{"id":72905,"date":"2017-12-18T21:00:53","date_gmt":"2017-12-19T03:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=72905"},"modified":"2017-12-18T13:47:38","modified_gmt":"2017-12-18T20:47:38","slug":"jumps-leaps-and-somersaults","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2017\/12\/18\/jumps-leaps-and-somersaults\/","title":{"rendered":"Jumps, Leaps and Somersaults"},"content":{"rendered":"

translated by : A.A.M.NIZAM \u2013 MATARA<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n

Th<\/strong>is is the translation of an article by Theja Godakanda Aratchi published in the Lankaweb.com on 18th<\/sup> December, 2017.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Our elders used to predict about the emerging rain season from the croaks of the frogs that filled the ears.\u00a0 This country\u2019s political land was under a severe drought for nearly three years and owing to the local government election rain that is due to fall soon the ears of us, the general public are being thundered with the croaks of the political frogs.\u00a0 But before the croaks of these bipeds what focussed the attention of the people were their jumps.\u00a0 Especially it is significant about those who were in the joint opposition and jumped to President Maithripala Sirisena fold and those who have decided to jump.\u00a0 Although others say that they will jump now, jump soon they are very strategic.\u00a0 They are on the watch out of the colour and the quantity of the rain.\u00a0 As there is an anecdote saying think before you jump\u201d one cannot dispute that also.\u00a0 The President is keeping the net of \u2018ministerial portfolio\u2019 to net the frogs jumping towards him. There is no need to say about the attractive things within such a net.\u00a0 This is the best example to counter the saying that there was a real change after 2015.<\/p>\n

These people may have made an assessment of the prevailing situation of the government.\u00a0 Although a group including Dallas Alahaapperuma several months ago said about a group planning to join the joint opposition from the government side and the government will be toppled within a few days such a thing did not happen.\u00a0 The Prime Minister stated clearly that if the UPFA group leaves the government he would form a government with the TNA. \u00a0<\/strong>Although he TNA is the official opposition, they function as a part of the government.\u00a0 It is certain that other minority party groups also will join them.\u00a0 Most of the responsible people in the government do not have a concern to think about the future of Sri Lanka because they do not have princes to crown after them even for devouring everything. Others also after earning as much as possible could send their children to a foreign country and die comfortably.\u00a0 None of these people think about the 20.8 million people of this country. Therefore it is not a concern for them if anyone made somersaults or devoured the country by making it into many pieces after them.\u00a0 Especially, handing over the future of Sri Lanka to the United National Party which destroyed in the 1980 decade more than 60,000 of the future youth generation which had at least some political vision and was like the backbone of this country and for a combine with the Northern politicians who white washed the terrorists who killed and destroyed the erudite and intelligent politicians of Sri Lanka is extremely dangerous. \u00a0\u00a0Therefore, it is pertinent to think a little about the attempt of toppling the government. On the other hand people also should think about the policy of partitioning this country and selling these assets to foreigners.\u00a0 It should be the people who must think about this because the majority of our politicians and our so-called international friends have no concern at all about Sri Lanka\u2019s future. Although the contemporary Sri Lanka is referred to as a Democratic Socialist Republic there is neither Democracy nor Socialism in this country.\u00a0\u00a0 Even a small child of a non partisan parents without any party colour allegiance will vouch that the objective of those who jump from party to party in the name of people\u2019s welfare and those get Ministerial portfolios to suit them are only concerned about their welfare and their sustenance.\u00a0 Therefore the responsibility of lighting the yellow colour at this junction which falls into the government\u2019s path and obstructing that haughty drive rests in the hands of the people.<\/p>\n

When all these things are arranged with each other it cannot be left aside various kinds of jumps that come into the mind.\u00a0 It is very rare to find in the present parliament who has not made such jumps.\u00a0 These jumps did not start recently and sometimes there were no justifiable reasons also for such jumps.\u00a0 Vijayaananda of Galle and Ronnie de Mel of Matara are such persons. When we were schooling it is without the knowledge of the depth of these somersaults we used to call Ronnie de Mel Panee the Pil\u201d.<\/p>\n

The present Minister of Finance and Media Mangala Samaraweera and his father Mahanaamaa Samaraweera are such persons.\u00a0 Today the Rajapaksas are like poisonous leaves (Andu Kola) for Mangala Cobra.\u00a0 It was saying to protect 6.2 Million mandate given by the people Mangala, Gamini Viyangoda and a gang held a demonstration in Matara on 25th<\/sup> November. It is something that Mangala should ask himself to whom it is being said and why he had to stand in front of the Matara sacred Bodhiya holding placards. And the other thing it was seen as a croak of premonition of the local government election rain that was to be announced on 27th<\/sup> November and about the somersaults that are to be started within a few days.\u00a0 People\u2019s mandate is not something that cannot by snatched away or that can be kept under lock and key. If the promises made to the people\u00a0\u00a0 in obtaining that 6.2 million mandate have been fulfilled those who hold state power need not stand under the hot sun on street corners. It becomes a question to ask whether the voters are a herd of bulls that can be handled by everyone as per their needs.\u00a0 But there is also a group that goes on the way they are being led by their master with a stick in his hand as well.\u00a0 The best example in this regard got imbedded in my heart also centres Mangala Samaraweera.<\/p>\n

In 1987 the young Mangala returned from London and came to reside in the 4th<\/sup> Cross road of Walpola in the Matara town in the house opposite to my house.\u00a0 Prior to that that house was the UNP office from 1977 and it was kept closed for some time.\u00a0 Then the UNP MP for Matara was S.K.Piyadasa who was Mangala\u2019s uncle (Mother\u2019s sister\u2019s husband). I have heard that earlier it was the office of Mahanama Samaraweera.\u00a0 I was a student during the time of the 1977 election. But we had the quandary about this party office.\u00a0 Girly Akka who was resident in the house behind our house was a staunch UNPer.\u00a0 There was a big commotion one evening when a party meeting was held at the UNP party office.\u00a0 That was for election of office bearers of the District Central Committee.\u00a0 We clearly heard the proceedings of that meeting.\u00a0 The voice of Girly Akka\u2019s protest for not offering her a position clearly ringed in our ears.\u00a0 She asked Mr. Piyadasa, Do you remember we were in the UNP when you all were in the Communist Party\u201d. It was clear that she made this reference to remind about Mangala\u2019s father Mahanama Samaraweera\u2019s political activities in the Communist Party.\u00a0 It was later I comprehended that one of the group involved in this dispute belonged to those who claim that they are green even if they were cut and the other group belonged to the herd that goes on the way they are being led by their master. (In Matara it is common that staunch UNPers say that they are green even if they were cut implying that even their blood is green \u2013 translator\u2019s addition). Those who held the demonstration in front of the Matara sacred Bodhiya on November 25th<\/sup> had no necessity about those who are outside these two groups. This is the calamity of politics in our country.\u00a0 As long as these two groups exist we cannot expect a positive political future in our country.<\/p>\n

I still remember my mother laughing at when Mangala came to Matara as the SLFP President of the Matara electorate in 1987 and occupied that house and it became the SLFP office saying that naming of the houses also changes in accordance with people\u2019s politics.<\/p>\n

When he submitted nomination for the Parlismentary election of the Matra district the whole country was inflamed with the youth uprising of the Patriotic People\u2019s movement.\u00a0 It was just like the riddle of fire above and fire underneath. In that era in which the youth uprising gathered momentum as an alternative to UNP governments acute dictatorial attitude and inhuman measures taken by the government to suppress the youth uprising the\u00a0 Pavana\u201d presentation of Nanda Malini which had been created to espouse feelings of the reality in the hearts and minds of the people became a great attraction n all Universities.\u00a0 A set of cassettes of this presentation had been issued and there was a great demand for them.\u00a0 Mangala had also purchased these cassettes. At that time it was the Pavana cassettes that Mangala used at his propaganda meetings.\u00a0 I still remember Mangala on top of his voice asking one of his acolyte Kalu Mahattaya only Pavana okay, only Pavana\u201d.\u00a0 It is how he addressed the feelings of the people then before making a great leap to the UNP. When we look at these things there had been only misleading in these activities.\u00a0 The future activities of these misleadings were establishment of the Mothers\u2019 Front of Missing Persons in 1990 and making a leading role in digging mass graves in 1994.<\/p>\n

Against whom it is?.\u00a0 Mahinda Rajapaksa who sat in the chairs in the portico of Matara SLFP\u00a0 office and held discussions with Mangala was not a stranger to that house.\u00a0 Those days as Mahinda was appearing for human rights issues of the youth who smashed the suppression of the government Mangala may have got inspirational ideas from Mahinda.<\/p>\n

At that time a bomb attack was carried out at Mangala\u2019s Party Office in the mid night.\u00a0 On hearing this news lot of people gathered at his party office next morning to find out what happened.\u00a0 Among them was one of his relations.\u00a0 Mangala asked from him in a loud voice\u00a0 After being with Dayananda and his people are you coming now to show your face and see what has happened?\u201d\u00a0 The house of Dayananda Wickremasinghe who was the then MP for Akuressa was situated a few yards away from Mangala\u2019s house.\u00a0 Althugh Mangala took it on a personal basis, \u00a0his relation was in fact a UNPer but not a person actively involved in politics. These immature qualities that existed with him then seem to exist still and this was displayed in the November 25th<\/sup> demonstration as well.\u00a0 That allegation against Dayananda on hurling a bomb could have been true also but he did not take any action to prove it.\u00a0 He did not do anything other than making allegations.\u00a0 In that election as the JVP has declared their jungle Law of Death for those who vote\u201d majority of the people did not cast their vote and the government and opposition candidates with armed guards impersonated as much as possible. It is true in respect of Mangala as well. As there was no much difference among the politicians of the two groups holding power in the society which was in an uncertain status in the face of the Deshapremi Janatha Viyaapaaraya (DJV).<\/p>\n

The subject about the Leaps and when it is turned towards Mangala he has an inherited talent about Leaps.\u00a0 The mistake is making isuse of people\u2019s feelings for his Leaps. He talks about the number of telephone calls taken by Mrs. Shraanthi Rajapaksa on the day of Thajudeen\u2019s death not on a professional basis but Just as whatever that came to his mouth.\u00a0 In it there is also an attempt to justify the calls received by Ravi Karunanayake from Arjuna Aoysius.\u00a0 If it can be balanced saying that for this\u201d what is the meaning of the 6.2Million mandate?<\/p>\n

There are many more things that can be balanced in such manner.\u00a0 His father named the bridge across the Nilwala river as the Mahanama Bridge\u201d and Mangala got this bridge renovated and instead of the old plaque fixed a new very expensive plaque and baptised it as Mahanama Bridge\u201d When he was the Minister of Housing and Public Utility under Chandrika Kumaratunga government his mother Mrs. Khema Samaraweera due to a fall got her spine fractured. To facilitate his mother to climb up and come down he got an electric lift fixed in his official residence at a cost of over Rs. 25 million. When the media enquired about it he said that the lift will become useful to anyone\u00a0 This is how he performed maternal worship,\u00a0 His Credit Card matters can also be not forgotten by the people.\u00a0 When speaking about D.ARajapaksa foundation what the people should understand is that there is lime in\u00a0 everyone\u2019s lime holders.\u00a0 Therefore these Leaps do not change to whichever side they Leap.<\/p>\n

When Mr. Mahinda Rajaoaksa was the President the Temple Trees it was referred to as the Pinnawala.\u00a0 At that time most of the UNPers who were suffering under the bitter taste of continuous defeats in order to get their ministerial expectations fulfilled and having no other alternative visited the Temple Trees frequenty and another group revolted within the party itself against the leadership of Ranil Wickremasinghe. Mangala who had formed a new party in the name of SLFP (People\u2019s Front) by 2010 joining with the UNP branding Sarath Fonsea (who was condemned by him as fit only to lead the SaLvation Army) as a war hero and supported him in the 2010 Presidential Election.\u00a0 After a few days he permanently joined the UNP. In 2013 he used his stooges and attacked a foot walk with cinnamon poles in Matara which was being held against Ranil Wickremsinghe\u2019s leadership in the UNP and it was Mangala who forced abandon this foot walk meant to go to Colobo.\u00a0 As it is being said today if they can form a government with the cooperation of minority parties then why Ranil Wiciremasinghe did not come forward for the presidential election of 2015 instead of Sirisena?\u00a0 Those days based on the number of MPs they had their only objective was to weaken the SLFP.\u00a0 Accordingly at the time of 2015 August election period John Aeratunge;s the Police and the governed are ours theory may have been in operation clandestinely. The group that helped in this effort most was those who were with Mahinda until January 8th<\/sup> and jumped to Sirisena\u2019s fold by January 10th<\/sup>.\u00a0 The most hilarious thing was Nishantha\u00a0 Muthuhettigama who destroyed a\u00a0 stage erected for Sirisena in Baddegama and got a case filed against him by the Police are appearing for that case as a Deputy Minister of the government.<\/p>\n

Therefore, people should not get upset about these jumps, leaps and somersaults and about those who are involved in these acts. For politicians it creates a fear because it shatters their political foundation. The best thing to do at a time when an election approaches is not to bother about these jumps, leaps and somersaults and think independently about your self protection.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

translated by : A.A.M.NIZAM \u2013 MATARA This is the translation of an article by Theja Godakanda Aratchi published in the Lankaweb.com on 18th December, 2017.\u00a0\u00a0 Our elders used to predict about the emerging rain season from the croaks of the frogs that filled the ears.\u00a0 This country\u2019s political land was under a severe drought for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-72905","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-aamnizam"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72905","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=72905"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72905\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=72905"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=72905"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=72905"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}