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Friday, 16 January 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Ranel T. Wijesinha
I have received a few text messages, Whatsapp messages and emails about road closures, traffic diversions and resulting inconveniences. Hence I thought I will pause in my work and share my response thereto.
While passing Galle Face on 12 January, I wondered what the many structures were being built for. I thought they were for an event of the new Government and was not happy, given the dignity and refinement, the decency, the humility and simplicity of the swearing-in of the new President and Prime Minister, at the Independence Square and the subsequent event at the Paththirippuwa at the Sri Dalada Maligawa.
All of these events were sans opulence and extravagance and thus touched us so much that we all felt a sense of pride and belonging.
However, Wednesday’s event at the Galle Face Green, made me realise what the new structures were for. The way the event was being conducted and the large crowds in attendance prompted me to simply dismiss the earlier thought, as I began to understand that all this infrastructure and organisation, deployment of Police and other resources, were vitally necessary.
It was for a wholesome, worthy cause, which will greatly impact the hearts and minds of not only the estimated over 200,000 people who have apparently been there since 3 a.m., but also a blessing to all those across the nation who may be watching on television.
I was reminded of my visit to the Vatican, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica, when I climbed to the very top of Michelangelo’s dome, and took many photographs and videos. The event at Galle Face, here at home, was an opportunity not only for Catholics but also for all Sri Lankans.
It was a Public and Bank holiday and a holiday for many in the private sector, but I had scheduled to work from 8:30 a.m. and to attend to a few overseas conference calls. Instead, I began watching his Holiness the Pope and chose to reschedule my work to the afternoon.
I was keen to learn how the electronic media was airing this great event to the people, and so, I checked all 12 local channels and found that 11 were showing His Holiness the Pope and the related events live.
As a Sinhala Buddhist, born in the village of Getamanna, in the Beliatte constituency in the Hambantota District, I found this very encouraging because these television stations were catering to a people who during the last month of extensive election coverage, were referred to as a population which comprised over 7.9 million Sinhalese-Buddhist voters who will go to the polls.
Listening to the words ‘Samaya Himi Wewa,’ I began to feel that we are a blessed nation – much to be happy about, much to nurture further and much to protect and defend.
The way in which the country received his Holiness the Pope – the organisation, the discipline, the Police, the Buddhist monks, Muslim religious leaders, and the simple events at the Presidential Secretariat were encouraging to watch. Great warmth. Great harmony.
I am sure all those who invited the Pope will also be truly blessed and the organisation, which would have gone into this event, over months during the previous regime and all those who executed the previously planned event today, deserve congratulations and undoubtedly the Pope’s blessings.
In conclusion, I am hopeful that all those who experienced the inconvenience on the road, and complained about traffic, road closures and diversions, just like I did day before yesterday for two hours on the road, for two visits which should otherwise have taken a total of 30 minutes on the road, will have their hearts healed and voices mellowed after watching the events of today or even reading about the event in print media. Yes, we need to think beyond road closures and personal inconveniences.
