cat’S eye

Manifestos, debates and a general hotting up

This feline was away from home for a couple of days this past week, so she missed her favourite 9.00 o’clock evening news but kept up with the news with a friend in the group relaying bits and pieces as they came to her cell phone.

Positives

Let’s start with the good. The election campaign is hotting up but mercifully there is restraint evident: in the lack of posters lining the streets except just a few; no processions; and rallies on the whole ruly and law abiding. The Elections Commissioner and IGP are in charge and given a free hand by the President who is remaining neutral but keeping an eye on matters. This peaceful campaign so far is a great positive of yahapalanaya so those blue guys and few echoing gals who shout out that the last 100 plus days yielded nothing, no benefits, are both blind and deaf.

The comparatively quiet and dignified electioneering is solely due to Maithripala Sirisena’s quiet authority and democratic principles. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe too plays his part in leading a decent campaign of the United Front for Good Governance.

We remember the blatant misuse of government resources and blue bods riding rough shod over others in previous election campaigns. And there has been no nonsense like importing a Bollywood star and his current girl friend, Sri Lankan no less, to boost the then President’s campaign which totally misfired, caused derision among even supporters and wasn’t there a mysterious road accident that was adroitly covered up?

Which brings to mind the gradual uncovering of another crime. Almost all people shout out that the culprits should be brought to book for the murder of an innocent rugger star who was much loved and now very much pitied by all right-thinking people. Just imagine the utter cruelty of cornering a young man, strong though he be and sporty, by a group of sadists who broke his teeth, jabbed a rod in his neck (wasn’t Editor Lasantha’s ear pierced by a rod that went into his brain?), killed him and then faked it by having his car burnt.

He crashed his car, the police said, and that was that, until the story we heard then over the grapevine was out recently in all its gory detail. The very real culprit/s should be caught, not the mere paid perpetrators of the killing. The ‘hand behind’ must be apprehended and brought to justice. We maithri people are vicious enough to say that the death sentence is not enough for such a person/s.

He/they should be quartered and slaughtered, tortured and severely punished for a horrendous crime due to a mere joking comment, as we heard.

Another heartwarming story broadcast last week was the President meeting the DPL crowd and appealing for help to eradicate the kidney disease that is ruining the North Central Province peasantry.

Many national representatives outlined what they had already done to assist in this urgent need/task. Menika heard what the ambassadors or reps of Japan, Australia and other nations said in promising further aid towards the Prez’s most laudable project. Previously when Mahinda R was Prez, if and when the DPL crowd was summoned, it was usually to let flow a diatribe on certain countries’ negative attitude to Sri Lanka. Usually the Prez delegated the unpleasant task to a minion of his.

Menika gazed long at the pin-up ‘photographs’ in the dailies of the various political groups unveiling their ‘manifestos’. The most pleasing and charming was that of the row of young ones of the JVP, laughing and seeming to enjoy themselves.

Rightly so, since they are gaining in popularity and the discerning populace place their faith in them for their honesty, non-corruptibility and making known truths. Menika also liked the picture and approved of the move of the MoU signed by the Ven Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera and Ranil Wickremesinghe to ensure good governance.This respected bhikkhu, along with Athureliye Ratana Thera, is most sensible, truly national-minded, liberal and good to be up there guiding those who govern the country.

One negative

Menika wishes that Ranil Wickremesinghe would use the plural pronoun when he promises good governance, a place for the farmer, benefits to the village et al. He keeps saying on TV as he does in his full page advertisement, “I will.” Wish it were “I with my Party will” or “We will”. Maybe his singular ‘I’ is because of the CB scam!!

Menika needed an egg, preferably rotten, to throw at the TV she was seated in front of watching the debate between young Senasinghe and ex-sports minister Aluthgamage, on Tuesday, July 28. What lies emanated from the latter! Like the UPFA manifesto which a political critique opined had nothing innovative in it but was a rehash of old promises, the ex-minister could only speak of the CB matter and the cessation of development in the country.

True, if development means building huge structural white elephants and roads costing so much. Menika has a friend who, returning from the UK where she resides, was stunned to see a broad ‘carpeted’ road on which she travelled to reach her coconut property which two years ago had a dirt track. The new road stopped a short distance further on.Enquiring, she found the adjoining flourishing coconut property had been bought by a first son!!

Menika bids you goodbye till she comments next Sunday on the past weeks doings, very intriguing at the moment, so close to D Day of August 17.

Menika