Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow – Whence, Where & Whither
By Sarath De Alwis –March 24, 2017
Sarath de Alwis
“Gotabaya can build a new urbanized technocratic civilization which is the 21st century equivalent of the magnificent civilizations that this island once built; civilizations that put us ahead of the rest of South Asia, until the Tamil invaders drove us downward and the Western invaders finished what they started” says Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka.
I will leave the brazenly chauvinist, historically erroneous part about Tamil invaders and Western conquistadors completing what they started for another day. Let me deal with Gota’s ability, capacity and propensity to build a 21st century technocratic state. Before we entrust the task of building the 21st century technocratic state, Gota should tell us who owns the house in Malwana, valued at Rupees Two hundred and eight million the source of which seems hidden in a hocus pocus riddle wrapped in a mumbo jumbo enigma.
Dayan is not the first to discover the miraculously magnificent leadership qualities of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The Business Today Magazine – the voice of our business community said it on 20th November 2014. It was barely 24 hours before Maithripala Sirisena in the company of Chandrika Bandaranayake Kumaratunge announced his Presidential wager at the New Town Hall. Readers have to forgive me, linking the former President Chandrika with the event and subsequent change that held promise now turned chimera. I confess my unabashed admiration for her political spunk. Political spunk is something Ranil thinks he has but doesn’t, Sirisena briefly borrowed from Chandrika but failed to retain.
When the Presidential Election was called, the affluent and the amoral classes riding in fast lane in Miracle country, were in a deep stupor celebrating Gota’s urban renaissance.
“The city is clean and green, pedestrians have been given priority there is a lot of activity happening and this transformation is not only in Colombo, but also in other parts of the country”.
The adulation was brazen. The Rajapaksa rule was beyond challenge. Business today mirrored the aspirations of the parasitic entrepreneurial class that supported the super structure of the patrimonial state of the Rajapaksa family. It rivalled only Suharto’s Indonesia. More than the tyrant the business class was desperate for stability and continuity. Gota was their chosen prophet.
“Continuity, is vital for Sri Lanka. We are a stable country with peace, freedom and security, our economy is vibrant and is driving forward with energy. There is greater activity and movement in the Sri Lankan economy. A change at this point of time will hamper the continued progress of this country. Can anyone deny that they are not living a better life and are able to freely move about in this country? We have emerged from a 30 year-long conflict, stronger as a nation. What we were in 2005 is not who we are today. We are proud to be Sri Lankan……. Business today takes this moment to recognise His Excellency’s great contribution to this nation by eliminating terrorism, bringing stability and peace, economic development and instilling in all Sri Lankans that we are on par with the rest of the world and have the ability to compete globally.”
Under the benign rule of Mahinda and hawkeyed surveillance of Gota there was no shortage of flagrant, ass-kissing, self-serving bullshit. The Defense Secretary’s “forte in ensuring the security of this country was highly admired.
“Only a few years ago that we were introduced to his knowledge and expertise in urban planning and development. The transformation in Colombo alone is amazing. This has been well supported by the Mayor of Colombo, A J M Muzzamil.” Hurrah!
This message conveyed to the business community gathered at the Hilton on 20th November 2014 sums up the enduring resilience of the Rajapaksa juggernaut.
The Viyath Maga gathering at the Golden Rose in Boralesgamuwa has its genesis in a more prestigious location near the Dutch Hospital, a relic left by the Western intruders who came according to Dr. Dayan J to complete the job begun by Tamil invaders.
