Local political athletic events; a statesman truly mourned

Many TV channels devote 95% of news broadcast time to the run-up to presidential elections. Mercifully, local newspapers have varied articles and one can just ignore news items on the political status quo and more so the promises made by candidates and their golayas. Plenty speeches on TV channels by the three principal contenders – RW, SP and AKD – promising to make SL a true paradise where the common man – you and me – will live in clover or, to use a colloquial term, in kiri peni up to our gills, oops sorry – our ears. Less important – in our eyes, not theirs – seekers of the presidency also vow they place the country first and its people second, and no further. They pretend complete altruism and a feeling for the masses who suffer, including you and me. But we know full well the sole concern of the majority is themselves–– personal advancement.

There are a couple of contenders who put country before self, the need to clean the Lankan stables of corruption and illicit money making. A duo of yellow robed contenders had their deposits paid giving them the chance to come forward from enforced obscurity to shine a while.

Namal R has entered the ring. One thought he would never risk a defeat. A close majority of votes could always be contended with via money and thuggery but bridging a huge gap in votes is not possible even for Satan himself. He has been showered with the most obnoxious, damaging comments on social media, Cass was told. She is poles apart from this medium of expression.

Now, one term that resonated and resonates still in Cass’ mind due to all the frog leaping seen is a rather unladylike term: Promiscuity. OK OK. It is a term used on moral laxity as regards sexuality, shameful adulterous behaviour, but it connotes dishing and new connections, which is what many present MPs are doing, most from the Bud Party: deserting their old patrons and leaping or slithering into other arms, those they derided earlier, which seem to be gaining popularity. Rats of the worst stinking kind are leaving their ship that bestowed power and wealth on them and is now listing and sinking.

Definitions are needed here; so here they are. Promiscuity: the fact or state of being promiscuous. That calls for another definition. Promiscuous: Having or characterised by many transient sexual relations.

Finally, the definition of a Promiscuous Person: “having many different sexual partners or sexual relationships, or (of sexual habits) involving a lot of different partners.”

Now, prudes and linguists may fault Cassandra and challenge her to show the relationship between politics and sexuality; between being a political person and a promiscuous person. Sex and sexuality ultimately are very selfish pursuits and changing partners is often for more material comfort, sensual satisfaction, benefiting more from cunning contriving. What is the difference between political disloyalty and desertion from sexual flirting and change of bed partners?

Unfortunately, in eastern society and our own cultural norms, women are considered promiscuous if they change sexual partners, which is cheating and often illegal, while promiscuous men are brushed off as merely boys being boys. So, even Cass looks more frowningly on women politicos who jump sides.

We have had a number of jumpers recently. I have not kept tabs but I saw the ex-actress Geetha Kumarasinghe discarding the Brothers R.

However, Cass is sure that Pavithra Wanniaratchi, after having been an ardent acolyte of Mahinda Rajapaksa and worshipping him on bended knee on platforms where he sat at crowded meetings, jumped across to RW’s bandwagon, depicted so humorously but aptly by The Island cartoonist Jeffrey a couple of days ago.

A statesman in every sense

A fortuitous article timely published in The Island of Monday 12 August commemorates Lakshman Kadirgamar (LK) on his 19th death anniversary. He was assassinated on 12 August 2005, by an LTTE sniper from the window of a house in the neighbourhood, as LK was poised to dive into the pool in his back garden for his late evening swim.

The article titled Fatherly Minister who moulded us by Admiral Ravindara C Wijegunaratne relays much biographical info on the late Minister of Foreign Affairs, in a personal manner.

To Cassandra, he was a statesman who stood tall and straight, fair to all, completely non-racial and religious, and of course a very loyal Old Boy of Trinity College. Kandy. Soon after his return from the UK with his barrister’s degree, he would spend time in Kandy and visit the College and particularly the library. This was before he was conscripted to politics and served admirably as FM under the Presidency of Chandrika B Kumaratunga. Sriyanganie Jayasekera was TCK librarian and she, in conversation, remarked that there were priceless records, plans for the chapel, etc., scattered around. To her wish for a wonderful archival collection, LK replied: “So, go ahead. I will get you the permission and the money and support you fully.” Between the two of them, the TCK archives were set up within a couple of months. He kept in touch with her. Another superb idea he managed to assist through was having the UN General Assembly, “by its resolution 54/115 of 1999, recognise internationally the Day of Vesak to acknowledge the contribution that Buddhism, one of the oldest religions in the world, has made for over two and a half millennia and continues to make to the spirituality of humanity.” LK was Sri Lanka’s proponent for passing this resolution mooted by Bhikkhu Bodhi, who was resident in Kandy at the time, and other prominent local persons.

He lives on in the biography of him: The Cake that was Baked at Home: Lakshman Kadirgamar. Snapshots of the man by his daughter Ajita Kadirgamar. The ‘snapshots’ are very happy family ones; of his successes, greatness and rare good qualities; and sad ones too of being separated and even segregated from his son and daughter through his second marriage.

But to all Sri Lankans who remember him, he was an absolute gentleman of the highest order, a statesman of stature and one of the truly great persons of our island home. If only he had been made Prime Minister as he truly deserved to be, our country would have been led on a good path which may have prevented the terrible times we have gone through in the recent past.