Saturday Nov 23, 2024
Saturday Nov 23, 2024
Wednesday, 23 December 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
I read a review of this book a few days ago in the well-presented Financial Times of Sri Lanka written by one Wijewardana. His account of this book got me interested in reading the book at any cost.
He described the book like an Agatha Christie novel. I hunted down this book for days and found a copy at a Sarasavi bookshop. Weerakkody has not done justice to the book by limiting the supply. The book must be made available in popular bookstores. Later, when I walked into another bookstore to buy a book for my son, the boy at the counter told me all the books they had been given had been sold out in two days. I asked myself why this book is selling at Rs. 1000 when 90% of the Sri Lankan’s don’t even read.
Therefore, I read the book for the second time. It is like a James Bond story. We are only used to people doing these courageous acts in other parts of the world. Most Sri Lankans are happy with the crumbs that fall by their way, while the political leaders and their children get the lion share.
The public is continuously exploited. The politicians exploit every ounce once elected. Mahinda Rajapaksa’s children did just that. The sportsperson’s murder is not mentioned in the book anywhere. Another eight years they would never have got kicked out. Therefore, I salute the heroes.
Reading the book, I get a sense that that era is now passed. We can now expect better governance and accountability, from the current lot. There is no mention of the Bond fraud in the book that rocked the 100-day Government.
The last two chapters are the best. The author has been quite critical of the way the Government has conducted their affairs. The author says the revolution has only begun. Reading the book, my impressions are that the current Prime Minister and the President were led by Sobitha and Rathana Theros and a few people who were ready to cross the line.
Both were just bystanders watching the revolution until 21 November. However, the two biggest beneficiaries are the Prime Minister (a man whose political future was in the wilderness) and the President (sidelined by the former regime).
I get the sense that they have forgotten the efforts of the people behind the revolution and are sometimes making a mockery of governance. The language is simple and written like a story that even a grandma would like to read.
Jokes apart, the book is brilliant. The chapter connecting C.P. de Silva’s crossover with the current coup was well thought through. All young and old should read this book. Please!
Delip Fernando
