Kolombians are a distinct people from Colombo who know much -- so much that they are wont to think that others don't know and can't think. They have things to say. A lot of things to say. The entire country can learn from them. This is the twenty second in a series published in 'The Nation' under the title 'Notes of an Unrepentant Kolombian'. Scroll down for other articles in this series.
Those who don’t understand the truth about
Kolombia, Kolumbianness and Kolombians just cannot understand the political
reality of Sri Lanka. There are people
who are asking some strange questions.
Some are asking, for example, how Ranil gets to call the shots when the
people actually voted for someone else.
Well, Maithripala himself has provided a clue.
A few weeks ago, the man elected to the
all-powerful office of the President went to the UK. He was received by Her Royal Highness Queen
Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. He
was also received at No 10, Downing Street by British Prime Minister David
Cameron. Now there’s nothing newsy about
these occasions, they are after all courtesies extended to most visiting Heads
of State. What was different about our
man Sirisena is how HE received or rather embraced (or understood) the whole
thing.
Before we get to that, let’s just assume
that it was Ranil and not Maithri who had gone to the UK. What would he have done? Well, first of all, he would have been
accorded the same courtesies. He would
have never dreamed of turning up in a national dress. He would have dressed up in coat and tie as
befitting a true Kolombian. Yes, his
uncle JR went for Prince Charles’ wedding in national dress but that was a
different time. Under Ranil we don’t
have to pretend that we are not who we are.
He doesn’t have to pretend he is not who he is. He is a Kolombian and is justifiably proud of
the fact, we are sure.
What would Ranil have done after exchanging
pleasantries with the Queen and Cameron?
He would have, I am certain, briefed the media about the conversations
that took place. He would have been
quite matter-of-fact about it.
Not Sirisena. Sure, he did tell the media what the Queen
and the Prime Minister had said. He
didn’t say much about what he contributed to the discussions. Maybe he just listened for the most
part. What’s striking is how he
described the two meetings. He was
clearly overawed. He just couldn’t get
over it. He blurted it out when he
addressed his party faithful. Even that
wasn’t enough. He said it all over again
when he met the media heads, it was reported.
He was clearly less impressed by what was said than by who said it and
where.
This is the difference between Kolombians
and others. Kolombians clearly know who
is who and what is what. For us, the
Queen is at the top. The British Prime
Minister is also the Prime Minister of Kolombia for all intents and
purposes. We humbly accept this, but we
don’t show it. We know our place. If Ranil was President and was visiting the
Motherland to pay respects to the Queen and the Premier he would know who is
who, who he is and who is not. He won’t
come back and spell it all out.
Kolombians have class. Ranil has class. Non-Kolombians like Maithri have a class, act
as though they are classless and end up looking like the underclass that they
are. This is why Kolombians have ruled
this country, even if non-Kolombians appear to have the power. The only downside to the current
power-arrangement is that Maithripala is revealing to the entire nation what
only us Kolombians were privy to. I am
not sure if that’s a good thing.
Shortcuts to becoming a Kolombian
A Kolombian's worst nightmare
The Bourse is ours!
You name it, Kolombians own it
We shall not be re-named
Get off my walkway!
Thank you Mahinda for the Avacado Prawns!
English is a feel-good thing na?
Dear Percy, your membership card is ready
Forget Mahinda and Maithree, Alistair Cook is the Kolombian choice!
One day we will acquire 'class conciseness'!
Mahinda, Maithripala and their Money-Pestos
A Kolombian's worst nightmare
The Bourse is ours!
You name it, Kolombians own it
We shall not be re-named
Get off my walkway!
Thank you Mahinda for the Avacado Prawns!
English is a feel-good thing na?
Dear Percy, your membership card is ready
Forget Mahinda and Maithree, Alistair Cook is the Kolombian choice!
One day we will acquire 'class conciseness'!
Mahinda, Maithripala and their Money-Pestos
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