|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 29 February 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Train band Sel lipi by Gotabhaya Swasthi Shree! Thus says his sacred Majesty, the gracious Great King, glorious Chakravarthi, King of the Kings of Maya, Pihiti and Ruhuna, Mahoora of the Vanniala-aeththo and ruler of all lands from Yapapatuna to Sampanthota, including the lush regions of Pahala Uva, Saparagamuwa and Tammankaduwa: It has come to the notice of the Maha Waasala that, after many days of dispute, the Yakada Yakka Angshaya is once more functioning. The charcoal-burning, water-drinking demons once more speed their way forth from the city of Colomb-thota, upon their roads of glistening steel, dragging behind them their brides: the Menike of the Kandha-uda-pas-rata to Senkadagala Siriwardhanapura and beyond, the Princess of Ruhuna to the fair city of Matota, and the Queen of the Rajarata to the ancient citadel of Anurajapura. The yakkos who serve their masters, these steel-covered leviathons of fire, had been afraid that the control of these demons would be taken away from the officers of the King and handed over to gahapathis, that the authority of the state over this angshaya would be lost. These lesser devils had, therefore, withdrawn from their places of work back to their abodes. The Yakada Yakkas, stripped of servitors, were forced to abide in their caves of steel in the demonic cities of Dematagoda, Ratmalana, Polgahawela, Maho and Nawalapitiya. Woe were the people of this dhammadweepa! For many days on end were they deprived of the sight of multi-coloured makaras speeding along their silver tracks. Valiantly did some of the imps who are covered in sores and scabs, the so-called 'horikada yakkos' attempt to cajole one or two of the Yakada Yakkas out of their dens of iron onto the shining grey highways. It was not to much avail. The entire land stopped work, horrified at the absence of their beloved behemoths. Finally did Marapone manthri say unto the lesser yakkos that their fears should subside, that he had no intention of staging thoyils to force them away from their Daily supplication of the steel devils, or hand them over as serfs or slaves to some miserly gahapathi. The elders of the council of yakkos of the Yakada Yakkas said at first that they would return to the service of their mighty but frail wards. However, the question then arose of the actions of the 'horikada yakkos'. The elders charged that these suppurating imps had treated their charges with disdain. Consequently, these slighted Yakada Yakkas might attempt to take wing and leap from their tracks or fall down the ravines that dot their habitual route. Saying this, the yakkos remained in their dwellings, not venturing forth. So what is to be done? Thus spake the Maha Waasala: what need have we for Yakada Yakkas at all? Are the Yakkos on the highways not enough? Let us free the pathways of glistening steel from their need to bear the daily tramplings of the demon of steel, and let us grant the land on which these pathways run to the gahapathis of this and other realms. They might then sell this land and make a goodly profit for themselves, and contribute a mite for the well-being of the Maha Waasala. After all, is it not true that the lands of sathosa, of contentment, that lie beside the pathways in the heart of Colomb-thota have been granted unto the gahapathis of three-wheeled chariots? The lesser Yakkos can then stay by their dens and bemoan the day they were born. And what of the other yakkos, the ones who daily await the arrival of the Yakada Yakkas? Thus says the Maha Waasala: let them eat cake. Swasthi Shree! This rock edict is made on this day of Ravi of the month of Navam of the Year of the Saka Era 1930. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
