Ah... foresight?

I rememeber reading the news, reading the books, reading and reading and feeling this fear about what is going on in this world?! Thus, in May 2008, I wrote the following post:

http://ramblingsmind.blogspot.com/2008/05/2008-year-of-crisis.html

It went by and large unnoticed, as would this, but reading back I feel that (ever so modestly) I was right. It did have to stop. We had to re-assess our priorities as nations and economies. I did not expect it to be as strong as the response that actually did occur however why did no-one in a place far higher and more powerful than I, not notice this?

I speak of 'experts' forecasting the price of oil to hit $200 a barrel by end of 2008? It barely hit $50! So are they really 'experts'? Half the great books out there are right now redundant. The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman - the world isn't flat. It is very much rounded, especially when self-interest gets in the way. China killed the Coke-Hyuiyuan deal not because globalisation is such a profound force, but because self interest overpowers all that.

The Buy American policy that may be present in the newly passed legislation this year? Again, far away from globalisation as it can get. We are all retreating into our respective shells and protectionism is the new word of the day. So the books will be written about that.

We consumed and we consumed. There was no lack of supply for oil yet the price rose and rose until boom! it crashed. We took loans out, we used credit cards, we bought a car, we bought a house, we bought another car, we bought clothes, we dined at fancy restaurants, we became obese, we bought more clothes, we incurred credit card debt, we bought that LCD tv - yes, we consumed and consumed. Now, we don't have a job, we can't pay our debt, our home is under foreclosure and we are pretty much stuffed! At least we won't die of malnutrition whilst that walk to the dole office makes us burn the 80 kgs of extra fat we had accumulated.

I mean really?!, as a people, is this what we are proud of? There's a fundamental flaw in this system and that is greed. We want more, we find ways to make more money, to buy more things and that is never enough. Till this fundamental cornerstone of our being changes, there will be many expansions and contractions of our economies. For once again, the belts that are now being tightened, will beg to be loosened. 

 

A Small Note to Remember a Great Man

Tissa Abeyesekera, a leading artiste in Sri Lanka passed away today after being admitted for surgery to Colombo General Hospital this week. 

Words fail me. I have known of him since I was young. I have met him many a times at dinners and lunches. I have answered the phone when he had phoned to speak to my parents. Thus I don't write of him as an ardent fan. But merely as someone I had the priviledge to know. 

He will be greatly missed by his closest friends. His voice will remain etched in our hearts as we hear repeatedly the countless documentaries for which he has done the voice over. That authoratitive voice, injecting into the listener the gravity of any situation. 

His movies will work as a memory of his brilliance. His creativity. 

It is a great loss to us. That we are no longer able to hear one more word uttered in that magnificent voice or listen to a story formulated by that genius of a mind.

May he rest in peace. 

Reprise from the Land of the Lonely

I have removed myself from the blog aggregator 'Kottu'. As great as being a part of the Kottu community was, the current situation in Sri Lanka and the lack of anonymity associated with being part of a Sri Lankan community stifled my ability to speak freely of my life. Thus the focus on more public matters such as politics in my recent posts. However, even politics is shifty business in Sri Lanka therefore, the removal of my registration at Kottu has now enabled me to be more open, less censored about my views. Be it on any subject ranging from life to love to politics to credit crisis.

As I read the entries in my blog over the past three years, I feel a sense of accomplishment and pride. I have been through a number of experiences and documenting them on this blog as was my purpose when I first started blogging, has made them all the more precious. I am able to relive those times in my life and appreciate my current life more as well as understand that what doesn't kill you, really does make you stronger.

For approximately the past two years, I have been happy. I have not been lonely. I have been alone but not lonely. That is a significant achievement for someone like me, who has had loneliness as their friend continuously since she was 18. I owe thanks to my boyfriend for this great feat. Living out of a suitcase since I turned 21 , moving from job to job, wrong relationship to wrong relationship, city to city had been exhausting. But since I have been with him, life has been one continuous smooth moment. 

The worst of times does not feel as bad as they would have had I been alone. Staying home and not speaking to a single soul all day still does not feel as bad when you know someone out there will enquire about you and make sure you communicate with them. Someone who loves you no matter how terrible your moodswings, your anger, your temper tantrums are is a blessing that perhaps I am not worthy of. I am grateful for each moment I have spent with him and I will continue to be grateful. 

This has been said by others before, but this is the one time that I truly mean it, if I had to do it all over again just to meet you... I'd not hesitate once. 

Condemn the attacks on the Hospital!!!!!!!!!

I'm looking at the sites that are showing pictures upon pictures of little children and women dead in their beds at the PTK Hospital and I actually want to cry. I usually get angry, I write on this, I try and stir up some courage to move the masses yet fail. But I don't cry. But today that is all there is left to do. 

Their only fault is that they were born in the North and born Tamil. How could a government of a 'Democratic Socialist Republic' kill its own citizens in such a horrendous manner?? How could the same government make plans for an elaborate Independence Day parade at Galle Face Green when its civilians are anything but independent??? 

If Prabhakaran is a terrorist and a murderer, we must call the ones on this side ordering these attacks the same thing. I thank the forces for 'rescuing the North' however I have no USE for this land they are capturing. I can take a bet on any given day that the people supporting this ludicrous war does not either. How can we make so many scars on this nation whilst trying to capture this plot of land????

They have broken the Geneva Convention by attacking this hospital. Not once, Not twice BUT THRICE. Would they shell Apollo in sucha  manner? Or Nawaloka? No they would not. Even if they know that terrorists are hiding out in there. THEY WOULD NOT. What makes the citizens of the North ANY LESS CITIZENS of our country than we are?????? 

This is not a fostering environment for anything but terrorism. Yes they'll wipe out the LTTE but pay me when the day comes, someone else - perhaps currently losing a loved one in the North - will grow up to a life of hatred and revenge will burn and another Prabhakaran will come about. Our children will face that terror. And so on and so forth the cycle will continue.

I don't know what to do anymore. It is POINTLESS to write. We all agree, we all disagree amongst each other. How will it stop??!!!!

Direction!!

So I've decided I completely need direction. I don't like the direction of my life right now. I mean. warming a chair and staring at a screen for nine hours every day for five days a week can get you a bit dull. And morose.

Career choices continue to be the bane of my existance and I really don't know what to do with myself! I'm in Finance, I studied Science, I would very much love to dabble in journalism/creative writing/politics. 

But that would be a waste of my degree because for further study, I would still like to gain lots of letters after my name that involve the Sciences. A BA in Journalism won't sit well with me because for me education doesn't come free and therefore if I must go abroad and pay for it, I want it to be something that I'm completely certain I want to study about and thats Science. 

But what do I want to do everyday? I'd love to work at a magazine. Not these His and Hellos and Toodles we have in SL but a proper international magazine. It just seems so creative and flourishing (not to mention glamourous but that may just be my perception of Ugly Betty world). Or write a book.

I would love to try journalism in Sri Lanka but of course the threat of Dementors flocking down on me and sucking my soul out is of course an occupational hazard that may deter me from doing so (anonymously I will continue to yell out my opinions here). 

I don't know. Would have really thought I'd have figured this shit out by now! 

For the third year in a row, CATCH UP!

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
- I stayed in a relationship for a whole year (and more), I took out some loans, I paid them back! :P

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? No but will make the same one this year, To go the gym religiously and get myself toned up! <--- thats from last year but I HAVE been very good this year so far.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Nope, but I got to see the lovely babies that were born last year, and they are amaazing lil creatures!

4. Did anyone close to you die? Nope, thank God <--- thank god again

5. What countries did you visit?  India, SL, Singapore, Thailand

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? job satisfaction.. that really eludes me. sense of purpose. and of course, more muscle less fat.

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?  Hmm.. it was all a bunch of great days.Even the bad ones

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?  Keeping the guy i adore with me.

9. What was your biggest failure? Still not being able to find job satisfaction, not hating my boss. etc etc

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nothing significant

11. What was the best thing you bought? Not a very gadget centric year, I hope to change that in 2009. Probably tickets to Thailand for me n the bf :)

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My mum, my bf, the new gang of friends I made for being such fun ppl

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? some friends who are meant to be close but hv drifted away and maybe my own

14. Where did most of your money go? Lord, if i can answer that one! I ask myself that eeeevery day , but id say mostly rent. and paying back my old employer.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Spending every day with my bf after spending so much time on long distnace!

16. What song will always remind you of 2008? that get low song... hilarious!

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

I. happier or sadder? Happier.

II. thinner or fatter? Fatter

III richer or poorer? FAR poorer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of? SAVING money, thinking decisions through a lil better, getting less drunk on occasions

19. What do you wish you'd done less of? CRIBBING <---- 2nd time nominee

22. Did you fall in love in 2008? YUP, with the same boy all over again

23. How many one-night stands? None!

24. What was your favorite TV program? Grey's anatomy <--- 2nd year running, also add Heroes and Brothers and Sisters

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? Probably not. More disappointed in certain people, proud of a whole bunch of other people!

26. What was the best book you read? Time Travellers Wife

27. What was your greatest musical discovery? Stuck to my old tastes

28. What did you want and get? Keep my bf, keep my old friends, make some great new ones

29. What did you want and not get? a raise. and a job im happy in

30. What was your favorite film of this year? Dark Knight, Stardust, a few others

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 24, had a small party and dinner

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Cant ask for anything more than what I received <--- Amen

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? As always, comfortable yet trendy. Missed the shops in London tho

34. What kept you sane? Faith in God, Mum and a Few Good Mates, and the boy

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Sanath Jayasuriya :P

36. What political issue stirred you the most? Sri Lanka's ethnic crisis and political turmoil <-- sadly still there

37. Who did you miss? My bf :( when I was living away from him, my mum wen i was livin away from her

38. Who was the best new person you met? The bunch of friends I have now. fab crowd

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:  Things do get better. There is a way out. All that matters are the people you love and who loves you. 

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:  a sleepy blue ocean

Driving you insane!

On my morning drives to work, I've noticed one major result of the one way road system. Any semblance of order that prevailed in our roads have disintegrated. 

Never are there straight lanes, there are just cars randomly packed together. If a small gap opens, someone turns the wheel in order to get into that space. Defying any geometrical principle that states that going from A to B in a zig zag manner will be less productive than just going straight. (Whatever that principle maybe!). 

Lest the traffic eases up and people are able to drive at a reasonable speed, they completely ignore the brake. We see a car trying to enter from a bylane, we swerve or speed up. We see a car trying to overtake, we swerve. We see a bus hurtling at us at 90mph, we swerve. God forbid if there's a car on the other side trying to overtake. Well, that car will swerve too.

Sri Lankan roads have never been the epitome of orderly traffic. But ever since the one way system was introduced, people seem to have gotten that much out of control! I used to drive but since 2006/7 I have resorted to cabbing it places since 1) a car is way too expensive to buy with 300% tax 2) the checkpoints make it unsafe for a girl to drive in the night 3) the traffic is manic. 

So I am that backseat driver who tries to brake using her imaginary brake. Trust me, Ive been braking more with my imaginary brake than I did when I was using the real thing!

What is wrong with us?!

What next?

The A9 is open. Hands up those who have booked the van for their next/first trip to Jaffna? Hands up those who cancelled the trip to Bentota to frolic instead in the clear blue waters around Point Pedro? Yeah, as I guessed, none. 

Freedom from terror to me means not having to be checked at twenty check points on my way from Colombo 5 to Colombo 6 and asked for my ID. Freedom from terror would mean not being apathetic to the news another bomb has gone off in a train. Freedom from terror would mean not being stuck in traffic jams for hours at end due to a politician more terrified than me travelling 1km away from me. 

It is but delusional to think any of this will change just because the army captures Elephant Pass, Kilinochchi or Mullativu. There can never be any victors in a war. As we celebrate these victories with fireworks, we celebrate too these freedoms we will never have. Sri Lankans will forever live terrified that the next Central Bank attack will be at their building. The next Taj massacre will be at their hotel. 

Sri Lanka is a nurturing ground for terrorists. The tamil people are still, after 25 years of war, being treated as second class citizens of their own country. They are viewed with suspicion and treated with contempt. How many Tamil people do you know that can speak Sinhalese? Now, think how many Sinhalese do you know who can speak Tamil? The discrepancy is wide. Will this suspicion end because the war is over? When the govt has no idea where the LTTE are? 

Will this mean that just because we are able to place Sri Lankan flags and many an army soldier in the land that has been won up north that the Sri Lankan people will be able to finally forget this unncessary issue of language and go about their lives in peace? NO it won't. 

It is NOT ok that Tamil youth are abducted daily all around this country. It wasn't okay when Premadasa did that to the Sinhalese youth suspecting they were JVP and it is NOT ok that it is happening now. It is NOT ok that countless journalists have been harrassed through out the past 3 years for speaking the truth, what the ruling parties don't want to hear. It is NOT ok that our fundamental rights are daily stripped away under the war pretense through the passage of emergency laws. 

Human life is valuable. Whether they are Tamil, Sinhalese or Muslim. Palestinian or Israeli. We have lost more than one generation because of this war. How many more do we sacrifice before realising that its NOT ok?

Evil: Time to take a stand against Sri Lankan fascist regimes

'All that is necessary for evil to triumph, is for good men to do nothing'.

Today is a sad day in Sri Lankan history. It is an important day in its history. We have had many an important days in our history however on hindsight, I can only see bad choices, greed, power hungry morons and their decisions that have led us to today. The Sri Lankan Media Ministry was taken under the 'wings' of our President on the 1st of January 2009.

Since then, (a mere 8 days) a gang of 20 armed militants have entered the premises of one of the major independent television networks and set it on fire with the ambition of silencing them. A mere two days after this attack whilst the criticism was still pouring in, one of the key journalists in this country have been gunned down in broad daylight by a gang of 8 bikers. 

What is their common thread? They say things as it is. They report to the people what others fear to do. Lasantha Wickramatunga has time and time again put his life in danger to bring to us what the rest of the media institutions tried to hide. He has built one of the finest investigative journalism units in the country. True, he too has faltered during his career, sometimes bordering on slander and stepping on many a toe, however, it is the fundamental right of a citizen of a democracy to be able to express their views. It is a fundamental right for the truth to be told. 

Lasantha was murdered for allowing us this right. 

The current situation in the country is unacceptable. 

'All that is necessary for evil to triumph, is for good men to do nothing'. 

We see evil, we see its face, we see its siblings, we see its actions yet we are too afraid to speak up. But we must. Evil throughout the ages has always been brought down by brave people, courageous people time and time again standing up for what is right and what they believe in. This country has gone through turbulent times however we had hope. We had people we could look to as alternative leaders. We had Gamini Dissanayake, we had Lalith Athulathmudali, Ossi Abeygunasekera, Vijay Kumaratunga, R. Premadasa, J.R. Jayawardena, Chandrika Bandaranaike and countless others.

The last three proved to be tyrants themselves however when they reached power they brought with them that glimmer of hope. They had fought against injustices. Who do we have at this moment who will fight against the injustice that is a corrupt government terrorising its own people under the veil of a war? 

Kilinochchi is time and time again utilised as a veil to deflect the sentiments of an emotional public. A reason to commit atrocities that noone can stand upto. We are definitely on the path that Zimbabwe was on aa while back. There is only one way to ensure we do not end up in the same place.

We must stop being apathetic. We MUST take a stand. We must fight.

Postnote: I wasn't going to publish this. It scares me to publish this. But that would mean Lasantha Wickramatunga and countless others would have died in vain. And we cannot have that. 

Major General Janaka Perera - mysteries

It was an incredibly tragic moment in Sri Lankan history when 27 families were left torn when the bomber last Monday hit his target. Janaka Perera and his wife, Dr. John Pulle and his wife were both taken away from their families. Plenty of comments have been made on blogs, news items, and lunch rooms about these murders.

We live in a time where the public is incredibly inconveienced for the greater good of VIPs. Case in point: the arrival of President Mahmous Abbas this week where people were made to walk from fort to various points to locate their transport. The Hilton stretch was completely cordoned off, when President Abbas decided he wanted to pray on Friday lunch time at the Fort mosque: no stone was left unturned to ensure his safety. We wait in traffic jams each day so that the VIPs can race by us and reach their destination safely. I dont think a single person can attend a function which will be attended by any of the current administration (especially the high up commanders -military and otherwise) without getting stripsearched. People get shot when they fail to stop at check points on a weekly basis.

So, can we accept Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara's comment 'the suicide bomber just walked straight in to the function and blew himself up?' (or something of that order). The fellow was buckle legged, he could have been stopped. He could have been shot at if he didnt stop. The army/police/navy don't seem to hesitate to shoot at innocent pedestrians/drivers. So why the hesitation now? How did this man gain entry into this high security event? An ex army commander, a leader of a province in the opposition was attending this event. How can we as the Sri Lankan public accept this?

As much as I oppose the war, Janaka Perera would have at countless times issued orders that have ensured the safety of the then minister MR and his pigmie followers. How is keeping his body at the Ratmalana airport for FOUR hours in the heat any show of gratitude? How is refusing his body the right to travel by air to his province any act of humaneness? How low have politics travelled in our country with this current administration? How can there be THIS much hate in this system?

Secondly, why would the LTTE target an ex army commander who works with the opposition when there is a sitting duck in the form of the current army commander? If it really was the LTTE who conducted this atrocity, then we really must question where do their allegiances lie? Perhaps its not just with themselves. Who prevented the Tamil population from voting to place the current administration in power? As mentioned by groundviews, who murdered Lakshman Kadirgarman thus placing MR in power? Why is a guerilla organisation that was considered the most organised specialist group in the world now suddenly losing and allowing the govt to enter their area?

These questions will always just be questions. It is not the people on either side in power that suffers. Its the people on either side that leave their families, that commit atrocicties that haunt them forever, the people who are left behind as parents, spouses and children leave them due to the unjustified cause that is war.

Law and Chaos: Galle Road Unit

On Monday, the Supreme Court gave an order to remove all barricades on Galle Road all the way up till Galle Face Hotel (why not further, I cannot fathom!). This I'm sure was due to the realisation that - these barricades are pointless, these barricades further exacerbate the traffic situation in Colombo and of course, these barricades are pointless. Having these barricades only protect those that are already protected and doesn't shield the general public from random bombings by unknown parties, kidnappings, and murders of political and otherwise natures.


On Tuesday, the barricades were removed. Partially. And what were we bestowed with instead? From 7am, approximately 10 policemen conducting individual searches of each and every car to pass the Galle Road from the Kolpetty area onwards towards Galle Face. What did it result in? Chaos . It took an hour to get from Bambalapitiya to Kollupitiya and about 5 minutes to get from Kollupitiya (past the High Commissions and his assness esteemed residence) to Galadari.


Imagine what this means. There is a bus depot near that check point. Therefore every other vehicle is a bus. There are three lanes formed on one side of that Galle Road partition. I assume an approximate 100-150 offices to be beyond that checkpoint (as WTC itself accounts for about 50). If we assume each office employs 300 people minimum and out of these, 1/2 arrive by individual vehicle and out of this 1/2 come by Galle Road, we have 10 policemen checking over ... 11,250 people and their cars. All these people need to get to work by 8 or 9am so that doesn't give the policemen ALL day to do this task, they must do this within a space of 2-3 hours (provided they've been imperiused and they actually want to do something that serves the public). Add in the usual incompetency associated with the Sri Lankan police force and what do we get... a MOTHER OF A TRAFFIC JAM.


WHO woke up on that Tuesday morning and went 'EUREKA I HAVE FOUND ANOTHER WAY TO INCONVENIENCE THE SRI LANKAN POPULATION!!!!' i can only but wonder. Idiocy is rife and common sense NIL in all those that rules us. There is only selfishness, pigheadedness and of course, ripe greed. No cars were strip searched prior to this on that stretch. Not even when Her Highness was living at TT. I'm not sure if any car checkings anywhere in Colombo, has resulted in a policemen finding a vehicle full of LTTE cadres without their IDs sitting with their rifles. I can only imagine with 28% inflation and rising cost of living combines with meagre salaries in the public service, that someone in the Registrar's dept would be more than happy to create a new IDs for anyone that asks.


So why continue with this charade? If you must 'protect' us, do your job properly. Those in power, use your brain. A war can only be 'won' so much before the other side returns. And a war that has gone on for 25 years will not be 'won' so quickly. I long to go back to the days when the ceasefire was strongly in place and we could drive around without having to be bothered with check points, bomb threats or stupid road blocks.


Tuesday is only but a reminder that those days are long gone.

HIATUS but Im back.. For a short visit!

Just dropped by my blog today and saw a comment by Scrumpilicious saying 'where are you?' that compelled me to go 'awww' and log on to write a new post!

I've been ever so busy this past month, its actually quite manic. My job hunt was fruitful and I started a new job at the beginning of the month, amidst which Ive gotta study for an exam as well! So its pretty crazy!! Especially since I'm used to lazy days in front of the TV, checking out Kottu and ranting about my various topics!

I haven't kept much tabs on whats been happening in Sri Lanka this past month - since we are all still standing (I hope), Im guessing it doesnt amount to much. It was sad to see President Wijetunga pass away - he was actually my fave President - possibly bc he had such a short stint that he couldnt really create any chaos anyway! Oh and of course, I may have changed my viewpoint on SWRD Bandaranaike as the be all and end all of this chaotic situation in the country. I learnt that he died because he passed the Tamil Bill and of course the peg now passes to the Buddhist monks and Wimala Wijewardene for been utter dicks. (Sorry - I'm Buddhist too before anyone gets offended and starts yelling at me!)

I've been feeling very flightfooted and I'm dying to go back to London or even visit somewhere new like Egypt but the finances are in a terrible situation at the moment. So no such thing is gonna happen!

Thats it from me,

So what's new with you?

A watch shop?!

So the world... or rather Colombo is resounding with the sound of a new bomb being set off in Pettah. Apparently it was set under a board in a pavement watch shop. Ok.. rack your brains people.. when did the LTTE ever use timing devices to send off small bombs in watch shops?!

I'm in my Mid twenties so I can fully assure you that I have not heard of any such thing. I've seen the consequences of their attacks on Central Bank, Orugodawaththa Oil refinery, Dalada Maligawa etc. So.. either the govt must be not telling us enough of how much their victory up north is affecting the LTTE (I mean, they must be pretty desperate to blow up a watch shop) orrr... something fishy is going on.

Take your pick. There's a good blog entry about this here.

Not all is as it seems.

Cricket - What's up with us?

So, I went for Sunday's match, we lost. I watched a bit of yesterday's match. We lost. Now, before you think... Hmm it must be you, NO! I'm not the bad luck charm because I didn't watch the Dambulla match, and we still lost!

1996 - stuff of legend. Made some cricketing legends for sure. After that, it was a downward spiral. A lot of the oldies said farewell and a bunch of new guys came on. But how often, do we reminisce about that World Cup team? Asanka Gurusinghe's Sixer flying through the night air... Sanath achieving Master Blaster status.. Arjuna preferring to walk instead of run during the Finals... Aravinda letting Arjuna hit the winning runs..

I was 12 but I remember all of it. Watching the highlights on YouTube now, it makes you so proud!!! Then came the period that we'll all rather forget with purposely dropping catches and what losing to Kenya was it?

Now, we have a good team. We have excellent batting. We have legends in Jayasuriya, Murali and Vaas. But in all our sporting arenas, why are we not training up young talent as well as we should? Why are we relying on 30 year olds to bring us Olympic Golds? Close to 40 year olds to save matches? It shows a severe lack of interest by the ruling parties to invest enough money on training up young talents.

I don't know abt running, but I'm pretty sure there must be a few untrained Sanath's out there. With the high incidence of cricket games in this country, its a high probability that another Kalu or Gurusinghe is out there. But we don't locate them and we don't train them. Why else would players like Chamara Silva who held such hope during last year's World Cup fall to the background? We are lucky to have found Malinga and Mendis. But are they really the new Muralis? Do they have the determination and dedication to the Sport to succeed as Murali has? Malinga got his contract withdrawn for his bad behaviour on tour. Where's the dedication?

Right now, our team is inexperienced. Some say let them get trained up they'll be great. But will they? Are the right resources available for these players to hone their talent and become their best? I'm not sure. Mahela is a remnant from his generation of cricketers. His compatriots all come and gone. Sanga is off the era after Mahela.

Once Sana, Vaas and Murali decide enough is enough, will we really have that much hope? Shouldn't our infrastructure improve to support these sportsmen who clearly have the talents yet lack the resources? Its a sad state of affairs when we lost after 25 years to India in our own country. If this doesn't alert the authorities to sit up and do something about this sport that has provided us all with so many heroes, so many proud moments, I don't know what will.

Tree of Hope

Perhaps past events have hurt you, but you must still have hope. For without hope, your existence becomes dull. Pessimism is only good so far. With hope, life becomes a sunrise, you become more open to possibilities, opportunities and events. As the picture above, hope allows your mind to be a canvas. Without hope, you are but a cloudy night.

So even if someone doesn't reciprocate your feelings, even if someone has left you, even if you haven't met worth giving your heart to in so long you forget what it feels like, it is important to be open. It is vital to know that these feelings do pass. And that someone else will most definitely come along.

There are 6.6 billion people in this world. Have hope!

Baked Crab Cravings

I am craving one of these baked crab/cheesey filled dishes today!!

Any idea which places in Colombo offers the best?

Siestas, Lazy Days..

A lazy Sunday, a cool beer at the beach, read a book on a hammock whilst the sea breeze rushes through your hair, a good crab curry for lunch, a dip in the ocean...

Hmmm... what luxuries Sri Lanka provides!!! Isn't that fantastic? We have it all right at our feet. If just managed properly, this place really is Paradise. If its like this when not managed properly imagine what it would be with a booming economy?

I'm so glad to start working in Sri Lanka. After so many years of living abroad, it feels fantastic. To be able to afford any cuisine that I wish for at any point, to access the beach at any time, to smell the rain falling on the Earth. That smell.. do you know what I speak of? You can't find it anywhere in the world I'm sure. Just in the Sri Lankan soil.

With green hills, fresh strawberries and cream available in the Hill country and plenty of relics for the culturally inclined, its more than a shame its a tragedy that Sri Lanka has faced so much turmoil.

I'm glad to be back and I'm glad I can look forward for at least a year here. Sri Lankans always survive. These are the things that makes me proud to be Sri Lankan.

Good God!

If my previous post wasn't enough, I just had the pleasure of catching Jackson Anthony in a State TV interview.

Quote:

'people say nationalism is bad but without embracing nationalism we cannot reach internationalism'...

F*** knows what internationalism is.. doesn't it completely go against the concept of nationalism? And as feared, the interview just re-iterated what I said in my previous post. Bogged down in Mahavamsa it's proving its purpose. Excerpts from people who watched the movie state that 'we are so grateful to Mr Anthony for reminding us our history'.

Sigh..
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Meanwhilst take a look at a fellow blogger's entry here.

This is progressive thinking. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of a certain position and taking the best action. Of course this gentleman is educated. Perhaps its our fault for electing asses that don't even have a decent degree that this situation has arisen. What hope does our nation have when everyone who has even a blotch of brains are too afraid to speak up and let asses run the country?

Celebration!

I've managed to hit the top posts for yesterday/today for the first time in my history of Kottuing!

Very happy!!

Thanks all!!

ABA - my next rant..

I wasn't going to blog about this movie because I felt that one rant after another after another will just be excessive. However, i just read the following: http://sanhindha.blogspot.com/2008/08/blog-post_18.html


And I feel that it is imperative to express my opinion that this movie cannot be looked at anything but a movie.


For those that aren't entirely familiar with Sinhalese cinema, 'Aba' is the story of King Pandukabaya's childhood. It was directed by film actor Jackson Anthony and it was produced by... well apparently two business men. However the story behind the story is that Rs/- 800,000,000.00 was provided by none other than our great leader. The trailers for 'Aba' started been played when the hindi movie 'Jodhaa Akbar' was playing in the cinemas. And I have it on a trusted source that Mr. Anthony believed his cinematic creation to be on par with 'Jodhaa Akbar'.


So, shall we compare the two movies? (Just the two movies and what they inspired not the actual legend/story)


Whilst I was watching 'Jodhaa Akbar', a singular important thought came into my mind. 'How lucky are the Indian people that they have leaders like this they can look back upon with pride'. Why did I think this? Well, Akbar appeared from childhood to be a fair human being. He did not seek to kill his prisoners of war for the glory of his name. He went beyond himself to understand the plights of the people, reducing their taxes and bringing about prosperity to the country during his reign. He was fair to all his subjects were they Hindu or Muslim or the other various sects that India has to offer. So these were the reasons that were illustrated through this movie abt Akbar.


As a piece of cinema, it was a masterpiece. Songs by A.R.Rahman, dance sequences that were elaborately planned and hundreds as junior artistes. Of course, Indian cinema has more money available to it and more advanced technology and all around talents that are available to it than we have. Politically what did the movie potray? That it is possible to have fair leaders who can bring about the prosperity of a nation irrespective of the ethnicities present in that nation.


Now let's take 'Aba', cinematography and sets were excellent. Mr Anthony had taken on board what he has seen during his work with directors in large scale movies. They had workers from India flown in to create the sets. As you enter, the slogan associated with 'Aba' speaks of a person ascended from 'Ruhuna' (Now Hambantota) that saved the nation. Hmm.. analogies anyone? Movie starts. First line in the blank screen? Salutations to His Excellency MR. Ass licking anyone? I've watched many a movie in my lifetime, not many salutes a nation's President at the beginning.


For a movie spanning two and a half hours, the first twenty minutes are spent focussing on the events at the birthing chamber. We have a whole host of senior artistes from the Sri Lankan film industry: Malini Fonseka, Raveendra Randeniya, Sabeetha Perera, Shriyantha Mendis and a whole host of new artistes. The kid acts pretty well, more natural in his actions. It wasn't his fault that the script was ever so... retarded. Serela (the little girl who was a main actor in 'Water') is wasted in her role as the adopted child by Sabeetha's character. She merely dances here and there and waddles off. We know she is capable of a lot more.


Raveendra looks like a Sri Lankan Gandalf as the Pandula Brahamana. All decked out in white with the stump. Sabeetha seems incapable of efficient emotions even now as Unmada Chitra. Malini performed well in her role showcasing grandeur and dignity. Saumya Liyanage was excellent as Habara. His performance was slightly reminiscent of that of his father, Hemasiri Liyanage in certain films. Kingsley Loos appears to be a good fit for the character of Tissa.


Anyhow, back to the movie. Dialogue contained gems such as 'Even the Gods will forgive those who murder in the name of the country'. Needless to say several people in the audience snorted. And of course, Aba seemed to have mixed himself with Harry Potter as he is protected by the love of his uncle Chittaraja (who protects him as a ghost). And of course, in a highly ironic twist of facts... what religion protects Aba from his birth to his ascend to kingship? Hinduism. Mr Anthony seems to utilise Hindu Slokas and chants as background music and it is these chants as well as the psychic eye of a seer that succeeds in ensuring Aba's safety through all danger. Right at the end, Aba lifts his sword and is blessed by Chittaraja's ghost who is up on a rock and has assumed supernatural powers as he transfers his powers to Aba's palms or sword (I really couldn't be arsed paying attention to detail by this point). Its kinda like Lion King really. Only Simba is down below and Mufasa's ghost is on a rock. Imagine that. Its actually an injustice to the actual fellow who lived to reduce him to a mere puppet of a ghost or an astrologer.


And of course scattered throughout the 2.5 hours is various comments regarding the Sinhalese and the various gothras we come from etc etc. And the last rocker of a statement from Aba, 'I will fight for the glory of this motherland till death'. Yeah charming that.


So, why make this movie at this time? Around the world people use the medium of cinema and art as an opportunity to bridge gaps. To exaggerate the similarities and negate the differences. Did this movie make me proud to be Sinhalese/Sri Lankan? Err.. no. It made me feel a tad daft to be honest. Why, if this was true I have to go finding a ghost to protect me. Did this movie focus on the importance of blood lines and the importance of ethnicities? YES. Did it say we are all the same, cmon get along? No. So why would anyone in their right mind spend 800M rupees to make such a movie, intersperse nationalism promoting comments within it and throw it out to the public?


Why else? P.R.O.P.A.G.A.N.D.A


Hitler used it, Mussolini used it, Bush uses it, I'm sure Mugabe probably uses it, so why not our fellow?


To come back to the blog entry that inspired this post, this is how some people take this movie- to be fair I didn't read the whole post. However, it is not an epic movie that enters the annals of Sinhalese cinema. For its cinematography and elaborate attire, yes I conceded it is a great improvement from the Anarkali clad rubbish we see. However, if I was a fellow from Matara who watch this with the few rupees I have and I have already been indoctrinated about how great my race is, then we will have issues.


One must look towards legends and myth as examples of how to solve current problems. Sri Lankan history as illustrative as it is, is bogged down in Sinhalese Buddhism. That's not what the country needs at this point. That's precisely why MR spent money on this movie. That's precisely why the greatness of fighting for the nation is written all over it. Its an exaggerated method of alluring young fellows to join the army or support the war cause.


It is sickening when artistes use their talent (as Mr. Anthony clearly has talent) for these purposes. People are blinded by money. However, I am not blinded by 'Aba'.