Friday, February 27, 2009

Two different stories, two absolute different effects

I have been really busy, just managed to take some time to write about these two stories that had different effects on me.

The first one is about a real Sri Lankan hero, Nilantha Pushpakumara a soldier who had done one of few ultimate sacrifices possible, giving his life for his country. Read this, the soldier who had carried out the suicide mission is Nilantha Pushpakumara. Sad thing is the general public don't even know these sacrifices some of our own are making so we could live peacefully. For instance there has been a full scale counter attack by the LTTE prior to the independence day and the government made sure that we don't hear about the counter attack, which leads to stories such as Nilantha's not reaching the public as well.
Nilantha I salute you, you were truly selfless.

The other one is the usual, a story of the corrupt circles that govern us. The CEO of Mihin Air has been appointed the Galle district organizer for UPFA. He is said to be a presidential adviser also and his brother is in the board of Sri Lankan airlines after it was re-acquired by the government. Now that Lasantha's and Victor Ivans are reduced next to silence these things would continue to thrive.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Letter from a Sri Lankan expatriate

Lankaenews reports about a letter a Sri Lankan expatriate has sent regarding the Deshabhimani account.

This is so obvious but no one dares to speak about this. Before the government appeals for our patriotism they should show us their patriotism. Sad thing is this person would be branded instantly as a traitor.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Taxes, prices of essential services and representative democracy

This is my theory of how to control the taxes and prices of essential services in the contemporary democracy.

If you want the taxes increased(you should meet a doctor too, I suggest :) ) and the prices of essential services to be increased(anyone representing Gas companies?) you should make sure that the party in power wins by a landslide. If you win in a landslide there is always room for new taxes and price increases. Take a look at this.

If you want the taxes and prices of essential items not to be changed, you must vote a new party into power. The new government won't increase taxes or prices to win the confidence of the public, but there is no necessity to decrease taxes or prices either, unless they promised to do so before the election.

Finally if you want the taxes and prices to be decreased vote the current government into power but make sure the winning margin is really thin. That would prompt the government to give some reliefs, at least before the next election.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Family politics

According to this article in the daily news a fair share of the winners in central and north western provincial council elections are from political families in respective areas. Why is this? Because only people from a political background come into politics or people are not capable of finding new ones?

So the government won

So the government won, won it in JR style and there is nothing astonishing about it. Government delivered in the military front, there is hope about a new united Sri Lanka, so can't blame the public for crossing the beatle leaf. Ranil is out of style now, there is only one way for Ranil to come into power again, by waiting and hoping that the public will start to get displeased with the alliance. I guess He would have to wait a long time for that, at least till Mahinda finishes his two terms. Not only will Ranil unable to get to power anyone that slightly resembles him would not be able to come into power. Everyone in the near future will have to put the phony stunt, get dressed in the national dress go visit every possible temple in the island, and if possible listen to 'bana' on poya days and make sure the public see it. Even if you are a illicit liquor dealer in the past I would guarantee you would get to the top of politics provided that you can put up the stunt. Just make sure that the public would not know your past, that is easy here, media are not with the people they are with the power.

So would the dreams of the overwhelming majority who voted for the government be fulfilled? I guess not. Would the cabinet be reduced? Maybe by 10 or 15 but not as required. Remember what happened with petrol? Will the president and ministers get rid of their huge number of unwanted adversaries who are just friends, supporters and family? No, now that the power is on their side number of adversaries and their costs would sky rocket. Would there be balanced growth? No colombo will grow simply because it is the commercial hub, Hambantota will see some more mega projects courtesy of Mahinda(most of them are unwanted, would only indebt the country more) and the rest of the of the country would be just tax payers. Corruption? Would only increase now that they have more power and because the JVP(the only anti-corruption party in Sri Lanka) would be kicked out from the parliament in a near future general election. All the corrupts representing business, media, lawyers, intellects, military, celebrities, monks and politicos would flock to the government. All would start to paint a rosy picture and people would believe it until they start to feel that all is not right. This is the same cycle, they come as saints, the corrupt circles flock to them, after some time people get rid of their blindness to see the real picture.

What about the ethnic conflict? I see hope only in this area. I think the dirty terrorists who have been eating at our true potential would be finished once and for all. Moderate tamils would start to oppose LTTE now that their power is gone. Everyone would have to live with the fact that Sri Lanka is not dividable. But at the same time the government would have to act carefully here. Once the top leadership of the LTTE is taken care of there should be a way for the remaining cadres and the followers of the LTTE ideology to come into mainstream politics. Remember what happened with the JVP? You can't destroy ground level movements militarily alone. Whether we like it or not, the north east would not prosper in an instant as Mahinda promises. There will be tamil youth that would be disgrunted with the system who would feel that they are not part of the system. I think the LTTE in the same name or in any other name would continue to represent that segment. Just like the JVP that segment should come into mainstream politics and maybe they can play a historical role, who knows? JVP used terrorist tactics in their false uprisings, should have been beaten militarily but once they came into mainstream politics they carved out a niche for themselves(like I said they are the only anti-corruption party in SL). So the government won, let's see how the governance would be like.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

APRC proposes to abolish the presidential system

The Nation reports today that the APRC has proposed to abolish the executive presidential system. They should have some balls to propose this when Mahinda has at least 3 more years to be the big boss. It is unthinkable that Mahinda will abolish the presidency until he finishes his two terms. Full implementation of the 13th amendment? maybe, federal? hmm who knows, but certainly not this. Mahinda is too much of a politician than a leader to abolish the presidential system.

So will this be the start of the end of APRC?

War mentality at play

In three matches Out of four played between Sri Lanka and India the play got disrupted due to objects been thrown out at the indian players. I am deeply disturbed with this trend and I am deeply ashamed of the incidents. Our spectators never ever behaved this way, why is the sudden change? The war mentality, the war mentality plus some patriotism and nationalism. Otherwise why would this happen exactly this time around?

Our fear mongering politicians painted the war as something between us and the whole world. Painted India and USA as pro-LTTE when in reality both helped us through intelligence and cooperation. The reasons for helping us could be economic interests, so maybe were not honest but they helped us. The fear mongers wanted us to believe that this war was against Buddhism and the Christians are behind it. They even told us that people among us who criticize the regime in power are pro-LTTE. Taught us how to distrust every one who doesn't look like us or who doesn't speak what we want.

Here is the end result. People are starting to hate everyone who doesn't look like us, specially if the color of the skin is white. Suspect every source of dissent to be pro-tiger and ever are prepared to take the law into their own hands in the name of patriotism. Finally can't even tolerate loosing a cricket match. Where would this end?

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Micahel Phelps caught smoking pot

Michael Phelps has been caught smoking marijuana. So the next time you advocate criminalizing the use of marijuana please don't make the argument that marijuana creates losers.