Sri Lanka – No Turning Back now!

By R.A.Ratwatte -September 24, 2013 |

R.A.Ratwatte

I think there are some home truths to be faced now after the last elections. Those of us who grew up in the 60’s and 70’s, who ramble on nostalgically about the values and standards we knew and even the parties we had… people it is all over !

There have been some irrevocable changes in Sri Lankan society and it has crept up on us when we were busy trying to survive the war. Over the last 30 odd years our perception of a politician ( Dudley Senanayake) has now changed to Rajapaksa. Our concept of gratification or a bribe to use sightly harsher terminology has changed from a bottle of Whiskey to a minimum payment of a hundred thousand rupees. Denzil Kobbekaduwa was our idea of an officer and a gentleman now we have another Rajapaksa or a Fonseka to choose from. Even our parties that used to reach a crescendo with loud and raucous Baila music ended with the exodus of the Burgher community and now Amaradeva and Thabla music hold sway!

Our perception of race and creed, when it only mattered if he was a” good chap” and his surname had nothing to do with it, has gone forever. This Government will use the election results to wind up the Sinhala people into thinking that the Tamils’ and of course the Muslims need to be “controlled”. You watch the spin doctors over the next few weeks and months telling the people how the ungrateful populace of Jaffna has voted for a separate state. Don’t worry they will somehow involve the Muslims’ in the devils equation as well.

The people who grew up during the war will respond with Sinhala solidarity and vote for Rajapaksa and Fonseka . Those will be the only alternatives available to the Sinhala and the UNP will HAVE to degenerate into thinking and behaving like the mainstream parties of thugs and rascals if they wish to ever command a majority again.

Forget about dreaming of having a society with old… or is it outdated, moral standards and values. When Loyalty is based on ethics and gratitude and not simply for sale to the highest bidder. The “new” people of Sri Lanka will always check if a person is from their own ethnic background and judgements will ALWAYS be based on that. Money will always call the shots as simple existence and making end meet is not possible for the “honest” …or is it outdated, wage earner.

The people have made their choice. All talk of computer “jil marts” etc have to be dismissed. The Sinhala majority has won the war and now thinks that they have to keep the advantage at all costs. Allowing the minorities to “raise their heads” will soon be considered a crime.

It is time for those who still live in nostalgia, to either leave the Country or live with an” expatriate mentality” and not get involved in the running of the Country. Enjoy the scenery, travel to your favourite places for as long as they are accessible and you can afford to and leave the governance to those who the people seem to have chosen.

After all the Country belongs to the people and the people deserve the rulers they have chosen!