It beggars belief that the sanctity of Easter Sunday chirch services were violated by the hand of Islamist extremists. There can be no mitigating circumstance for the actions of those responsible for the brutal attacks that took place across Sri Lanka in what is now revealed to be a coordinated attack on churches and luxury hotels. The damage to Sri Lanka’s economy is awesome – he damage to the people’s hopes and aspirations monumental.
Equally devastating is the blame game being carried out by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
In the aftermath of the attack Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith told a packed presser that the PM had told him that although he was made aware of the impending attacks the law and order portfolio was beyond him, the Prime Minister.
In subsequent statements to the foreign media the same PM indicated that indeed the intelligence apparatus had received advance warning but that he as the Prime Minister was not made aware. He said that this was a breakdown, he was unsure why the breakdown took place and he must investigate. The PM added that this was, “a very very very expensive mistake”. It appears that our PM is the master of the understatement.
A document on Ministry of Defence notepaper, carried with it the highest confidential status, “EYES ONLY’. Yet the Inspector General of Police to whom it was addressed merely forwarded it to his deputies for their action.
There was no special meeting of the Security Council or any other meeting to discuss and agree on a course of implementation.
There were more claims from the PM. He maintained that various other institutions were notified but strangely not his office it appears.
The President told an all party meeting that even by the 14th of April – 3 days after the intelligence report was received – the IGP and the Defence Secretary visited him with the betel leaves to wish him for the New Year but omitted to tell him of the startling intelligence Sri Lanka had received from its friendly super power neighbour, India.
One thing is clear. There is a huge blame game going on. The effect of course is that the people paid for the breakdown in communication. 253 persons perished, tourists included and there were several bags of body pieces that needed to be DNA tested to establish how many more lives had been lost.
The ever- hopeful PM said that within three weeks the issue will be resolved and there will be a return to normalcy.
Quite frankly the people simply do not believe him or any of the others for that matter.
Sri Lanka’s people continue to be buffeted by the crosswinds of political acrimony and animosity fueled by the desire of the current bunch of politicians to remain in power. Unfortunately we remember what the PM said with uncanny accuracy, at a Big Match: the first thing he said, was to remain in power.
To the PM and his acolytes that may well be some form of Game of Thrones. To the people it is a meaningless statement.
The next set of parliamentary and presidential polls will test the public’s reaction to the last four and a half years of mismanagement on all fronts.
That decision when it comes, will not be a day too late.
