|
Short cut to Nirvana
While parliament turned into a mini battlefield last Tuesday -
the hallmark of the new parliament with all four sessions being marred by some
ugly scene or the other - the worst of it all possibly was the 'ball grab.'
While Ven. Kolonnawe Sri Sumangala Thero who writhed in pain had
to be rushed to the parliament doctor and then to the Sri Jayawardenepura
Hospital, during the long suspension, there was one errant member giving a live
demo to some scribes as to what happened and what made the monk fall ill.
Power and Energy Deputy Minister, Mahindananda Aluthgamage
enjoyed story telling to the maximum as he gave a 'ball by ball' description on
how a fellow member gave the bhikku's testicles the hardest possible squeeze
amidst the commotion in the house. When queried, he denied it was him but an
audacious other member who boastfully claimed that it was his great deed.
With MPs attempting the strangulation of elected monks, nothing
more needs to be said about the quality of the members themselves, or the sheer
lack of it!!
Fleeing the scene of crime
With the show of shows being acted out by the country's
legislators on the most shameful day in Sri Lanka's parliamentary history,
embarrassed parliamentary staff quickly removed some 100 odd school children who
were occupying gallery seats in anticipation of a constructive debate.
What they witnessed would be forever etched in their memories as
monks were shoved and members launched themselves into frenzied fisticuffs.
MP reporters
As the show got underway, with legislators involved in a brawl
that reminded many of a rugby match with no referee - such was the chaos
witnessed - there were many a parliamentarian who turned lenseman or reporter.
All mobile telephones were out as the instruments rang out in all kinds of
discordant ringing tones.
Leading the photographers were JVP Propaganda Secretary Wimal
Weerawansa who made it his chief occupation with scant respect for Standing
Orders, ably aided by Mahinda Amaraweera and many others. There was zealous
snapping of shots by many while others were busy giving ball by ball
descriptions in hushed tones as to the goings on - not that in that din that
there was even a remote chance of overhearing the comments!!
Baptism of fire
The day poor Akmeemana Dayaratana Thero decided to hand in his
nomination papers, even in his wildest dreams he would not have believed that
his entry to the hollowed precincts would get recorded in the annals for the
worst eruption of physical violence in the house extending to manhandling of the
saffron robed - the worst possible record by any standard.
The devastated monk, who made it to the chair to be sworn in
amidst pandemonium inside the chamber, was seen heaving a sigh of relief after
he completed the task. But, by that time, his arm hung lifelessly by his side
following its dislocation while his robe was nearly stripped by the most
villainous of members, Mervyn Silva. What a first day experience for a monk who
entered politics with a desire to create a dharmarajya!!!
MPs they were not meant to be
Among those denied their rightful place in the legislature by
default were former MP, H. Mithrapala, Mohomed Juvan Muzzamil and Nirmala
Kothalawela who were waiting to be sworn in.
With Ven. Dayaratana Thero's swearing in causing all hell to
break loose, Mithrapala did not budge an inch when his name was called thrice
over by the Speaker. By that time the mace too had disappeared creating more
confusion as to the validity of the session itself.
And all three members, spruced up for the occasion while
galleries were filled with their families and supporters, remained glued to
their seats, not in defiance but possibly in sheer reluctance to get involved in
the disgraceful spectacle. Watching one's own back is so important these days
seemed to be the collective attitude.
More
Stories...
|
