After studying and reflecting on the modus
operandi of the two Kotelawalas, who feigned a
profound concern for the poor and the country, who will
not cry out to heaven — where is justice?
Who will have any confidence in the political system
and the state when those who commit crimes of all kinds
with impunity get away with it without being tracked
down and brought to book? Who with even an iota of human
sensitivity will not become embittered by the cruelty,
inequality, injustice, and rank unfairness that are
showing up in every page of human experience in this
country?
Moved with righteous indignation at the plight of
those who have been cheated through despicable
machinations by this upper class elitist, socialite
couple, the writer mingled with the desperate, shocked,
angered and forlorn crowd that assembled to demand a
return of their savings, to listen to some of their
stories:
(1) "The press says that we were greedy for obtaining
high interest rates. But do they know that I needed this
extra money to buy endomethial— an anti-cancer drug that
cost Rs. 5000 for 50 tablets for my 34 year old cancer
stricken wife?" With tears rolling down his cheeks he
rested his head on my shoulders and said "now, I have to
stop her treatment. I won’t tell her, but I will give
her a vitamin that looks like that."
(2) "I needed the money to support my parents who are
very ill. They did so much for us, but my salary is not
enough to support them. I can’t even beg now — and, from
whom?"
(3) "I gave this money which is my wife’s dowry to
buy some basic furniture for the annex we moved into.
Now, we will have to sleep on the floor, that is all
right, but this money is what my wife’s father saved for
her over a period of 35 years! Do these people have
hearts at all?"
(4) "I am supporting my sister, who had been raped
and, is now in a villa at Mulleriyawa with the interest
I was getting. Those who say we did it out of greed must
suffer a similar fate. We curse the Kotelawalas.
The lesson the writer learned was that the small
scale depositors did it out of dire circumstances, not
to go on binges as the rich may want to do, not to dine
at Cinnamon Grand, shop at Odel, Crescat, or Liberty
Plaza, not to get their teeth cleaned at Apollo Hospital
or for facials and massages but, merely to survive
during these hard times.
Having listened to the woes of these suffering
people I would like to recommend that —
(i) Strip the title ‘Deshamanya’ publicly from these
two swindlers immediately, to demonstrate the
government’s anger and its sympathy towards those who
have been cheated.
(ii) Request the organisations that gave doctorates
— which though questionable and provoke humour — to
strip them of these doctorates.
(iii) Take strong executive action and adopt strict
methods for getting the Ceylinco Group to bring back all
money remitted to safe havens abroad. The government
should demonstrate its political will to help the
small-scale depositors who would have voted for this
regime.
(iv) Bring pressure on the Kotelawalas to recall all
Golden Key money (people’s savings), given as handouts
to the subsidiaries, bonus, fees, and monetary loot
given to their directors. The whole group must be held
responsible.
(v) Put in place a well designed scheme to obtain
the Rs. 26 billion, virtually pick pocketed from
unsuspecting depositors, and work out a sound plan to
re-pay all depositors (who have deposited small amounts
— say Rs. 2 million) — the capital plus accrued interest
to date, expeditiously. The Presidential Secretariat
should have a representative at these discussions.
Tears are rolling down the cheeks of those reduced
to penury. Sleepless nights have become the norm and
desperation may drive some to extremes. It is a tragedy
beyond description for some and let not the government
sleep in silent comfort.
Deep Throat
Colombo 7
