Cassandra is totally in favour of the newly-appointed Cabinet of Ministers, particularly approving the continuation of Dr Harini A as PM and Minister of Education in its various levels, and appointing Vijitha Herath as Foreign Affairs Minister and Dr Nalinda Jayatissa in charge of Health and Mass Media. Especially joyful is the appointment of Saroja Savithri Paulraj as Minister of Women and Child Affairs. She has made history by being the first Tamil to be elected to Parliament from the Matara District and thus the Southern Province. This fact is highlighted with hope for the future of our country and shares honour with the Jaffna election results of electing majority Sinhalese.

Cass is an impressionable dame, emotional and easily carried away. In her vulnerable late teen years, she was in love for just a day or two, ignited via her auditory and visual senses, and confined within her for persons who were absolutely far removed. She bares her heart and exposes her stupidity by admitting she was mad over a Sinhala singer just listening to his songs. This was just for a day or two. With admiration she gazed at and adored Tenzing Norgay’s grinning face in newspapers in 1952. Enraged she was that bee keeper Edmund Hillary bagged honour claiming he was the first to step on the summit of Mount Everest and even derided the Sherpa by telling reporters he had to haul him up. This was the reverse of what actually happened, as Tenzing was unable to converse in English. Once the Indian reporters got cracking the truth was out.

Things done well

Cass as usual digressed. Who cares about her fascinations? What she meant to say was that being impressionable, she may have gone overboard in her admiration of Prez Anura Kumara Dissanayake and PM Dr Harini Amarasuriya. But no. Others are as delighted as she is. However, we have the wise ole owls who caution and propound: “Let us wait and see. Judge judiciously.” One such is the Editor of The Island.  He has been wisely cautious. But Cass is certain he and other careful treaders excuse exuberance of admirers and full confidence in the new government. Most believe that those holding major posts in governing us, will correct many glaring misdemeanours, nay, corrupt practices of parliamentarians. Better still is that they will forgo most of the perks that set them apart from us Ordinaries and gave them elevation economically, luxury-wise and encouraged swollen heads, most of which were empty of brains.  That, mercifully, is of the past. Cass and others are certain AKD, Harini and some others will stick to what they have promised and continue to act as they have, so far. AKD will continue opening the door of the car he is driven in and Harini will prevent little ones from going down on their knees paying respect to her. They are truly national minded, concerned with the welfare of Sri Lankans and will keep promises made. Some younger others may have to be kept under surveillance! It is said strict discipline is maintained in the JVP.

There was a steady stream of cars proceeding to the Prez’s office for those within to be sworn in as cabinet ministers. The cars were mostly medium sized, not at all the huge luxury vehicles of the last governments. We hope car pools will be arranged for such gatherings. We strongly expect no tax-free licences will be given to MPS. Ideal if only the Prez and PM are given cars for their use and others made to use their own vehicles or public transport. Too much to hope for, though we are certain the stupendous spending on vehicles to the Minister and even MPs will cease. So, also far too generous perks. This great divide between the ordinary citizen and the MP has to be diminished if not closed. Some of those heads we saw may get swollen, but we are sure not of the three who formed the interim Cabinet since 21 Sept.

Things not done

Cass refers to a glaring act of cheating. Ravi Karunanayake got himself selected to enter Parliament on the National List of the gas cylinder party, I forget its name among all the various permutations of the words ‘democratic’, ‘national, ‘united’ et al. The Secretary of the party – I got its name – New Democratic Front   – known previously to Ravi K connived with him. The cheating was that this was enacted without the leader of the NDF, Ranil Wickremesinghe, having not an inkling of the connivance and act. To compound matters, former Chairman, Election Commission, Mahinda Deshapariya, declares the appointment cannot be cancelled or reversed, not even challenged in court.

The NDF secured two NL slots. Thus, with popular promotion and approval, Kanchana Wijesekera will be the second to be nominated as a National List MP among the gas cylinders.  Wonder how Ravi K will be received in Parliament. Probably no boos, since the NPP government promises correct behaviour in the House, but he will be made to share the feelings of a pariah. Shame!

The second instance of doing something that should not have been done in Cass’ opinion, is the ex-Commissioner of the EC pontificating and throwing clout he does not have when he went to the polling booth to cast his vote. We read Mahinda Deshapriya reprimanded a police officer who was sitting within the booth and told him roundly that he had no business being inside, and had him leave. He had also faulted the overseeing officer of that particular voting station over some minor remiss of the girls marking fingers and calling out names. Cass thrusts aside her fear, and cries out; “How dare he? He is retired.”

And, so fellow Sri Lankans of this beautiful isle in the Indian Ocean, are we on a path of redemption and recovery? Will there be continuing fellowship and respect among the races and religions of the land? And will the potential that is always associated with Sri Lanka be gradually and steadily realised? Cass bets it all will! Bye for this week with hope and anticipation, thanks mostly to the Prez, PM and Minister of External Affairs. We have an educated Cabinet of Ministers for a start.

The decision by the Biden administration to arm Ukraine with long range missiles, hitherto not supplied to the latter, would undoubtedly further escalate and compound the Ukraine conflict. The move is likely to receive a like reaction from the Russian authorities, provided effective measures are taken by the world community to resolve the bloodletting in the Ukraine through a negotiated settlement.

US long range missiles would go some distance in meeting Ukraine’s defence needs but considering that the bolstering of Ukraine’s military capability would not bring any short or medium term relief to the suffering people of the Ukraine, it is open to question whether the Biden administration did right at this juncture through its decision on long range missile supplies.

Besides, the measure would not help in deescalating international tensions stemming from the Ukraine war, since we are bound to see a further intensification of the spiraling violence in Ukraine and its adjacent region.

However, it should be also plain to see that the Ukraine situation has worldwide security implications in view of comments by the Russian authorities to the effect that the decision on long range missiles would represent NATO’s ‘direct participation’ in the Ukraine conflict. Considering that the provision of the missiles could be seen by the Russian side as a ‘direct participation’ of NATO in the war, the world has no option at present but to merely hope fervently that further indiscretions would not be committed by the West and Russia in the Ukraine theatre that would raise the possibility of a full-blown regional war. Needless to say, in such a case international security would be further compromised.

There is an urgent need for good sense on the part of both sides to the conflict. Even as this is being written, the news is that Ukraine has unleashed some of the missiles into Russian territory. Ukraine could very well be motivated to use the missiles as a deterrent measure but given that Russia is unlikely to step back any time soon from the divisive course it has adopted in the Ukraine, the security situation in Eastern Europe could be seen as heading for increasing volatility and uncertainty.

The incoming Donald Trump administration has indicated that it would be working towards a kind of win-win solution in the Ukraine but the challenge before it would be to concede some of Russia’s territorial demands while ensuring Ukraine’s total sovereignty and self-respect. This would prove a Gordian Knot of sorts considering Russia’s obduracy thus far.

Besides, Ukraine’s security would need to be guaranteed. How would Trump assure Ukraine on this score and withhold from it vital weaponry which the latter sees as essential for its future security? This too would prove a knotty negotiating point.

Even on the Middle Eastern front, such dilemmas loom for the incoming Trump administration. A carefully worded statement by a UN Special Committee on the Middle East quite rightly states that the violence inflicted by the Israeli state on the Gaza is ‘consistent with characteristics of genocide’ and no time should be lost by pro-peace sections to bring the blood-letting to an immediate halt.

However, total peace and stability cannot be achieved in the Middle East without ensuring Israel’s continued security. This requirement is usually overlooked or does not come in for sufficient mention by those sections of the international community that take on themselves to scrutinize and comment on the Middle East situation. Going forward, the Trump administration would need to take on this complex challenge of meeting the needs of the Palestinian people while ensuring Israel’s legitimate right to survive and thrive as an inviolable state. Besides, the administration would need to breathe new life into the ‘Two State’ solution and render it workable.

It would accrue to the benefit of the Ukraine and the Middle East if Trump could convince the Putin regime of the need to help de-escalate the relevant conflicts and work towards negotiated solutions in both theatres. The ideal situation would be for the total membership of the UN Security Council to be united in working towards a de-escalation of the mentioned wasting conflicts. However, at present, the major states within the UNSC do not see eye-to-eye on these questions and this renders peace-making difficult.

In this exacting situation the global South would need to examine the possibility of exerting itself to the maximum to bring about an end to the wasting conflicts in focus. Right now, the global South is both wide ranging and fluid. Some decades back, this was not the case. Formations such as NAM and the G77 gave it a more or less definitive identity. Today, the mentioned bodies are almost non-existent.

However, in a vital sense the South exists because the causes which were espoused by organizations such as NAM are by no means irrelevant. For example, the challenge of keeping an equidistance between conflicting major powers, remains for the world’s powerless.

Likewise, poverty is continuing to be widespread in the South. It is true that one cannot find a country today that has not gone in for market reforms but even in the ‘success stories’ of the South, such as India, poverty remains starkly. For the majority of the South’s countries, market reforms have not ended poverty. On the contrary, the chasm between the rich few and the poor many has widened alarmingly.

Accordingly, the causes that gave the global South an identity and a mission remain. The challenge at hand for the South is to urgently regroup and to continue to champion the causes it once did. Although in a traditional sense Non-alignment does not exist, to consider one issue area, the need grows by the day for the poor to continue to steer clear of the big powers but to exist with them with cordiality. Such cordiality is Non-alignment creatively re-interpreted.

Accordingly, the Non-aligned Movement needs to be revived because its relevance has not eroded fundamentally. Major powers of the South, such as India, South Africa and Indonesia, for example, need to consider coming together and giving leadership to the world’s poor and powerless.

The voice of a vigorously regrouped and revived South cannot be ignored in international politics because it possesses the numbers. Such numbers would continue to carry weight in the forums of the world that count in the vital matter of ushering a measure of international peace and security.

These are seemingly ambitious enterprises for the South but they need to be undertaken because a Non-aligned Southern bloc would carry more credibility in the world’s theatres of conflict and war and be accepted as a genuine peace maker in contrast to the big powers of the East and West and their alliances, who would be distrusted by conflicting sides on account of their partialities and divisive agendas.

Clarification

By an inadvertent error it was mentioned in this column last week, (See ‘Timely theatrical exploration of Middle East Conflict’, The Island of November 14th, 2024, page 4), that the Rohingyas were driven out of their land by ‘Bangladesh’s military rulers’. The statement should stand corrected to read: by ‘Myanmar’s military rulers.’ The error is regretted.

Glam Scene

Patrick Rutnam, is a Sri Lankan-American actor, born in Los Angeles, in the USA. His film debut was in the action-thriller ‘A Common Man’, co-starring with Ben Kingsley. He has also co-starred in the HBO Series ‘Ballers’ with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.

Dirk Tissera, Founder, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of The ANCHORMAN, Canada, had a chat with Patrick Rutnam, and this is how it all went…

*  GIVE US A SMALL BACKGROUND OF YOUR LIFE, EDUCATION, SCHOOL, MUSIC, AND ACTING:

I was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. Specifically the San Fernando Valley, in North Hollywood. I went to High School at an All-Boys Catholic School, called Crespi Carmelite High School, in Encino, where I met some of my best friends at that Catholic institution. I then went on to further studies at New York University, Tisch School of the Arts, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts, and studying Drama within the Atlantic Theatre Company. I was exposed to acting through my father’s (George Rutnam) love of the movies and music. We watched a lot of westerns and classic cinema growing up, and his influences blended into the subconscious of my brother and me. The music that ran through our household were those of the 60s/70s, lots of Elvis, the Beatles, Cat Steven, Billy Joel, CCR, Cream, and Sly and The Family Stone, to name a few.

*  HOW AND WHEN DID YOU GET INTO THE MUSIC AND ACTING SCENE?

When I was kid, we would take trips to Universal City Walk to see movies. And on one occasion, I really wanted my parents to take me to see ‘Toy Story’ when it first hit theaters. I was adamant about seeing that film. All my friends at school were talking about it. It was the only thing that mattered to me at that time. I remember my father deciding against ‘Toy Stor’ and buying tickets for ‘Goldeneye.’ I was extremely disappointed and threw a tantrum, crying, etc., the sort of tantrum that would cause kids to think that life is over. I went into the screening of ‘Goldeneye’ as an unhappy camper, fresh tears still pouring out of my eyes. Then walks out Pierce Brosnan, in the opening sequence of ‘Goldeneye.’ My eyes dried up faster than Bond could pull the trigger. Something changed in me, and I knew my life would never be the same. I wanted to be Pierce Brosnan. I even changed my hairstyle to copy him. At times, when I’m feeling particularly delusional, I still think I look like Pierce Brosnan. I knew from then on, I wanted to play. And that spark has sat with me throughout elementary school plays, high school Shakespeare, NYU training, Off-Off Broadway NY theatre, film and TV Production…and, to date, where I sit here reflecting on where I’ve been and what lies ahead.

*  IN THE MOVIE ‘A COMMON MAN’ WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE LIKE TO ACT NEXT TO BEN KINGSLEY?

Ben Kingsley is a consummate professional. It was amazing to watch him take ownership of a role and bring it to life. He would wake up in the wee hours of the morning while shooting and live every step of his life in support of the work. It was truly inspiring to see such work ethic. And what we see on screen reflects that. I really took notice when a particular line of action didn’t feel natural to him. He would bring attention to it and find a way to grab the truth of the moment.

The scene now…Gavin, dad George and Patrick

*  ALSO IN THE SERIES ‘HIDDEN POCKETS,’ HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE TITLE? AND WHOSE IDEA WAS IT? WHEN DO YOU PLAN ON COMPLETING THIS SERIES?

‘Hidden Pockets’ came about upon the passing of Anthony Bourdain (American celebrity chef, author, and travel documentarian). I was deeply saddened by such a raw remarkable soul losing his voice in this world. And around the time of his passing, I was taking multiple trips to Sri Lanka, seeing things most people never thought existed. It was then that I realized we should capture one of those trips and document the discovery of parts of the world unseen to the outside eye. Even local Sri Lankans were shocked at the hidden spots and peoples we would find on these visits. I took my love and admiration for Anthony Bourdain’s style and combined it with my love of discovery. A “Pocket” is defined as a place within a bag or garment that can safely store valuables. Well, the places and peoples we discovered on our journey were truly valuable, not just to Sri Lanka, but to humanity. And they were often “Hidden” out of plain sight. Thus, the name ‘Hidden Pockets.’ There’s been renewed interest in airing the pilot episode in Sri Lanka, and as a part of Airline Entertainment Content. There was interest by a development creative at CNN as well. I’m open to taking ‘Hidden Pockets’ in the direction where it seems to find the most momentum.

*  WHEN DID YOU START YOUR FREIGHT-FORWARDING JOB WITH YOUR DAD’S BUSINESS?

My brother and I often joke that Master Forwarding is my Dad’s first child. He started in in 1980 with a focus on white glove logistics support, and even though it has had its ups and downs, like any business, it continues to run strong to this day, because of its DNA. I grew up in this industry, because he would always take us to work when he needed to attend to something. I fondly remember eating lots of Jack-in-the-Box Tacos and watching him treat every client and shipment with the utmost care. He would tell me, “I may not be a doctor, but I treat every ORDER like a patient. It’s my job to make sure each ORDER is taken care of, no matter the challenge, like a DOCTOR who takes care of his patients.” I grew up filing files away at the office and continue to support the family business in many ways, most notably in making sure we conduct ourselves with the new tools available in technology. It’s a fine line to make sure we use technology to support our service-oriented workflow.

*  TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR INTERESTS IN LIFE?

I love music, film, and all forms of artistic expression. I also love reading Non-Fiction. Right now, I’m reading Al Pacino’s memoir, ‘Sonny Boy’.

*  WHAT KIND OF INFLUENCE HAS YOUR DAD AND MUM HAD ON YOUR LIFE ?

I owe my personality and emotionality to both my parents. My mother was Miss Sri Lanka in 1981, and I’m so proud of her humble and modest nature. I’ve never met anyone else with such a high moral resolve, and I still marvel at her strength. It’s hard to put into words the effect that my father has had on my life. He’s been that supportive rock, and continues to believe in me, at times when I don’t believe in myself. To put his influence into words would not do him justice.

*  WHAT KIND OF MUSIC DO YOU LIKE AND WHAT INSTRUMENTS DO YOU PLAY, BESIDES GUITAR?

I really love all types of music, but my favourites tend to be acoustic singer/songwriter tunes. Cat Stevens, Neil Young, Jack Johnson, Dave Matthews, Billy Joel, Young the Giant, Michael Kiwanuka come to mind right now. But the playlist is ever-changing. I’m currently digging this indie rock group centered on two female vocalists, called ‘Lucius’. They’ve got a special sound that really speaks to my energy.

*  ARE YOU DATING ANYONE NOW AND WHEN DO YOU PLAN TO SETTLE DOWN AND START A FAMILY?

Dirk Tissera: Founder,
Publisher and Editor-in-
Chief of The ANCHORMAN,
Canada

Not dating anyone at present. I’ve honestly been focused on my career more than ever, but I’m certainly open to someone. I’ve been sort of a late bloomer as it comes to dating, so it took some time for me to figure out what I want. I’m a searcher, and I know that special someone is out there. Once that is sorted out, I would be open to starting a family. In the meantime, I’m okay with being known as the ‘COOL UNCLE’.

*  HOW OFTEN DO YOU VISIT SRI LANKA, AND WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE COUNTRY AND ITS PEOPLE?

I tend to go once or twice a year, but, definitely, at least once a year, to spend time with my mother and family out there. Sri Lanka has always had the most soulful people in the world. There’s a certain love and care amongst its people that feels pure. Even though Sri Lanka has carried a historical weight of poor governance, nothing can change the character of those that live there. Let’s hope this new direction will create a rising tide, lifting all boats. In terms of cultural output, Sri Lanka has an excellent musical scene, and a film community that is making huge strides. Pretty soon, you’ll see more and more Sri Lankans in the global mainstream.

*  WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE DREAM IN LIFE ?

To express myself, as creatively as possible, as an artist, both in film and music. Hopefully such expressions will lead to success. And hopefully such successes will lead to inspiring others to do the same. Ultimately, I would love to gain enough attention, security, and success as an artist, so that I can build a production company bringing more risk-taking artists and content to the world.