AND SHOULD NOT ALLOW DOGS TO URINATE INSIDE OUR HOMES.

    IF YOU WANT IT, SAMARWEERA, MODA MUDALI AND GOTA BAYA CAN USE THOSE F WORDS AT THEIR HOMES WITH YOUR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND RELATIVES IN THEIR ADOPTED COUNTRIES.
    BECAUSE YOU LIKE THAT CULTURE

    WE DON’T WANT WANT TO FOLLOW THEM.

    WE DON’T WANT TO ADOPT THOSE DONKEY CULTURES TO SRI LANKA.

    IF THIS GOTHA BAYA IS AN OFFICER AND GENTLEMAN, HE SHOULD HAVE TOLD JANZ WOMAN;

    DEAR EDITOR. NOOOOOO COMMENTS .

    EVEN PUPPY DOGS DO KNOW THAT “”””””” GIVE RESPECT TO GET RESPECT “””””””

  11. Fran Diaz Says:

    Gota gave an interview over the telephone to a Journalist who misused the courtesy afforded. Gota could have easily not answered the phone, or put the phone down on recognising the Journalist’s name/voice. Gota had every right to lose his temper in this instance. He probably works under a lot of pressure and the Journalist, knowing this, knew the right buttons to push to make him “lose his cool”. Our sympathies are with Gota. May be next time such crafty and mean Journalists will have second thoughts before trying to trap high ranking govt. officers into losing their tempers, or better still such Journalists will never get their interviews !

    How Journalists manage to get to Gota on his desk phone line when at work beats me ! It should not be allowed. All calls ought to be screened first.

  12. Lorenzo Says:

    What is worse, treason or foul language?

    TREASON!

    Foul language is NOTHING compared to treason.

    Some LTTE **s who can’t condemn treason are quick to criticise foul language. May all the foul language acts be upon them and their families and clans!

    IF TRUE, GR used this foul language on a known LTTE terrorist so it is MORE THAN JUSTIFIED. How else can you talk to a traitor? These words have been invented to be used on traitors.

    But I agree using foul language alone and NOT DOING ANYTHING TO ELIMINATE THIS SCUM is a problem.

    For the record traitors to UNITARY SL are not human. Treating them like human is foolishness.

  13. Lorenzo Says:

    Having said that, GR better learn to speak more decently and calmly. It is good for his blood pressure.

    And please LIMIT the use of such language to TRAITORS ONLY like Sucker and Janz which is the case. It is not on record he habitually goes around using the F word or the C word or the S word, etc. to everyone.

  14. Dham Says:

    This woman is not qulified to be Sri Lankan. Saying the 4 letter word is nothing in the western society which she belongs to.
    If shooting and killing Hon. Velupillay Prabhakaran is justifiable, asking this traitor woman to —-off is very appropriate and very very humane.

  15. lingamAndy Says:

    GR better learn to speak more decently and calmly. It is good for his blood pressure-agrred !
    This family man (I do not know how children he has) need to go to Vihara (Temple) at least every week (friday?)!

    GR , Calm down Sir ! You done good job now time to relex !!!
    DEAR EDITOR. NOOOOOO COMMENTS ! best way of relex !!!

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

 

 


Copyright © 2024 LankaWeb.com. All Rights Reserved. Powered by Wordpress