Playing With Fire, Again

By Tisaranee Gunasekara -July 4, 2013 

“In sooth this was a very base madness and a most horrible frenzy.” - Anatole France (Monsieur Bergeret in Paris)

‘Nationalist Collective’ is the latest Rajapaksa-concoction, a toxic brew of fanatics and opportunists, ladled together in an effort to convince Delhithat Sri Lankais being inundated by a spontaneous anti-devolution wave. Addressing its inaugural rally, Rev. Galagoda-Atte Gnanasara Thero raised the banner of militant Sinhala-Buddhism: “This is not the time for Buddhist monks to meditate in temples…. If politicians are going in the wrong direction, we have a sacred right to step in”[i].

‘Sinhala Only’ was not the only scourgeSWRD Bandaranaikebequeathed to us; ‘Buddhism First’ is his other baneful legacy. There was no popular demand for either; the clamour came from a vocal minority of fanatics and opportunists. SWRD Bandaranaike, a consummate opportunist, saw in their marginalised demand a path to power, for himself.

Playing With Fire, Again by nelvely