The Lanka of the then gold, the Lanka of Kubera, the Lanka of Ravana was destroyed. Ravana snatched Lanka of gold from his brother Kuber, then Hanuman burnt Lanka due to Ravana’s misdeeds and Maryada Purushottam Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu himself, killed Ravana and placed Vibhishana on the power there. Now the compelled, helpless and angry people themselves have destroyed and almost inactivated the government of Ravana by burning it.
Today’s Sri Lanka, despite being one of the small countries of the world, stood in the line of prosperous nations, but due to personal gain, selfishness and willful ignorance of government officials, Sri Lanka has ruined everything. The manner in which innumerable hungry and unemployed citizens have attacked, arson, vandalized the buildings of the Prime Minister and the President in the past, it is enough to open the eyes of the world leaders who are intoxicated by the power of ordinary citizens. They do not understand more than insects and instead of doing good to them, they keep troubling them with their vicious antics.
The situation for Sri Lanka has become such that after a few days when historians do research on it, they will have to write ‘Sri Lanka used to be a resourceful nation, which was ruined by the dictatorial rulers by their foolish actions.’ Why this happened, whose stupidity happened, who is the main culprit of this destruction, what did he want from his citizens, it is a matter of intense research, but what is visible on the surface today is very sad, scary. And is mind blowing. Let us now try to understand that what is the cause of the plight of this country till now, what is it?
The Government of India did a great deal of its neighbor’s religion to the best of its ability to bring its economic condition on the path, but how much can one take care of his neighbor with a population of more than 25 million people, by crossing the sea How much can it help! Whereas, Sri Lanka was already inclined towards China and had already made it a partner of its interim economic position, which had also sold one of its ports to it.
Protesters enter the official residence of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in Colombo, Wednesday, July 13, 2022. (Photo AP/PTI)
Actually, Sri Lanka is a mountain rising from the sea, where crops are scarce. Tea, spices, rubber and all crops of horticulture were his economy. The figures of Lanka in education, health, per capita income, GDP per capita were of global level. Overall, Sri Lanka was the most prosperous country in South Asia. By killing Prabhakaran, Rajapaksa and his family became the emperor of the hearts of the people. Got a majority on a majority, a powerful government was formed. Powerful government, i.e. market, trade, banks, economy, law, courts and media have complete control over everything.
Till then, there was a dictatorship of the Rajapaksa family in Sri Lanka. Science, Technology, History, Civics, Agriculture, Banking, Business, Sports, Space, Radar to the dictator; That is, there is comprehensive information about everything in the world. The Dictator is a good man, his intentions are not flawed, so President Gotabaya Rajapaksa decided that ‘Our country will become a Vishwaguru.’ And, he was defeated there. Totally organic! One day it was announced that from today there is a fertilizer ban, pesticide ban in the country! No chemical will be used in the country. Whoever does this will be punished. The country became organic overnight. The President started ringing in the world. The UN praised, but the scientists said, “No, it will destroy Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector.”
And the same happened. The Sri Lankan Dictator went unheeded. Work done with strong intention and clear intention always succeeds, but what is it! Life saving medicine finished, petrol-diesel ended, ration-water ended, women of the house started auctioning for one kilo of rice. Now what else is left?
People queue with empty cylinders for domestic gas at a distribution center in Colombo, Tuesday, July 12. (Photo AP/PTI)
What could be worse than this! Then there is a limit to stamina too. His patience, all his hopes were shattered. When there is no ray of hope, then it can happen anywhere. This can happen in any country as the citizens of Sri Lanka have done.
After months of severe economic crisis and shortage of essential commodities, the patience of the protesting citizens of Sri Lanka has been severely damaged. Clashes broke out between protesters and security forces demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The protesters broke through all the barricades and entered the Rashtrapati Bhavan in the middle of Colombo and occupied it. Seeing the anger of the protesters, the President fled from the Gotabaya Bhavan. Furious protesters torched the private residence of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Sri Lanka, which is going through the worst economic and political crisis since its independence, has called an all-party meeting amid the uproar by Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, with a population of over 20 million. In this, the opposition parties demanded the resignation of the President along with the Prime Minister for an all-party government. Wickremesinghe accepted the demand of the opposition and offered to resign. It was told on his behalf that he would step down after the formation of the all-party government and after proving his majority in the parliament.
People take photographs before arson and vandalism at the Prime Minister’s official residence complex in Colombo, Monday, July 11, 2022. (PTI photo)
After so much sabotage, arson, five cabinet ministers of Sri Lanka have announced their resignation. Protesters stormed the president’s official residence in the heavily guarded Fort area of central Colombo last week, demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Rajapaksa then announced that he would resign.
Gotabaya is still absconding and no one knows where he is. The protesters have also set fire to the Prime Minister’s residence. Despite these difficult circumstances, India has shown invaluable human kindness last week, saying it stands with the people of Sri Lanka as they seek to realize their aspirations for prosperity and progress through democratic methods, values and the constitutional route.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson has said that India is closely monitoring developments in Sri Lanka and is aware of the many challenges that the country and its people are facing. The protesters who occupied the Rashtrapati Bhavan say that they had never seen such a house in their life.
Scene after the fire and vandalism at the Prime Minister’s residence in Colombo, Sunday, July 10, 2022. (PTI photo)
A man dining with his family in President’s Lawn said, “We’ve got a good chance, so I think the whole country is peaceful now.” Now corruption will end. I have had the opportunity to have lunch with my kids. The food of Rashtrapati Bhavan is really superb. Demonstrators have gathered everywhere in gym-bedroom, drawing room, kitchen, who were seen posing selfie with many families. Some are resting, some are eating food, some are enjoying the swimming pool.
The water has passed over the head so much that no one knows how many years it will take for it to descend and reach the ground; Because any competent political party takes power now, it will take time to rectify the situation. Today no one has Alauddin’s lamp or magic wand that by lighting the lamp, the lightning of happiness will start shining in Sri Lanka, nor by rotating the magic wand, happiness, peace and prosperity will suddenly return there. What will happen then?
This is a very serious question whether Sri Lanka will be able to get back on the track of prosperity? Many experts have accused the politicians and argued that absconding politicians, who in their arrogance pushed the country into a trough by taking wrong decisions, would such politicians want the country to gallop again on the track of prosperity and development? Be that as it may, India has already opened all the doors of development for Sri Lanka because of its neighboring country and its spiritual affiliation.
When the country climbs to the peak of development, the politicians take the credit for it with great enthusiasm. But, when the country starts sinking in the trough due to their wrong and arrogance, then instead of apologizing to the public by admitting their mistake, such politicians leave the country and run away. The same has been done by Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, as he is said to have already accumulated enormous wealth abroad by selling the country.
Now in Janta Jaye Chulha, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has resigned and has fled from the narrow alley to Singapore. Now he will spend the rest of his life in fun by pushing the country into a trough where he planned to build his base. An interim emergency has been imposed in Sri Lanka and curfew has been lifted from Colombo.
Now the nomination for the new president is set to be held on July 18 and the election on July 20, for the time being, Ranil Bikramsinghe has been made the acting president. It will also have to be seen in what condition Sri Lanka lives till the new President takes over and how the public lays eyelids to welcome the new President.
(The writer is a senior journalist and political analyst)
