Joke of The Year- Anura Bandaranaike Returns to Watch Sigiriya Frescoes!

By Darmitha-Kotte

Stern disciplinary action by President Rajapakse against three dissident Cabinet Ministers for their unpatriotic secret manipulations has taught Anura Bandaranaike a bitter lesson within a mere matter of 5 days. Opening his eyes to the blaring fact that no Cabinet portfolio means-no perks, no official residence, no security guards or the other fanfare that goes with the position, made him eat "humble pie" and swallow his own words when he disgracefully went to meet President Rajapakse on 14th February 2007 at Temple Trees! Now it proves to all who is" indecent"- the old Royalist Walauwe Haamuduruwo or the Appuhamy from the South? "Welcome back to enter " the carnival of clowns."

To command respect from the government or the people of this country, whether it be an Appuhamy or Walauwe Haamuduruwo, he must have self-discipline and principles which guide him through public life and where the ordinary man on the street can respect him for the example he sets. Anura Bandaranaike has proved to the entire country and the world at large, that he does not possess these qualities- what a shame? Five days ago, he thought he was being heroic when in the August House of Parliament, he thought he could insult the President and hurl scathing attacks on those who are working patriotically for this country and the people. Five days later he goes to meet the President and takes pictures for press release, in a cordial conversation with President Rajapakse- which action is more noble, is upto the readers to decide.

Having swallowed the bait of CBK and those conspiring to oust the government, Anura Bandaranaike has proved that he is not to be trusted anymore and that he is a man with absolutely no self-respect if his allegations against the government were true and accurate. An ordinary Appuhamy on the streets definitely has much more pride and self-respect Mr. Bandaranaike.

Holding press conferences and making scathing attacks when the fault lies with one's own self, is exposing to the entire world what a low down individual a person can be. Right now our country is on a path of making the "terrorists also eat humble pie" for all the lies that they have been spreading around the world for nearly thirty years. This is the time when the entire nation is watching our politicians to see which ones are patriotic and selfless in their public offices and which ones are loyally working for the President and government of Sri Lanka. It is time to make another speech in Parliament and apologize for mistakes!

We are fed up with pampering " time-servers" who are the bane of this country and who are a total liability to The State. Traitors of the SLFP or government cannot and should not be tolerated at all no matter whether he happens to be the son of two highly respected former Prime Ministers of this country. Let us not talk about being the brother of a former President-CBK because she is made of the same stock and is as arrogant and conspiring as the brother. If she thinks she is returning to power in April 2007 to lead the country that alone shows how far removed she is from reality and the naked truth- that Sri Lanka has had enough of her and does not want her in this country anymore. The swan song of the Bandaranaike's is already visible!

Every politician in this country must learn a good lesson from this incident that discipline is absolutely necessary - if they want to continue in politics in this country. For two long, the likes of Anura Bandaranaike have been eating into our State Coffers and enjoying life and globe-trotting talking nonsense and thinking that they are doing a marvelous job! The Ministry of Tourism almost went bankrupt during the one year of Anura Bandaranaike's Ministership.

Let us sincerely hope that Anura Bandaranaike will see "nude Sigiriya Frescoes" with different glasses now as against five days ago! Let us hope that he will work to change that awful office where the Secretary has no desk or seat to work on-those are his duties as Minister- to organize and do some constructive work! Let us also hope that this decent old Royalist will truly mend his ways and prove that he is a better and decent Walauwe Haamudurwo than Appuhamy. Let him also realize that it is not the Walauwe Haamuduruwos that are holding this country together BUT the Appuhamys who are toiling out there out in the sun to give us "our daily bread" and preserve our culture and heritage. Take a lesson from them Mr. Bandaranaike! It is never too late to learn from past mistakes and mend one's ways provided Sri Lanka is "priority No.1."