Features

Are warnings too late? Haute Couture by Diyawanna!

Published

5 years ago

2021/04/30

Cassandra lived up to her name by peeking into the future and crying out loud, not “I see blood” but “Beware the third Covid-19 wave, it’s a-coming.” She saw what was imminent in India with masses in the Holy River at the Kumba Mela, and connected it to Free Sri Lanka. Cass does not claim kudos for her warning such as this para culled from her Cry of Friday April 4 with the Avuruddha approaching and enticing people to shop, travel, make merry and gather together. Many were fearful but their warnings unheard, unheeded. She wrote: “Coming back to Free Sri Lanka, we seem to stress on that first word Cass inserted to the country name, even in these dire times of no crowds, no gathering together, no being close and crowding. And the worst is, milling crowds are apparently encouraged to boost popularity of certain VVIPs, by sycophants and by the preference/orders of the VVIPs themselves.”

Further warnings

On the Tuesday previous to Friday April 9, knowing her warning in her Cry would be too late, Cass, under another pseudonym, wrote a letter to the editor of this newspaper asking why the Covid-19 Prevention Task Force was not blaring forth a warning to customs-observing, national-minded, bird-brained, careless Sinhalayas to be cautious during the festive season. She suggested the Army Commander gives directions with military clout. No, people were almost encouraged to crowd into Pamunuwa for bargains; Nuwara-Eliya for the salubrious air; and public transport travelling all across The Island. Cass by her other name was not even a voice in the wilderness; it was a weak cry to be sensible since the Covid chappie was gathering force to descend south east to the tear drop after devastating India.

We hold our collective breath. Are we going to have a light third wave of infection and few deaths? Already numbers are high, far too high. The GMOA in all its wisdom and penchant for disseminating advice decrees the government must ensure hospitals have sufficient two cylinders. You don’t need even a medical student to say that! It is so obvious with India almost taking its last gasp. But we are still complacent and politicians do not want to stymie people, for whatever reason. On Sunday late news, Cass saw a VVIP walking among village peasants and of course the bevy of officials, unmasked and far too close.

How well the first wave of C19 was contained. The top medical officers were listened to and allowed to be main directors of preventive methods and also curative with the armed forces carrying out orders very well. Then we had an influx of tourists from a Covid hellhole – Ukraine and then people got careless. Our national trait of short memories is a curse!

The various Health Officers have been clear in their warnings but they have definitely been drowned by those who wish to be popular with the masses, so warnings were muted, hardly heard since they emerged as whispers. The ‘keep stringently to Covid strictures’ should have been blared forth with accompanying threats of reprisal. Also shockingly, it looks as if money making is still the biggest objective, never mind people’s lives. A government Covid test takes four hours, a pharmacology person says. But incoming travellers have to wait 48 hours to get the result and pay through their noses too. A hotel overnight stay is also needed. Who makes the money?

Success story

Cass read an article about Israel’s management of the pandemic. It is so successful that all schools, etc,. are open and mask wearing is called for only in very crowded public spaces. The article adduces the success solely to the fact that the heads of government are educated persons, most with science/medical backgrounds. Take the Prime Minister – Benjamin Netanyahu. He may be under a cloud at present, accused of bribery and corruption, but that has in no way stymied his leading his country to be safe with herd immunity well in place.

He earned degrees in science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and was in a Harvard PhD programme when he decided to return home. His family moved to Philadelphia when he was a child. He fought in wars, was ambassador and then in the Likud Party he was elected to the Knesset. As a long serving Prime Minister (1996-99; 2009 to date) he has done much for his country; however much his enmity to the Palestinians and occupation of the Gaza Strip is derided. No sooner vaccines were being tested, he is said to have befriended the CEOs of Pfizer and Moderna, through ‘college ties’. After Pfizer’s third testing, he obtained eight million doses paying $30 per, $15 more than stipulated price. By November 2020, Israel had acquired enough vaccines to have all above 18 inoculated. He claimed that paying double the price for vaccines was totally cost effective as lockdowns and treating the sick and disposing of bodies would cost more.

Our leaders have lessons to learn; some basic, like let the most knowledgeable decide.

Sartorial elegance

Recently we had a show of black suits of all types – shervanis, kapati suits, western attire. Cass avows the SJB MPs looked good in them. Black slimmed some down and gave elegance to others. Was it the death of democracy or the demise of a just judiciary or a swallowing of the other two stilts of government by the executive that was being mourned? The Field Marshal did not gimmick, more’s the pity since he would have looked good in full black with his salt and pepper hair. The opposite side, most more obese, stuck black arm bands on their white shirts; some looking like constricting tourniquets!!

Gimmicks are fine but not surging into the middle aisle and throwing degrading insults at each other. Cass is not wrong in saying the first to step belligerently down were former chilli and bound volume throwers.

Snippets

From The Island of Thursday 22, page 1: “Ven Omalpe Thera lodges complaint against MS.” “… he had lodged a complaint with the police regarding former President Maithripala Sirisena receiving Rs 1 bn from various organisations for Easter Sunday carnage victims. The Ven Thera alleged that the families of the victims hadn’t received the funds meant for them.” This Head Monk will not speak of a matter he is not sure of. So, what happened to I billion rupees? Another sort of Help Hambantota, probably Help Polonnaruwa which means … you-know-what!

Thank goodness for the all-too-rare appearance of good sense: May Day rallies which are political rallies with the workers and their problems thrown aside, were cancelled. One bright spot in the approaching engulfing C19 third surge with its accompanying death and devastation.

Keep safe, which means keep a very low profile indoors, begs Cassandra of her readers.

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Features

Maduro abduction marks dangerous aggravation of ‘world disorder’

Published

2 hours ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Venezuelan President Maduro being taken to a court in New York

The abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by US special forces on January 3rd and his coercive conveying to the US to stand trial over a number of allegations leveled against him by the Trump administration marks a dangerous degeneration of prevailing ‘world disorder’. While some cardinal principles in International Law have been blatantly violated by the US in the course of the operation the fallout for the world from the exceptionally sensational VVIP abduction could be grave.

Although controversial US military interventions the world over are not ‘news’ any longer, the abduction and hustling away of a head of government, seen as an enemy of the US, to stand trial on the latter soil amounts to a heavy-handed and arrogant rejection of the foundational principles of international law and order. It would seem, for instance, that the concept of national sovereignty is no longer applicable to the way in which the world’s foremost powers relate to the rest of the international community. Might is indeed right for the likes of the US and the Trump administration in particular is adamant in driving this point home to the world.

Chief spokesmen for the Trump administration have been at pains to point out that the abduction is not at variance with national security related provisions of the US Constitution. These provisions apparently bestow on the US President wide powers to protect US security and stability through courses of action that are seen as essential to further these ends but the fact is that International Law has been brazenly violated in the process in the Venezuelan case.

To be sure, this is not the first occasion on which a head of government has been abducted by US special forces in post-World War Two times and made to stand trial in the US, since such a development occurred in Panama in 1989, but the consequences for the world could be doubly grave as a result of such actions, considering the mounting ‘disorder’ confronting the world community.

Those sections opposed to the Maduro abduction in the US would do well to from now on seek ways of reconciling national security-related provisions in the US Constitution with the country’s wider international commitment to uphold international peace and law and order. No ambiguities could be permitted on this score.

While the arbitrary military action undertaken by the US to further its narrow interests at whatever cost calls for criticism, it would be only fair to point out that the US is not the only big power which has thus dangerously eroded the authority of International Law in recent times. Russia, for example, did just that when it violated the sovereignty of Ukraine by invading it two or more years ago on some nebulous, unconvincing grounds. Consequently, the Ukraine crisis too poses a grave threat to international peace.

It is relevant to mention in this connection that authoritarian rulers who hope to rule their countries in perpetuity as it were, usually end up, sooner rather than later, being a blight on their people. This is on account of the fact that they prove a major obstacle to the implementation of the democratic process which alone holds out the promise of the prgressive empowerment of the people, whereas authoritarian rulers prefer to rule with an iron fist with a fixation about self-empowerment.

Nevertheless, regime-change, wherever it may occur, is a matter for the public concerned. In a functional democracy, it is the people, and the people only, who ‘make or break’ governments. From this viewpoint, Russia and Venezuela are most lacking. But externally induced, militarily mediated change is a gross abnormality in the world or democracy, which deserves decrying.

By way of damage control, the US could take the initiative to ensure that the democratic process, read as the full empowerment of ordinary people, takes hold in Venezuela. In this manner the US could help in stemming some of the destructive fallout from its abduction operation. Any attempts by the US to take possession of the national wealth of Venezuela at this juncture are bound to earn for it the condemnation of democratic opinion the world over.

Likewise, the US needs to exert all its influence to ensure that the rights of ordinary Ukrainians are protected. It will need to ensure this while exploring ways of stopping further incursions into Ukrainian territory by Russia’s invading forces. It will need to do this in collaboration with the EU which is putting its best foot forward to end the Ukraine blood-letting.

Meanwhile, the repercussions that the Maduro abduction could have on the global South would need to be watched with some concern by the international community. Here too the EU could prove a positive influence since it is doubtful whether the UN would be enabled by the big powers to carry out the responsibilities that devolve on it with the required effectiveness.

What needs to be specifically watched is the ‘copycat effect’ that could manifest among those less democratically inclined Southern rulers who would be inspired by the Trump administration to take the law into their hands, so to speak, and act with callous disregard for the sovereign rights of their smaller and more vulnerable neighbours.

Democratic opinion the world over would need to think of systems of checks and balances that could contain such power abuse by Southern autocratic rulers in particular. The UN and democracy-supportive organizations, such as the EU, could prove suitable partners in these efforts.

All in all it is international lawlessness that needs managing effectively from now on. If President Trump carries out his threat to over-run other countries as well in the manner in which he ran rough-shod over Venezuela, there is unlikely to remain even a semblance of international order, considering that anarchy would be receiving a strong fillip from the US, ‘The World’s Mightiest Democracy’.

What is also of note is that identity politics in particularly the South would be unprecedentedly energized. The narrative that ‘the Great Satan’ is running amok would win considerable validity among the theocracies of the Middle East and set the stage for a resurgence of religious fanaticism and invigorated armed resistance to the US. The Trump administration needs to stop in its tracks and weigh the pros and cons of its current foreign policy initiatives.

Features

Pure Christmas magic and joy at British School

Published

3 hours ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Students of The British High School in Colombo in action at the fashion show

The British School in Colombo (BSC) hosted its Annual Christmas Carnival 2025, ‘Gingerbread Wonderland’, which was a huge success, with the students themseles in the spotlight, managing stalls and volunteering.

The event, organised by the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), featured a variety of activities, including: Games and rides for all ages, Food stalls offering delicious treats, Drinks and refreshments, Trade booths showcasing local products, and Live music and entertainment.

The carnival was held at the school premises, providing a fun and festive atmosphere for students, parents, and the community to enjoy.

The halls of the BSC were filled with pure Christmas magic and joy with the students and the staff putting on a tremendous display.

Among the highlights was the dazzling fashion show with the students doing the needful, and they were very impressive.

The students themselves were eagerly looking forward to displaying their modelling technique and, I’m told, they enjoyed the moment they had to step on the ramp.

The event supported communities affected by the recent floods, with surplus proceeds going to flood-relief efforts.

Features

Glowing younger looking skin

Published

3 hours ago

2026/01/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

Hi! This week I’m giving you some beauty tips so that you could look forward to enjoying 2026 with a glowing younger looking skin.

Face wash for natural beauty

* Avocado:

Take the pulp, make a paste of it and apply on your face. Leave it on for five minutes and then wash it with normal water.

* Cucumber:

Just rub some cucumber slices on your face for 02-03 minutes to cleanse the oil naturally. Wash off with plain water.

* Buttermilk:

Apply all over your face and leave it to dry, then wash it with normal water (works for mixed to oily skin).

Face scrub for natural beauty

Take 01-02 strawberries, 02 pieces of kiwis or 02 cubes of watermelons. Mash any single fruit and apply on your face. Then massage or scrub it slowly for at least 3-5 minutes in circular motions. Then wash it thoroughly with normal or cold water. You can make use of different fruits during different seasons, and see what suits you best! Follow with a natural face mask.

Face Masks

* Papaya and Honey:

Take two pieces of papaya (peeled) and mash them to make a paste. Apply evenly on your face and leave it for 30 minutes and then wash it with cold water.

Papaya is just not a fruit but one of the best natural remedies for good health and glowing younger looking skin. It also helps in reducing pimples and scars. You can also add honey (optional) to the mixture which helps massage and makes your skin glow.

* Banana:

Put a few slices of banana, 01 teaspoon of honey (optional), in a bowl, and mash them nicely. Apply on your face, and massage it gently all over the face for at least 05 minutes. Then wash it off with normal water. For an instant glow on your face, this facemask is a great idea to try!

* Carrot:

Make a paste using 01 carrot (steamed) by mixing it with milk or honey and apply on your face and neck evenly. Let it dry for 15-20 minutes and then wash it with cold water. Carrots work really well for your skin as they have many vitamins and minerals, which give instant shine and younger-looking skin.