A minute to think

The Lankan Voter

2014-12-31T01:24:00.000-08:00

Partisan impotence is over, it is the beginning of the political orgasm.

Now we see the LOVE they share, please note my sarcasm.

Another one is around the corner, an election, it’s all in the news.

Did we ask for it, do we need it, is it essential, no one sort our views.

They call for it, fight for it, sometimes kill for it too. Why?

To serve us of course; oh my my.

The campaigning is in full flow, so is the muddy blame game.

Time, money and effort all focus on how to defame.

One blows off the other’s candle hoping theirs would shine brighter.

The other does the same in return, then it’s a competition, who is stupider?

Reputation tarnished, integrity probed, patriotism questioned: only during the election.

A few months later they happily cross over; relax, there’s hardly any tension.

From the bottom of the lungs, spit being sprayed, the leaders scream.

The clueless brethren applaud, even the ridiculous statements, which ideally should be a meme.

Promises are made of course in millions, atop the plywood stage

They vary from gold chains, mobile phones, subsidies to your monthly wage.

The only ones bound by manifestos are the voters themselves.

Who is to be blamed? Us, who else?

To please the masses the preferred savoury is served.

But ironically it’s the politicians tummy that gets curved.

Gracefully dressed, often in suits, these days in sarongs.

Join their hands, smile before you and say “Ayubowan”.

Don’t be fooled, don’t be misled, it's their way of saying,

Aroota nemei, mata chandey deepang!

(අරූට නෙමෙයි මට ඡන්දය දීපන්)

Weathering all storms, they fight for a throne, a position they hope to abolish.

History keeps repeating, once appointed, the position; it only gets polished.

A single man is a minority, that’s at least what I was taught.

Not always the case, an executive president... he is a majority, he's got men in his vault.

It is a society governed passively by free markets and supposed free elections,

But organised greed defeats disorganised democracies taking it in different directions.

Elections determine who is in power not how power is used.

Like most things in our country, that, we do not know how to defuse.

Do we pick the known over the unknown, what actually drives the voter?

Is it the liking towards one or the hatred against the other?

Malinga is wrong; Are you right, media?

2013-03-06T21:38:00.001-08:00

It has often been seen in Advertising and Marketing, that he who shouts the loudest in media wins the consumer war, regardless of quality. It was Nazi propaganda Chief Joseph Goebbels who pointed out how fickle the truth can be: “If a lie is repeated publicly a hundred times, it will become a truth.” Needless of debate, media possess an enormous degree of power. How media influences the public is not the path this article intends to tread; instead, it seeks to highlight the significance of media and its existence as the fourth pillar of Democracy.

During the Russian Revolution in 1919, Leon Trotsky identified the Media, like the defence forces, as one of the key public institutions to take over, if the revolution was to be successful.

How lies are converted to truths purely through repetition, how media is used to paint beautiful stories over shameful events of the island’s revolution and how powerful conglomerates with billion-rupee marketing budgets influence media to refrain from reporting their malpractices are all but evident – particularly to the eye that sees beyond the obvious footage or the coloured print, and to the ear that has the capacity to hear beyond the crafty voice-overs.

Nevertheless, the lack of ethics and the lack of backbones have led the present day media industry in Sri Lanka to become propaganda tools of the affluent. When the Cabinet spokesperson mocks every question that’s hurled at him, when the ministers steal cameras of journalists, when journalists are assassinated in broad day light, when female parliamentarians are abused within the chamber, when ministers’ sons run riot; where have you been, you backboneless media? Where have you been, those of you who choose instead to hurl insults at Lasith Malinga on Facebook?

Let’s take a walk on the other side: Yelling at journalists is by no means acceptable, and no one should be entertained to behave in the manner in which Malinga behaved outside Sri Lanka Cricket headquarters. Despite the fact that Malinga is an accomplished international sports figure and a role model to many, let us ask ourselves - is this really the most burning issue of the country?

Back to reality: We are on the verge of being thrashed before the international community at the United Nations Human Rights Council. Sri Lanka is being picked on by every international media institution for alleged war crimes. Hatred is being spread in the name of religion and the country is on the border of another ethnic war. We are cursed with a budget deficit larger that our GDP and the common man is starving thanks to the skyrocketing price of goods; but of course, we choose instead to pick on Lasith Malinga – the most immediate need of the hour.

Even water flows DOWNSTREAM… should one be surprised when the otherwise still and sleeping media and ‘Facebook macho men’ jump at a player who can never make a comeback on the media? A player who has significantly less power as opposed to a politician?

Priorities are not something we ever got right as a country or a society. Judging by how that vehicle of democracy, Media, is steering society, I doubt the change is near.

Good luck fellow citizens, keep believing in the mainstream media.

- Sunesh Rodrigo

My mentor was killed!

2013-01-07T20:58:00.000-08:00

He was not a mere journalist, but a visionary. Pen was his sword, a fighter belonging to a league of his own. Four years have lapsed, his words have come true; ‘Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak out for me’.

I met him first when I was 12 during an Old boys meeting at St. Benedict’s College, Colombo when my father said, “Son, I want you to meet one of my favourite classmates. He is Lasantha Wickrematunge and he owns the pen that is feared the most in the country”. Dreamt of being a pilot, but over the next seven years I didn’t miss his column, he inspired me to take up journalism.

That fateful morning on the 8^th of January 2009, arguably the most courageous journalist the island has produced was murdered in cold blood, silencing not only him, but the entire profession. Disagree? Read and watch how appallingly newspapers and the electronic media are blowing the government’s trumpet, naked.

Four years ago at his funeral procession crowded by hundreds of thousands, the ferocious voices of the opposition parliamentarians, civil leaders and journalism activists swore upon Lasantha’s dead body to lay their lives to continue his fight and to fast to death until his murderers were brought to book. Opportunists! Today none of them could be bothered to wake up half an hour early and attend his memorial mass which only saw the participation of his close family, four parliamentarians, few staff members of The Sunday Leader, a handful of Benedictines and barely any journalists.

Entering through the gate to the Borella cemetery an empty, gloomy and morbid drive-way awaited us (My dad and I), instead of an expected gathering of thousands. We squinted in the morning sunlight as we looked out for Lasantha’s grave for there was no sign of a memorial mass of a great human being. A five hundred metre walk through the long rows of head-boards denoting the trenches where our dead are buried, got us to the destination where hardly fifty had gathered; the memorial service of a three wheel driver would have attracted a greater assembly.

The Chief Justice impeached, opposition scattered, Provincial Councillors assassinated by their own party members, glorious sons becoming astronauts and lawyers overnight, heart of the capital shut down to hold night races, central bank investing in Greece; at time when the country dearly misses his courage, when he should be remembered the most as every element of democracy is squashed by the power hungry, they’ve abandoned him. They’ve abandoned his fight, dream and vision living up to what Sri Lankans are known for, ‘A forgetting nation’.

My dad then explained the stark reality of life while at the quiet, windswept cemetery, ‘No matter how great, once gone, you are forgotten unless the living still could benefit from you’.

- - Sunesh Rodrigo

UN re(sup)port

2011-04-27T04:18:00.000-07:00

How often do enemies end up in the friends’ corner? How often do enemy activities become a blessing in disguise? How big is the bigger picture, and how little do we see of it? These questions baffled me while the nation and the globe argued as to how factual, legal or biased the UN report is.

The little journalistic experience I have and the few Hollywood movies I have watched have taught me that in every "big" story, there are always little twists. To get carried away with the obvious facts is convenient...but what if the obvious facts are all but obvious? I chose to tread a different path; I treated the situation at hand as a Hollywood movie, directed and acted by the Martin Scorseses and Brad Pitts of politics today.

Sit back and relax, if you wish to, grab that bowl of pop corn too, for here unravels “The Great UN re(sup)port”. The world, as much as it condemns radicals, seems to have a very special place for them too. Ask yourself: do you know more about Adolf Hitler or Mother Theresa? Is Che Guevara renowned as a rights activist or a rebellious leader? The answers will tell you that we seem to appreciate the “Pepsi-men” as they are called now, hardcore game changers, while easily forgetting those whose change was subtle and often unnoticed.

Ban Ki Moon is no ordinary secretary general, Mahinda Rajapaksa is no ordinary political leader. In the true sense of it, they are game changers. Kumaran Pathmanadan alias KP and Karuna Amman were such game changers for the LTTE in the past, against the government kindly note, but 2 years down the line they lie low and pledge their support to the government, an enemy they once fought, when their once so called ally, the UN thrashes the GOSL in a report. What irony, don’t you think?

The UN that has been fighting a cold war with Russia over the past few decades has been extremely vocal in making its stance on Russia, clear. It has vehemently condemned the support pledged by the Vodka nation to criticizers of UN, in the caliber of former headline-stealer Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and even current headline-stealer Muammar Gaddafi. But a fortnight ago, when Ban Ki Moon took a trip to the Kremlin, it was not to discuss how to save the world or what the newest brand of Vodka is, but to simply canvass for his 2^nd term in office. Despite being a cold friend and an unsung enemy, Moon had to plead with Russia to refrain from vetoing his 2^nd term. Again, irony, wouldn’t you think?

It’s not over, just yet. With his tenure in office reaching the closing stages Moon is in dire need to prop up his image, he wants the world to see him as the global leader who would resolve all matters, a leader who can make tough decisions. Like hard-hitting T.M. Dilshan became a game changer with his “Dil scoop”, Moon came out with his very own “Moon scoop”. After all, in what better way can he achieve his goals than throwing stones at a tiny island like Sri Lanka? Remember the report was submitted not by the UN Security Council or the Human Rights Council; it was compiled by an advisory panel of the Secretary General. For those who are not familiar with the intricacies, Moon cannot take any action based on the report submitted, instead he can only forward it into the agenda of the Security Council where it can possibly be debated on and possibly used to determine a future course of action. Simply put, direct threats require decisive action, in this case, there is neither direct threat nor decisive action. Do you see the irony once again?

Let’s look at the other side of the coin. In the eyes of the Sri Lankan public, as showcased by the

government, Moon and the UN are Sri Lanka’s new enemies. The local Conan, a president who was able to eliminate a ruthless terrorist organization, will he back down when Moon (for that matter even the when the sun) levels allegations? Remember President Mahinda Rajapaksa is not known for his diplomatic skills, he will not go down the wire as one of the best economists we’ve had, but surely he is one of the best fighters the world has seen.

For the President to survive, and in order to bolster his image, there needs to be a fight. What value does a fighter have other than in a fight? Fortunately or unfortunately there isn’t a single force within our territories that could pose a fair threat to the man in the red shawl. The present regime thrives and prospers on extremism. Let’s face it; they have the men and the strategies to counter it.

Moon’s stones are like showers of blessings for MR, finally he can take his sword out and there is a worthy opponent to fight. The government’s vocal army now has reasons to takeover the news stations with their incessant and over-budgeted condemnations. They can once again protest at the gates of the UN compound, burn effigies and become the local heroes who allegedly have, on several occasions, had the UN on its knees. The government which was yawning in boredom is now full of action; like rampaging pachyderms, they are all over the media, streets, walls and the minds of the people.

I hope you are beginning to see the behind-the-scenes footage of this movie. In a matter of days Ban Ki Moon who was taken to the cleaners by the international media organizations including CNN, BBC and Aljazeera is portrayed as a man who stood strong and independently appointed a commission to look into war crimes in Sri Lanka. The UN diplomat is making headlines for issuing an unedited and comprehensive report to the world and demanding the GOSL to respond to it.

Isn’t it a win-win situation for both parties?

And those who think this UN report is already a storm in the international circuits, let me assure you, this storm is a gentle breeze in comparison to what lies ahead. It would be very surprising if no post-argument action is taken by the international community or the government. It’s a battle to entertain the masses, simply to demonstrate to the world and the country the virtues of individuals or organizations, and why they should keep playing the lead roles.

Do not forget, there must be extremism for anther form of extremism to survive. So watch the game-changers play this game; choose, though, if you should cheer them on, or laugh at them.

Modern day “Cricket-(Polit)icians”

2011-04-06T03:01:00.000-07:00

28^th of April 2007 was a disastrous day for most Sri Lankans due to the overnight LTTE air craft bombing, moreover due to the loss of a cricket world cup that was believed, could have been won. Steve Buckner and Aleem Dar made the Lankans batsmen bat in absolute darkness; a blunder that is criticized to date. This time around, it is the players themselves that have left island nation cricket followers in darkness, due to the dismal performance.

Many believed Sri Lanka had a far more better chance of grabbing the converted title this time around as opposed to 2007, but one wonders whether it was because the men in dark blue had a better team or a weaker opposition. Sri Lankans, at least most of them have the habit of joyously clapping when giants whack the hell out of midgets and take it to the next step by boasting of the powerful strokes or the in swinging Yorkers not withstanding the spinning doosras. But what they fail to see is how inconsistent this giant becomes when dealing with one of its own size. Yet, the pure passion Lankans have to the game keeps them in a state of delusion hoping we could catapult out any side.

Like in the rest of subcontinent nations, cricket is not a mere sport, but a religion practiced every time of the day over meals, while traveling, at work, pursuing studies, to sum up; over every action one could possibly think of. They follow the games from ball one, subtle changes don’t miss their eye. Lack of interest among players and a stupid team, field or bowling change are spotted instantly. All of the above were noticed by the cricketoholics on the 2^nd of April when the inflated Sri Lankan team took on the best team of the tournament.

One may argue that the mere fact that Lanka were taking on tournament favourites might have made the team hit the panic buttons, but really should the panic buttons have been hit when Sri Lanka were 31/1 after 10 overs or when India were 33/2 chasing a mammoth 275? I’d go with the first.

Parachuting, despite not being a popular hobby or sport in Sri Lanka, is no unfamiliar phenomena to most of us, as it is ever so common in the political arena. How can I forget the state and private offices too? However the latest parachuting didn’t take place when an opposition MP crossed over to the government, but when a player who was not good enough to be in the initial 15 was picked to be in the best 11 of a “CRICKET WORLD CUP FINAL”. The selectors and the skipper may come up with various theories to defend their move which backfired, but the average Joe, in Sri Lankan terms the average Sunil will keep asking why Mendis who was Sri Lanka’s best bowler in the tournament was over looked. Remember, in cricket what matters is not what happened 2 years ago, but yesterday, and yesterday Mendis was far more better than Randiv.

Throughout the tournament the selectors praised and showed confidence in a below par Silva, but come the big day, he is overlooked to bring in a worse candidate to the post. The logic behind it fails me every time I think of it, may be the selectors thought of saving a trump for the last battle. But where they went wrong is failing to understand that the younger Chamara was no ‘Trump’ but more like ‘Donald’ as in the duck. Also what they might have forgotten is that final trump generally works in warfare not cricket-fare, where ‘time in the middle’ is that matters the most.

When the shot is accurate it’s the gunman’s ability but when it is not, it’s the fault of the gun. Let me rephrase it, when the Yorker is spot on, ‘slinger is king’, but when he lacks focus and sprays the ball all around the wicket ‘ball is wet and blame it on the wind’. No cricketer can deliver everyday, a point that has been agreed even by my great grand pa, but Sri Lankans as a society, who has been guilty on numerous earlier occasions too, might want to be careful in jumping the gun of praise far too early, at least next time.

Drama doesn’t end with the loss, it continues when the skipper tenders in his resignation, leaving a team who runs around like headless chickens or gripless bats. He claims it’s a move for the betterment of the future, but here’s where you should draw a comparison between cricket and warfare; when a regiment loses a close battle if the general steps down and throws in a brand new general the casualties rise. The cost of the learning curve is far too much to bear. The eloquent skipper claims he had plans of stepping down 3 weeks prior to the tournament, then why not groom someone for battle while engaged in ‘The battle’. You might have made some master moves in the past, but Sanga, this time you ‘hit the bunga’.

And just as we thought ‘resignation spree’ has taken a break, there you go, the ‘mother-board’ who picked the wrong players and hit the wrong buttons also tendered in their resignations. Is it an indication of a fresh start or an impending cricket crisis? Only time will tell.

Icing on the cake came when the government this time around replaced the LTTE air attacks with submarine attacks; coming from down under and increasing the prices of fuel and gas in the eve of the final game of the cup that matters.

Many say politicians cannot be compared to none, others say cricketers cannot be either. Wait, hold on, how about comparing politicians with cricketers? I think it fits, after all both varieties have similar characteristics.

Hobby- Parachuting

Game- Blame game

Motivating factor- Money

One word definition- Unpredictable

Makes fools of- The public

Long live politicians! Long live cricket!