King Sasanka – Sri Lankan Writer & Retired Aviation Professional.

A text message received from my daughter on the Father's Day celebrations made me think of you. How do I start was my dilemma? You were a man of few words. I got more of your physical appearance than my other siblings but the quality of a few words, I was not endowed with. The younger brother has received it from you and you know God has very mysterious ways of working and assembling things around. You showed us the length and the breadth of the country by taking us to various places during school vacation times but I knew that your world was just confined to within our shores only then. But you showed us the World in a different way by introducing and encouraging us to read at a very early age. That way you managed to take us far beyond your physically confined shores. I still remember that every week you used to bring at least two books from the Office Library and we were on them like the vultures on a carcass. That early induction to reading made us wanted more...

Every street corner has now been turned into a place of worship by some object worshiping idiots by placing some objects of their fancy. The next thing you realize is the blaring noise coming from there, day and night, disturbing the peace around and polluting with singing chanting and preaching etc. Then what follows is more encroachments and useless expenditure on face-lifting decorations. The whole country is now being turned into a religious frenzy den. But the euphoria of the ostentation is short-lived when one switches on the Television News Channels. Robbing, muggings, raping and killings are galore. Where have those teachings gone, I wonder?

Like everyone else, authorities too sometimes take decisions, not basing their mind but heart. The important thing to look for on such occasions is to look for the intention behind such decision and if the intention is right, then no one should be blamed unfairly. Recent deportation of a British woman from Sri Lanka, simply because she had a Buddha Tattooed on her arm is getting so much attention especially in the social media sites. Most posters, post things in some way related to this incident without expressing their true intention of posting such postings or expressing their true stand on this issue. If you ask me what my position on the deportation of that woman, I say it was a foolish decision. Some years back, a pop singer was denied entry because the local authorities feared his behaviour towards the most revered figure of more than 70 % of the people in the land amounting to nothing but disrespectful and allowing such a figure into the land could create chaos. In d...

What are we celebrating? Can someone tell me, please? Per Capita income is less than the US $ 2000 Not even 3% of the GDP is invested in Neither Education nor health. Spend more than SLR 100 Million a day Just to glorify one person only Corruption is endemic And we are at the bottom end of the list With Sudan and Afghanistan etc. Winning T20 is not worth celebrating I will join the crowds on the streets Only when we beat Sweden and Singapore In the list of least corrupt nations or Invest at least 6% of the GDP in education and health Limit spending to glorify one person And uplift the Per Capita Income At least to the US $ 5000. Those are worth Celebrating and not just a T20 win And who will remember it in a few weeks' time What are we celebrating? Can someone tell me, please? (My political ranting).

The Sri Lankan Cricketers (both Male & female) flew out recently to take part in the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh. The Male Cricketers were all in their suits and were escorted to one of the premier lounges in the Transit area. The Females were given a shabby Blue T-shirt and were allowed to wander around. Do they represent a different country and why there is such obvious mistreatment for the female cricketers?

My first ever overseas trip was made a couple of decades ago and during that trip I visited a friend of mine in Paris, who was staying just a stone’s throw away from the famous " Arch of the Triumph ". As I entered the building he was staying, something posted at the entrance caught my attention, though my French was no better then, than now. It said “ NO PETS, NO CHILDREN & NO LOUD MUSIC ”. When I asked why such conditions, my friend explained that many staying in that building were professionals who, after busy day at work did not like to be distracted during their private times. It was little confusing for me to grapple this idea and get some sense out of this novel arrangement. Later, I came to know that it was not a novel idea only found in France but something many eagerly have embraced all throughout the Europe and in North America then. The whole building was surprisingly quiet and ideal retreat for meditating monks even, I thought then. After spending a few ye...

I was flabbergasted to read following when I accidentally came across following headlines in one of the local newspapers recently. .       With tourists in mind, India relaxes visa norms,          Protest after Manipur girl is raped in Delhi,         Court orders arrest of ex-health minister in sexual assault case, .       Kejriwal to “go to any extent” for Lokpal bill,         Devyani seeks dismissal of visa fraud case in US court. Needless to say,as a Sri Lankan, I was aghast to learn that we are not so welcomed in India as we are not included from the list of 180 countries that have been granted relaxed visa facility. I am equally amazed as to why are they (Indians) so afraid of Sri Lankans,  where women are being raped in broad day light in their capital city;  fraudsters are being given diplomatic immunity to carry on with their nefarious...