Tale of two families...

By Ranee Mohamed in Mawathagama

While Defence Minister Gotabhaya Rajapakse was hugged and kissed by his brother, President Mahinda Rajapakse in Colombo soon after last Friday's suicide bomb attack:  in the remote village of Mawathagama in the Kurunegala District, there were not only tears and heartache, but the continuous crying of  Baby Ishan Bhagya Wijerathne, the two and half year old son of   Lance Corporal Priyantha Wijerathne.

There were no state television crews or photographers to capture their grief and transmit to the nation. That was to be only for the high and mighty.

And while ministers and MPs thronged to TempleTrees to rejoice the escape of Gotabhaya Rajapakse in front of the television cameras, there were no such visits by the powers that be to the houses of the fallen heroes. They after all were not in a position to dish out state patronage. In that moment, the stark reality of war was brought  live in all its reality to the poorer sections of society. 

As the baby's cries pierced the hearts of  their neighbours, there was nothing that his mother Geetha Kumari could do to console him. "He always drank his milk after his father spoke to him. Ever since my husband died, our little son has never drunk any milk. He keeps asking for his father, pulling at my blouse and telling me to telephone his father and  ask him to come home," said a  young and helpless Geetha Kumari, wife of the late Lance Coporal Priyantha Wijerathne (32) who died in the LTTE suicide attack on the Defence Secretary's convoy in Kollupitiya on December 1.

Another young soldier, Lance Corporal N.K. Piyasiri of Neluwa, Galle, who was born in 1975 also died in the attack saving the life of  the Defence Secretary. Piyasiri was also awarded the Purna Bhumi and Desha Putra service medals.

Quest for life

The newly-built  home of Lance Corporal Priyantha Wijerathne in Mawathagama portrayed the quest that this young soldier had for life. "We were his life - me and the baby. He used to speak to us in the morning, during the day and in the night. He spoke to us before he went for duty and after duty too and now the baby is trying to snatch the telephone. He is touching the ground and asking me to get his father back," said wife Geetha Kumari in tears. Geetha Kumari  has also served in the Sri Lanka Army.

Having  seen young Priyantha when he rode on his bike past her point of duty at Keppetipola Mawatha, Geetha Kumari says that it was love at first sight when she first saw him in October 2001.  Theirs was a married life that began  five years ago.

 Young Geetha Kumari spoke of their hopes and their dreams and the plans they had  made for their child who has just begun to walk steadily. "My husband was so devoted to us. We were planning to take the baby to the  zoo when he came on leave. He loved his son dearly and always told me the things they would do together when the baby grew up. We yearned for him and counted the days for him to get a few days leave.

  I always waited for him to come on leave because he had many things to do at home. He used to cut the firewood for me to last a couple of weeks; he used to clean the cobwebs and the garden. Now, who will  be beside me when this baby is ill; who will take us to hospital, who will make arrangements for my child to go to school; who will take care of me for the rest of my life; who will be with me when I age?  What do I tell my son when he asks about his father ?" wailed the young wife in anguish.

 Memories begin to fade

"This child was his life. They were so attached to each other. There are no words to express my devastation. It is better if we all had  died in that attack," moaned Geetha Kumari.

 And hours after the funeral the white flags were gradually falling down and memories beginning to haze. As the image of this valiant solider who saved the life of Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse begins to blur, the realities of life ensnares the young wife. Uncertainty and fear grips her heart and as all celebrations in her life stand blackened with the death of her young husband.

"He was not able to come for our baby's second birthday in June because of duty," said Geetha Kumari and it was duty that took him away on December 1, a few hours before he was supposed to come home for the alms giving of his uncle that was to be held on that day.

 In fact Lance Corporal Priyantha Wijerathne's leave application form had been in his pocket as  his tour of duty took him to his death on the morning of  December 1. He had spoken to his wife Geetha a few hours before his sudden death and had asked her about the baby and consoled her that he was trying to come home on leave in a few hours.

 Last time he  came home on leave for a scrappy three days. Having come home on November 14, he had to leave for duty on November 17.

Ultimate sacrifice

 Lance Corporal Priyantha Wijerathne's dedication and ultimate sacrifice it is learnt however, had been repaid very poorly. Only a few people in authority had visited this once happy home at a time when the whole family was grieving. Among them had been the wife of Gotabhaya Rajapakse, wife of the Airforce Commander, Chief Minister, Wayamba Provincial Council,  Athula Wijesinghe; Chairman, Mawathagama Pradeshiya Sabha Sanath Meegolla and politician  Jayaratne Herath.

There had been no other people of authority present at the funeral to show their appreciation for having saved the country's senior defence authority, let alone share their grief.

If appreciation and memories have waned as Lance Corporal Priyantha Wijerathne's mutilated body lay in the hallway, then it has truly been forgotten now by the authorities. The continuous crying of his baby and the sighs and tears of his wife and the grief-stricken faces of his father, brothers and sisters are all what remains to remind us of the life of a valiant soldier.

Life is indeed going to be tough for these poor people. Infact, when the grief-stricken wife had been taken to a nearby clinic for treatment for a chest pain on the day of the alms giving, she had been asked to join the queue of about 50 people despite the medical authorities being told that she had to go for her own husband's alms giving in a few hours time.

A family of army personnel

Lance Corporal Priyantha Wijerathne hailed from a family of army personnel. His father joined the army in 1977 at a time when they were given limited access to ammunition. His younger brother Samantha Wijerathne  is also in the army.  His brother-in-law is also in the army; his cousin is Corporal Upali Senevirathne. Samantha Wijerathne's wife  U.A. Sama has also served in the army as a private.

"My eldest son was my greatest strength. I am an old man and he took on the burden of looking after us all. I wish that my younger son Samantha is brought back closer home, somewhere to Kurunegala," said his father, retired  Staff Sergeant P.H. Wijerathne.

"I remember the 1980s as being the best time in my life. It was a time when I had both my sons close to me. I was the Guard Commander at Army Headquarters and both my sons were sentries under my command," said the proud father.

"I have to be proud of what my eldest son did. He saved the life of the President's brother, the high defence authority in this country, the Secretary of Defence. As a soldier, there is no greater pride for me than that, but I miss him in a way that I can never explain..,"said the father, crying uncontrollably.

It is just over seven days after his death. Already their small home, built with money borrowed from all over, is deserted. He was the greatest hero a week ago. Lance Corporal Priyantha Wijerathne had infact been a great hero, having served in the President's squad and the Defence Secretary's squad and having been trained in armed combat in India.

Yet today, as the visitors from the village itself are getting sparse, his home is threatening to get as lonely as his grave, just a few yards away from his home.

 The three stooges ...

My Darling Mahinda,

The way you cabinet chaps are getting all vigorous in your old age, one would think the good ship lollipop had berthed in Mangy's  Port. Not that any ships that pass in the twilight will be shared by you two. I don't know if you've ever seen my bristling Persian cat retire stealthily into a corner after a rousing fight with my feisty Chi wha wha.

No quarter given darling. Just retiring to their respective corners to contemplate strategy exactly like you and Mangy - I mean to say if I didn't know any better I would have said you two were in an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical imitating animal life.  

And with none other than Mallo himself coming down like a ton a bricks on you, urging you to investigate how cabinet secrets are being leaked out - there you were looking rather nonplussed. In fact m'dear for a moment you looked puzzled, wondering if you, unable to break the habit of a lifetime had done it yourself.

A fly on the wall told me the look on your face as Mallo was talking of security matters in an overwrought kind of way had to be seen to be believed. It could have stopped a bally clock.  

Even the pipeline leak in Maharagama can't match up to the cabinet leaks under your stewardship dearie. And with Mallo upset that this rag had got hold of the news that it was he who had cheered heartily, your mad scheme to ban the cyanide chaps, you too reacted with equal harshness.

Waggling a chubby finger at the motley group of ministering angels you told them that you will not tell them any more secrets if the tattle tales continued to treat the weekly event as if it was a Hilton tittle tattle coffee morning with the media. 

Many an eyebrow disappeared into the receding hairlines of many a ministering angel - no mean feat - considering how high the eyebrow had to be raised in order to disappear - especially as it was none other than you my dear chap whom Satty would irritably call the reporter during her glory days.      

Anyway darling with all the secrets out of the closet despite Mangy trying hard to pack them back in, and Mallo the crown prince sniffling in a corner about compromising his security I heard you gave it to them good and proper.

Not only were you not going to tell them anything, you would take all decisions yourself for no other reason than because you could. After all you are the big cheese, the top dog, the grand panjandrum, the fuhrer, etcetera, etcetera.

But what had my gut tied up in knots and churned me up like an egg whisk darling was when you said that you don't need anyone as the Raja Party brothers would be able to run the circus themselves.

My dear old chap. Somehow the prospect didn't cheer my wearied soul dear. On my face you would not have encountered a look of burgeoning admiration such as would have adorned the face of a distressed damsel saved by one of Arthur's knights from a two headed dragon of evil aspect.   

I mean to say it is bad enough to endure the machinations of a chap who names himself after a bally herb dearie. As if it isn't enough to have  Ba-seal  going around in helicopters jostling his way into army camps to deliver keynote speeches on nothing in particular, arm in arm with that foul specimen of cellular matter Wee Wee.

Lo and behold we now have to tolerate  smiling Goat a baya pulling  his own shirt sleeve proudly telling anyone who would listen that the few drops of blood on his shirt aren't his. Tell your bally brothers to be a tad more sensitive to the blood of others darling especially when two brave fellows died saving him.

Thellie is all for a little slap and tickle and a good champagne of an evening but even she was aghast at your lack of sensitivity and empathy. A modicum of caution dearie when you rejoice in public on such matters.

Everybody is a victim it would have better served your image if you two had cut back on the reveling and carousing and had whizzed off to comfort the families of those who sacrificed their lives in order that you could carouse and revel.

Be that as it may well be darling, I heartily welcome your family bid to move in and take over Paradise. A foul triumvirate you three gamai chandiyas would make I must say.

May be Sonna boy could shoot a movie about you like he threatened to shoot one on the life and times of Satty.

Three Stooges Come To Town perhaps?

Tara for now

Bolivarian Revolution in Bush's backyard

The bi-partisan Congressional report of the Iraqi Study Group has proved to be a disaster for President George W. Bush. The report advised a change of course and warned of 'dwindling chances before crisis turned into chaos.'

     Even though there is no legal compulsion for the president to accept the report, the fact that the study group comprised both Democratic and Republican Party Congressmen and one of its Co-Chairs was former Secretary of State James Baker who was an adviser to President Bush (Snr) has made it near impossible for the president  to look away from the recommendations.

Even more embarrassing and worrying to President Bush are events taking place in South America, long considered the backyard of the United States which proclaimed its hegemony as far back as 1893 when President Monroe opposed European intervention in South America.

Since then this hegemony was called the Monroe Doctrine. There is a so called 'pink tide' spreading across the South American continent which the latest American baiter, Venezuelan President  Hugo Chavez calls the 'Bolivarian Revolution' named after Simon Bolivar who freed  South America from Spanish control.

Fourth left victory

Chavez who taunts the United States and President Bush was re-elected president of oil rich Venezuela last week. He was the fourth leftist opposed to the United States policies to win an election in the past five weeks.

Raffel Correra who has been severely critical of American policies and an ally of Chavez was elected president of Ecuador last week.

Before him Daniel Ortega who attempted to lead a' Sandinista' revolution and battled contra rebels was elected president of El Salvador after 17 years in the political wilderness and there was also Inacio Lula de Silva re-elected as president of Brazil who is also left of centre and does not see eye to eye with the American president.

Before that there was Alvaro Morales, the indigenous Indian who was elected president of Bolivia who too is opposed to US policies in South America and an ally of Hugo Chavez.

Chile too elected Michelle Bachelet, president - the first woman president of the country who is left of centre in politics. She is however unlike other leftists of South America a moderate pledged to follow global free market policies. This is despite her father, a Chilean army officer being killed by the  Augusto Pinochet regime that was brought into power by the Americans.  

President Bush may derive some consolation in the victory of former president Alan Garcia in Peru in June this year.  Garcia had been defeated but this June came back defeating  former Army Commander Ollanto Humala.

This victory of Garcia was a blow to Chavez who backed Humala strongly. Garcia after victory said that 'Peru had defeated the efforts of Hugo Chavez in incorporating Peru in the expansion of his backward military model that he was trying to implant in South America.'

Godfather

The godfather and inspirer of this 'Bolivarian Revolution' is Fidel Castro who is now ailing and has transferred his power to his brother Raul.  Reports indicate that Castro  who defied  and challenged the United States for a near half century outlasting nine American presidents is now nearing his end.

Chavez who regularly calls on Castro at his bedside apparently wants to inherit the revolutionary mantle of Castro. Whether the podgy Venezuelan could replace the charismatic Castro in this age is much in doubt.

Castro emerged as a romantic Latin American leader challenging almighty America and even dealing the superpower mighty blows such as the defeat at the Bay of Pigs and bringing the world to the brink of a world war with the Cuban missile crisis... Castro had no money but he was astute enough to team up with the other superpower the Soviet Union and meet the challenges of his mighty neighbour for 50 years.

Chavez has neither personality nor a Soviet Union to back him but he has his petrodollars. He is benefitting from the huge windfall high prices and quadrupled oil exports since1998.

TheVenezuelan economy has grown nine per cent. Chavez has channelled some of the oil money to social welfare projects and is acting as Santa Claus not only to the poor of Venezuela but even to those living in the poor quarters of New York and London by pledging them oil at subsidised prices.

Generosity

Chavez's generosity with the country's oil revenues has brought  on him immense popularity at home and abroad. By his ability to take on the United States and get away, his popularity has been rising. He is also cashing in on the indignation the poor nations of the world are harbouring against President Bush's policies.

After his 'hurricane victory' Chavez stressed on his grand visions for the future. There is no alternative for Venezuela other than the 'Bolivarian Revolution' he declared. He has also spoken of his intentions to amend the constitution taking off the limits on the number of terms of presidency. That would enable him to continue as president for life. Critics however have said that hurricanes do not last a long time, they run out of wind. The Venezuelan messiah's power can last only till his oil revenues last.

Meanwhile what would the Americans do about the revolution in their own backyard? Will President Bush who has been one of the most aggressive and combative foreign policy makers succumb to a 'Bolivarian Revolution' now spreading in his backyard? He has two more years to go and Iraq to settle.

Cardboard Dutugemunu at Maradana junction

It was more than a two hour wait at journalist Ajith Samaranayake's funeral as sohon kathikayo (orators at funeral pyres) held forth. Sri Lankans, even journalists whose number of words used in their daily work are limited by editors, cannot resist the temptation of a microphone. This gave the scribes who had gathered there time for some graveyard humour.

Kanatte club

A veteran scribe noted that those of his vintage now met only at Kanatte to say farewell to their departed colleagues and thus a press club for senior journalists should be set up at Kanatte. Another pointed out that Kanatte was the only possible place where such a press club could be established in accordance to Mahinda Chinthana and the new excise laws that prohibited any bar operating in proximity of 500 yards from a school or place of worship.

Another scribe whose doctors have told him that he had exhausted his 'quota' for his lifetime and is now strongly opposed to Bacchus changed the topic. Why don't we get this journalistic oratorical talent - that was in full flow at the cemetery - to make some money? he proposed.

Why don't the railway authorities who are constantly broke earn some revenue by hiring the Fort Railway Station to journalists who regularly stage demos there? It is grand entertainment and action starved TV channels never fail to show journalists sans jobs, editors sans newspapers, screaming their heads off for some cause on prime  time TV, he argued.

Studio at Fort Railway Station

Besides the railway authorities can make the Fort Railway Station a TV studio by permitting journalists to perform inside the station and help keep commuters kicking their heels waiting for trains happy, without bothering station masters by asking questions such as: "Will the 2:30 train to Panadura arrive at 5:56?"

Another journalist sage suggested that the Town Hall too could make some bucks by charging for demonstrations staged at Lipton's Circus.  Lipton and his Tea Gardens are now no more and so is the building that housed his Colombo office. But the active journalists  have made the circus famous by staging demos ever so often at  high noon and causing severe traffic jams. Action packed TV channels could film it all.

Another suggested that Mangala Samaraweera's assistance could be summoned to stage street dramas which he pioneered while another suggested that real life dramas could also be staged at the junction by exploding claymore mines at passing VIP convoys.

Maradana junction art gallery

Graveyard humour was getting too explosive and the topic shifted on to Maradana junction which has now turned out to be an art gallery. Ranasinghe Premadasa started it all with his giant cut-outs towering over the five-way junction and now Sri Lanka's up and coming mass-communicator Mervyn Silva has taken over the junction.

Earlier he had massive cut outs of Chandrika Kumaratunga smiling at the clogged vehicular traffic and choked pedestrians but with Chandrika presumably out of the scene, Mervyn has proved to be a  man for all seasons and got a massive cut out of El Presidente Mahinda Rajapakse gazing benignly at the suffering masses passing down below.

Mervyn has also a sense of history like those grand producers of super colossal stuff such as Cecile B. de Mille. He has called this cardboard Mahinda 'Next To Only Dutugemunu.' Mervyn of course may argue that it is not cardboard but hardboard or some such synthetic stuff but whether Mahinda likes it is another question. Perhaps like all politicians he will claim that he is blissfully unaware of what his supporters are doing.

Cardboard Dutugemunu

Whether Mahinda likes it or not we are certain that the original Dutugemunu would not have liked himself to be made out of cardboard. Whatever these NGO, Mahavamsa baiting types may say, our kings were men of good taste and polish. They could have got the people to carve out giant statues of themselves and have them placed overlooking their stupendous works such as irrigation tanks.

But they didn't. Instead they built massive temples, stupas and statues of the Buddha out of sheer granite. Dutugemunu has built magnificent monuments which are still standing after 2,000 years such as Ruvanveliseya and Mirissawetiya.

Now our creative genius Mervyn has built a cardboard Mahinda and called him 'Next Only To Dutugemunu' and installed him at Maradana junction. Poor Dutugemunu, did he ever envisage admirers like this? We wonder what Mahinda thinks of his admirer and loyal supporter.