Mervyn's Majestic son
by Deepak Sharma at Majestic City
It was Thursday December 10, the road leading to the Majestic City car park was congested and I thought that the global recession was over, they were fighting to get into Majestic City to spend their notes with Mahinda mama and the copy of the Iwo Jima monument, another original "apema ekak".
As I fought my way and reached within kissing distance of the turning to the car park, I realized that I was wrong. The congestion was due to a black Mercedes with police escort parked where the board states "No Parking".
I asked the duty policeman why he was allowing these vehicles to break the law and park at a designated "No Parking" roadside. He was
apologetic, "What can I do, Sir, this is a minister’s vehicle". I called over the driver and politely informed him breaking the law and causing traffic congestion by parking at a "No Parking" spot. He said it was a minister’s vehicle, and this seems justification enough to break the law. I explained that citizens, Gods, Brahma’s and even recently proclaimed god kings have to abide by the same laws of the Republic and that he was committing an offence by parking at a No Parking space.
Another holding a walkie-talkie arrived, presumably an "officer f the law" of the pink panther fame. He stated that they cannot communicate with me in English and that I should speak in Sinhalese. I explained that English, Sinhalese and Tamil have equal status in the constitution of the republic and as a government official he had to communicate with me in my language of preference.
Another walkie-talkie holding "pink panther" arrived. He was fairer in complexion than the others and his language was an
example to the Sri Lankan law enforcement establishment. He said "palayan pakayo yanna".
I explained that I couldn’t understand his lingo. He eems constipated and agitated at the gathering crowd. The policeman in uniform meanwhile looked on with a grin on his face. As I stood my ground and demanded that the Mercedes be removed, the "constipated pink panther" dismissed me by saying "meka Indian hari Pakistani ekek". It seemed that according to this pink panther, who lives off the taxpayer, a complainant against a breach of the law could be dismissed if he is an Indian or a Pakistani national. God forbid if I was a "whitie" or, worse an NGO. I regret not talking to them in Tamil.
The driver of the Mercedes said, since they had broken the law and parked the car in a No Parking zone, I could also park there and do my shopping. I was impressed, as even a judge could have applauded his reasoning. The driver seemed to be championing the principles of fundamental rights of citizens.
If maama’s golayas park on a No Parking zone, causing a traffic jam, we mortals can also do so, if they speed push others into ditches, we mortals can also do so; if these golayas cross the dreaded white line, we mortals can also do so. I parked and walked away.
On my return, the policeman shook my hand and thanked me. He said that he couldn’t do what I did because he would lose his job.
He said the occupant of the vehicle was Mervyn Silva’s son.
I wondered if he was still into pistol-whipping as a pastime and why the Sri Lankan state was providing him security and
vehicles at the taxpayer’s expense. Perhaps that’s what they mean by "Api Venuven Api", keeping it in the family and the hangers on and conning the peasants. As maama goes to the polls, he had better keep an eye on his golayas as the rural constituency he depends on for his bacon is increasingly talking about the clan, living it up at the taxpayers expense.
by Deepak Sharma at Majestic City
It was Thursday December 10, the road leading to the Majestic City car park was congested and I thought that the global recession was over, they were fighting to get into Majestic City to spend their notes with Mahinda mama and the copy of the Iwo Jima monument, another original "apema ekak".
As I fought my way and reached within kissing distance of the turning to the car park, I realized that I was wrong. The congestion was due to a black Mercedes with police escort parked where the board states "No Parking".
I asked the duty policeman why he was allowing these vehicles to break the law and park at a designated "No Parking" roadside. He was
apologetic, "What can I do, Sir, this is a minister’s vehicle". I called over the driver and politely informed him breaking the law and causing traffic congestion by parking at a "No Parking" spot. He said it was a minister’s vehicle, and this seems justification enough to break the law. I explained that citizens, Gods, Brahma’s and even recently proclaimed god kings have to abide by the same laws of the Republic and that he was committing an offence by parking at a No Parking space.
Another holding a walkie-talkie arrived, presumably an "officer f the law" of the pink panther fame. He stated that they cannot communicate with me in English and that I should speak in Sinhalese. I explained that English, Sinhalese and Tamil have equal status in the constitution of the republic and as a government official he had to communicate with me in my language of preference.
Another walkie-talkie holding "pink panther" arrived. He was fairer in complexion than the others and his language was an
example to the Sri Lankan law enforcement establishment. He said "palayan pakayo yanna".
I explained that I couldn’t understand his lingo. He eems constipated and agitated at the gathering crowd. The policeman in uniform meanwhile looked on with a grin on his face. As I stood my ground and demanded that the Mercedes be removed, the "constipated pink panther" dismissed me by saying "meka Indian hari Pakistani ekek". It seemed that according to this pink panther, who lives off the taxpayer, a complainant against a breach of the law could be dismissed if he is an Indian or a Pakistani national. God forbid if I was a "whitie" or, worse an NGO. I regret not talking to them in Tamil.
The driver of the Mercedes said, since they had broken the law and parked the car in a No Parking zone, I could also park there and do my shopping. I was impressed, as even a judge could have applauded his reasoning. The driver seemed to be championing the principles of fundamental rights of citizens.
If maama’s golayas park on a No Parking zone, causing a traffic jam, we mortals can also do so, if they speed push others into ditches, we mortals can also do so; if these golayas cross the dreaded white line, we mortals can also do so. I parked and walked away.
On my return, the policeman shook my hand and thanked me. He said that he couldn’t do what I did because he would lose his job.
He said the occupant of the vehicle was Mervyn Silva’s son.
I wondered if he was still into pistol-whipping as a pastime and why the Sri Lankan state was providing him security and
vehicles at the taxpayer’s expense. Perhaps that’s what they mean by "Api Venuven Api", keeping it in the family and the hangers on and conning the peasants. As maama goes to the polls, he had better keep an eye on his golayas as the rural constituency he depends on for his bacon is increasingly talking about the clan, living it up at the taxpayers expense.
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