Continuing woes due to MAGA; non-visit to Greenland; organised immigration

Looks to be it’s all quiet on the Sri Lankan front. Thank God, goodness or the island protecting devas for this change in our used-to-be chaotic state. Remember how strikes and protest marches plagued us as recent as early 2024? Previously we heard daily of corruption and even deaths due to injurious medicines being injected or ingested by patients; and this because some devils in human form were making money on medicine rackets. Even earlier we were in an autocratic government though our name continued to be Democratic, Socialist Republic of … in which we suffered seeing open nepotism, corruption, extravagance and a vast presence of Chinese workers constructing huge structures the country did not need. All that seems to be of the past, for which so much thanks. While chaos reigns in some parts of the world we seem to be a green oasis of peace. We do have our troubles, economic mostly, but there is hope the situation will continue to improve. Two persons at the very top, with many below them are concerned about the country and its people and not themselves, which so far was the given, the taken attitude of those in power.

United States of America

That man Trump in the US is not Making America Great Again but diminishing it and causing more damage, contributing to its down-grading. Wednesday April 2 The Island carried a report that the US was down in its tourist economy – fewer persons entering it with dollars to spend. Highest number of sightseeing visitors were from Canada and Europe. Plummeted down solely because of Trump’s sheer buccaneering spirit. (definition justifies my use of the term: buccaneer “enjoys being involved in risky or even dishonest activities, especially in order to make money”).

Trump is a business man and showy and foolish to boot. Hence his wanting to annex Greenland spouting the lie it’s for the safety of the US. Even an idiot spurns this. You just exclaim: How dare he? Greenland is an independent country. “Greenland’s status as an Overseas Country and Territory (OCT) associated with the European Union (EU), and Belgium’s role as a member state where Greenland maintains a representation to the EU in Brussels.”

The slap in the face and downsizing the US was the strong message given by the Greenlanders themselves with regard to the visit of the VEEP and Second Lady. Poor Usha Vance! After all the rave notices about her educational qualifications and stance at ceremonies, like the swearing in of the Prez and VP, she was made to eat humble pie publicly by the Islanders of Greenland, not openly jeering her or anything like that but showing she was absolutely persona non grata as visitor to their country, more so after the Vice Prez announced he was accompanying his wife. They meekly went only to the American military base – the Pituffik Base located on the northwestern coast of Greenland about 930 miles north of the capital, Nuuk.

What a come down! Has Trump given up his plan to annexe Greenland? No. Rather must he be more determined, the small-minded man he is. I heard a reporter in a YouTube say outright that President Trump is mad, yes mad, not over ambitious, cunningly foolish or crazy, but m-a-d. And he has announced he will run for a third term as Prez of the USA. Constitutionally not possible but he will get the Constitution changed since he has a large following.

Trafficking for migration

Cass listened to BBC news of a summit meeting held in London to discuss organised immigration. “The UK is spearheading the toughest ever international crackdown on organised immigration crime as the Prime Minister and Home Secretary host a landmark summit on March 31. The Organised Immigration Crime (OIC) Summit brings together over 40 countries, including the US, Vietnam, Iran, France, to unite behind a new approach to dismantle people smuggling gangs and deliver on working people’s priorities for secure borders. This is the first time the full range of factors driving illegal migration, from the supply chain in small boats to anti-trafficking measures, illicit finance and social media advertising, have been explored at a global summit of this scale. Through the summit, the government will use all available levers at its disposal to push forward progress in bringing gangs to justice, tackle the global threat of organised immigration crime and protect vulnerable people from exploitation.”

China, too, was a participant. Searched the literature but could not find Sri Lanka; unfortunately we may be classified as a country in the racket and not at the receiving end of would-be immigrants.

People trafficking is rampant worldwide. Women, and even children, were and are (possibly) trafficked for sexual purposes. Lately, trafficking of people by organised groups in even rubber rafts and dingies across oceans, mostly to the UK and Australia, has been a common sight in international news broadcasts. There are Sri Lankan men, who though they have jobs over here and homes, do feel the yen to go to a land they imagine is paved with greenbacks and sell all they have and commit their money and their lives to unscrupulous human-trafficking gangs. So foolish, in reality.

I said ‘men’ in the previous paragraph. Of course there are women, too, who suffer the contagion of wanting to go overseas, so they are almost trafficked by unregistered job agencies to dubious jobs and homes in countries in the Middle East. Most suffer privations and worse. The yearning for money goes beyond need; they want to get away and be independent. Most do not succeed.

Tidbits

At long last a shark has been netted by law enforcement bodies in SL. Former Chief Minister of the North Central Province, S M Ranjith and his private secretary Shanthi (his brother’s wife), have been sentenced to 16 years rigorous imprisonment for corruption and each to pay a fine of Rs 200,000. (Peanuts to such as them, we suppose).

Salient facts, at least to Cass: the NC Province includes the most sacred of cities where persons living there should be extra honest. Of course, this politician and his brother would have shown piety in observing rites and rituals connected to Buddhism for all to see, while indulging in corrupt, rotten practices. The brother, S M Chandrasena was a Minister in both Mahinda R’s and Ranil W’s governments. Whispers went along the gossip grave that he, also Gnana Akka, were building hotels jutting into the Nuwara Wewa. That showed their personal wealth. The crime for which the brother and his sister-in-law are convicted is that SM Ranjith enabled his priate secy to secure additional fuel allowances between Sept 2012 and Dec 2014 to the tune of Rs 2.68 mn. Goodness! Did they fill their swimming pools with petrol or drink and party on it?

Cheers and hurrah! Countries are retaliating to Trump’s heavily increased import tariffs. They are not buying American goods; damaging Tesla showrooms, even burning them down. One cannot blame such. China is walloped with 54% tax. Sri Lanka will crumble under the taxes to pay for sending goods like garments to the vast market in the States.

Let’s move on to sense and sensibility. Cassandra has heard the koha the avurudu koka, so the season of kavun and kokis; raban thumping and new clothes; family gathering and gift giving and receiving are not far away. Sathosa outlets are due to give Rs 5000 packs of essentials at half the prize. Jolly good! Let’s put aside Batalanda and the searing heat and enjoy April.