Where are we going Machans?
‘Machan’ slang in Sinhalese meaning
‘Mate’. Brother-in-law, your main man or woman. My machans are many, but
since 2005 my main machans have been the current heads of government in Sri
Lanka, the Rajapaksa’s. Mainly Mahinda Machan, the main man in Sri Lanka. For
those of you who already know my closet racist tendencies, the Rajapaksa’s
mainly became my machans because of their pre-election promise – defeat the
LTTE and terrorism in Sri Lanka.
May 2009 was a red-letter day for
Sri Lanka. The death of the LTTE leader Prabakaran heralded the death of the
LTTE. Celebrations were island wide. In my corner of the English countryside, I
quietly raised a glass of 21 year old single malt to toast this victory. A
first, the defeat of terrorism, in any country of the world.
Silencing an irresponsible media,
or any type of speech against national security was punished. The end to
terrorism justified any untoward actions against the institution of democracy
in Sri Lanka.
Seven years on and three years
after the end of the LTTE, greatly perpetrated by the LTTE themselves for not
understanding a post 9/11 world, I am alarmed my machans.
I just read a conversation on
Infolanka Newsroom between an editor in an English newspaper and the Machan Gotabaya,
the secretary to the Ministry of Defence and the President of Sri Lanka’s
brother. As it was published I had to believe in its content where basically
Machan Gotabaya had a go at this female reporter in not quite the queens
language but rather one which is better recognised after closing time of 1am at
most British pubs.
WTHM – What the hell Machan?
I would never wish for the re-birth
of LTTE in Sri Lanka. But sadly the disappearance of democracy is trying
machan. I believe we all need to lose the stiff upper lip we maintain as
citizen machans in Sri Lanka.
Sovereignty is important. As a nationalist I can even argue that
international interest and interference in Sri Lanka’s affairs is unimportant.
But as intelligent citizens of Sri
Lanka, do we not realise we have fallen from the frying pan into the fire? It’s
time for the political opposition to government to address this clearly.
Whoever they are. Forget about international repercussions, tell the people
where it will hurt them the most machan, in their own country. I don’t mind the
rupee depreciating against an even weaker sterling pound, but those in Sri
Lanka must realise it’s hurting their pockets, already very thinly lined.
If Dr. Harsha De Silva, the US
educated economist and opposition member of parliament in Sri Lanka, made his
economic forecasts that show direct effect to the common man, and woman, would
that pave the way to end this madness? For madness it is, and like all madness
the suppression of democracy the greatest malady.
Machan, you can’t govern a country
without your citizens enjoying the freedom of speech. That makes Sri Lanka a
communist country, or worse, a dictatorship. Sod the consequences is never a
good idea if your governing a democratic country.
Machan would love to see three
articles in the mother tongue from you. As simple as possible without getting
carried with terms and equations.
- How democracy works in America and the freedom of speech. Not to say it’s the best, but an unbiased view of its pros and cons.
- How world fuel prices affect Sri Lanka’s economy. Don’t want to hear solutions please tell us how and the knock on effect to Sri Lanka.
- Country borrowing from world markets. Nothing comes for free, and why?
Disaster Machans!
“The
tyranny of a multitude is a multiplied tyranny.” Edmund Burke
Cheerio Machans!
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