We Sri Lankans seem to have a couple of character traits reposing in most persons, more particularly the Sinhalese, which seem never to die off. They are harboured across the board from the filthy rich to the disadvantaged and often exhibited in-country. One is short memories; two others are rank selfishness and dishonesty, yet another giving mere lip service and adulterated reverence to Buddhism which religion most Sinhalese profess as ‘Sinhala Buddhists’: a term reeking of prideful majoritarianism. It was emphasised by politicians loyal to the Rajapaksa brethren and contains within it a policy of divide and rule
Recently, three characteristics have appeared in the forefront; two very unfortunately, internationally.
Vicious beauty
Time was when beauty of a woman had equal parts of physical appearance and nature. There were the basic requirements or conditions of beauty – flawless complexion, healthy head of luxuriant hair, full figure. Complementing these were attributes of modesty, charm, naturalness, complete lack of forwardness. They were shy but not retiring, having keen minds and making helpmate wives and devoted mothers. Then came western norms of beauty: pouty lips, big busts, out-thrusting derrieres and forward demeanours to match. ‘Fair and lovely’ facial cream is replaced by an injection we hear, which whitens complexions, hopefully all over and not confined to face alone. Then came capitalisation on beauty and easy going-ness –for money, power and clout; epitomized recently by Janaki Siriwardena and Thilini Priyamali.
This Janaki, Exec Director of KRRISH was very recently taken in by the police for abetting Priyamali’s multi-billion financial fraud. Priyamali, who worked in the Middle East and returned to take over a posh Twin Tower office, cheating people. Attempts are being made to get them off the hook, it is reported, certainly not in sympathy for the two dames but for love of self and fear of exposure of VIPs. Can we hope the police will go the correct way and fully and impartially investigate their crimes, although former top bods try pulling restraining strings?
The police are being justifiably castigated all round. Recently, it was shocking to see visuals on MTV Channel I of the police having tortured by electric shocking some very young school boys of a remote school where a teacher lost some money and had the police come over to question the students. The police questioned them by allegedly subjecting those defenseless little chappies to electric shocks.
This incident highlights another nasty trait of the Sinhalese: might is considered right and he who is in power has the right to do as s/he wishes to. Attack the most vulnerable; in this case innocent scared kids of Grade 5. Teachers too harbour sadists among them. So, the police had better do a fair and clean job on the two beauts gone rotten, whoever is backstage- trying to save their already torn reputations. We know some who are always there in the presence of young willing dames and money.
Randy Danu
Shamefully, disgracefully, bestially, cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka has let his cricket team and country down in the eyes of the watching world. Here is another trait of our menfolk.
Cassandra does not shrink back modestly but boldly declares very many Sri Lankan men of all ages and status are inclined to sexual abuse and worse, think it is their privilege to take undue advantage of women, mostly innocent girls. It happens in public transport, on crowded streets, in posh offices, government departments, even schools and homes. Bestiality is given rein to since there is an underlying sustained excusing idea that boys will be boys, men are naturally inclined to misbehave and their indulgences overlooked. Men often seem to think that women are toys for the taking and playing with. Not a shred of decency in them nor an iota of concern for others. Plenty in white kapati suits. We know how one big mouthed, well-groomed politician chased a girl so she had to leave her newspaper job and flee home to a distant village. Stories of such are legion though most are not outed.
Danushka misjudged the Aussie woman or women. He must have thought they were like the Sri Lankan (may I qualify by saying Sinhalese) girls who he presumed would swoon at his mere glance at them. He had connections to high-ups and was a cricketer, for goodness sake! Those are open sesame qualifications for taking mean advantage of young women. A young girl was present at a discussion we cats had recently. She shuddered at mention of his name implying he was known for this type of degraded behaviour. He got his just desserts, Cass spits out. She hopes full punishment will be meted to him. Jolly good he is prosecuted in Aussie land where no present or past powerful hand can interfere with his remand, accusation and judgement.
Hot air over minor issues
A third trait of our people was out in the open recently. Blowing hot and hetting up over minor matters. There’s a debate about what a female teacher should wear to school, in the face of the solid mess the country is in. But let’s deal with this minor matter.
Cass’s opinion is sari draped either Kandyan style or Indian or even with the sari draped over the head for Muslims who should be debarred from wearing that full black attire. Salwar kameez is also dignified enough. International schools allow any dress but within set dress codes. However, in our local schools we need to be traditional. Students too prefer dignity in their teachers.
Cass was a teacher a long time ago. Always in sari with sleeved blouses, although she wore sleeveless usually. She started her short teaching career in a conservative girls’ school in Kandy many decades ago. She wore her hair in a beribboned ponytail. The principal summoned her to her office and very graciously said she would gain respect if she did her hair up. After a struggle she piled it up the next day but soon enough learned to tie a superb kondé. She thanks that Head.Cass dearly likes to hear what the strongly-opined, vociferous Stalin somebody has to say about this matter which falls under his purview as speaker and agitator for teachers. Would he suggest sackcloth and ashes?!
Short takes
How come Speaker of the Maldivian Parliament entered Egypt and COPS 22 as a member of the Sri Lankan delegation? By what stretch of diplomacy or imagination was this made possible. It did happen though. He is supposed to have been an advisor on climate change to the SL government. What are his qualifications to be such? We have enough of our own experts. Nasheed helped Gota escape mobs here by having him stay in Male, welcome or not, and probably ensured his safety. Another tug of puppet strings from the Rs?
Some are of the opinion that our Prez should not have journeyed to Egypt while our country is mired in crises. Cassandra opines he did right by going to a conference of world leaders. Who he took with him is another matter: debatable. It was striking the reception Rishi Sunak received when he arrived.
Also stunning was the indictment leveled by Professor Jeffrey Sachs of Columbia University on America and western countries and others who opposed Russia and China. He said the US was the most vicious of warring nations and war mongering. Sachs strongly advised diplomacy and talking to each. He was cut short in his slamming of the USA by the convener of the session. To Cassandra who listened to a couple more of his speeches, it was an eye opener. She was certainly short sighted and adversely opinionated on Putin and even Xi.