By Prof. Samitha Hettige

Botanists refer to “Kurukkan” or “Filler Millet” as “Eleusine coracana”. Some in SL refer to the late DM, DA and their Rajapaksa clan as the Kurahan clan because of the colour of the shawl they wear. Presidents Mahinda and Gotabaya managed to make their marks in SL history by leading the process which ended the 30 year violent conflict on 19^th May 2009. Post 2010 governance may prove that President MR wasn’t really bothered about his own legacy in the coming millenniums (being foolish but selfish). His brother GR elected by 6.9 million people with high hopes experienced governance similar to the times of king “Walagamba” (nephew of Dutu Gamunu). Walagamba ruled during the drought “Baminitiya Saya” amid many guerilla attacks. GR had to face the COVID 19 which was a first in the history of SL. Kumar Gunaratnam (AKA Noel Mudalige in Australia whom GR arrested and deported when MR was President) also gave him tough times.

They say what goes around comes around. It was the inter university student federation (IUSF) established in the late 60s (with backing of MR to topple Dudley Senanayaka government) which gave the toughest resistance to GR. Many agree that IUSF gathered momentum as a result of; (foolish) decisions (fertilizer, one country law, fuel and gas etc.) and the dilly-dally personality GR displayed which was never expected from a man trained by the legendary Colonel GW Rajapaksa at Ananda College, Colombo and the prestigious Sri Lanka Army. Looking back at GR rule, it seems he too wasn’t bothered about his own legacy (foolish but selfish).

It is known that the Rajapaksas have interests in the USA. In the 1990s USA identified that it has challenges in the new millennium especially in the Asia Pacific region. Thus USA wanted to sign the Millennium Challenges Cooperation agreement which SL refused during Yahapalana due to pressure from the MR Camp. The main challenge USA sees in the Asia Pacific is China and the Belt and Road. President MR was criticized for nepotism and connecting with the BRI by his critiques although the BRI has ensured win-win cooperation.

(Before 2010 Presidential election it was reported that meetings between MR’s opponent SF (still in uniform) and the JVP took place in USA. May be US wanted to distance SL from the BRI?)

When GR was running for office in 2019, both above plus being a military ruler were flagged. Maybe due to that, GR distanced China, rarely displayed military personality yet continued nepotism. Is the 6.9 million who didn’t want MCC being used to implement MCC through chaos and conflict?

Colour of the SL revolution?

Many days before the “Gota Go Gama” was established at the Galle face, US ambassador in SL (an ethnic Korean) expressed that “Sri Lankans have a right to protest peacefully and it is essential for democratic expression and she was also concerned about the economic stability and relief for those suffering (2^nd April).

While other diplomats were discussing ways to help SL to recover from economic crisis, the US Ambassador in SL urged the public to engage in peaceful protests while helping SL to come out of the economic crisis. She quite rightly stated that chaos and force will not fix the economy or bring the political stability that SL need and called on the SL Military and Police to grant protesters the space and security to engage in peaceful protests. Sri Lankans who wanted change should thank the ambassador in Korean hence, “Kamsahamnida”!

During WWII modern day Iran experienced an Anglo - Soviet invasion. In the aftermath the British owned oil industry in Iran (Persia) was nationalized by the elected PM Mohammed Mosaddegh. Later a military coup backed by UK and USA threw the PM out, gave power to Shah and transferred the oil industry back to the western powers. It was called the White revolution. Some Iranians believe that the “White” in it was that it was planned in the White House (Iranian sources). It is not clear if someone actually wants chaos and conflict in SL so that the average citizen’s trust in ballot gradually reduces and the next generations would only struggle at the Galle face etc. to change governments. A colour code is not yet given to the events in SL? It may be the Coracana Revolution? It will be good for those who sang liberation songs at the Galle face to study Jamaican songs. SL might end up singing such for a long time as in Jamaica. Respected Indian academic Subramanium Swamy referring to the allowed chaos in Colombo has reportedly said that SL might be like Germany under Hitler’s boys. They ruined the country and made it an American colony for decades according to him.

(The writer is an Academic and a Broadcaster. Views expressed are personal and may not necessarily be the views of his affiliations.)