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The Sinhala - Buddhist hawks particularly those living in Western Countries are agog with
excitement over the "protest" registered by the Ven Athureliya Rathane Thero at the
development consortium conclave at Kandy. Some even compare him to the legendary
Wariyapola Sri Sumangala Thero and hope this "stunt" will trigger off a chain reaction.
How sad to see the courageous patriot Sumangala who defied the might of the British
empire being compared to this pseudo - patriot in Yellow robes. After all what Ratane did
was to talk out of turn at a meeting held in Independent Sri Lanka. It did not require much
bravery to spit venom on your home turf. Only a hick skin to breach etiquette was needed.
Krishna Vaikunthavasan taking the Podium at the UN General assembly meeting before
Shahul Hameed was truly daring and dramatic.
But this Athureliya stunt actually helped Attanagalla. Sri Lanka obtained not only the
targeted 2. 2 billion US $ dollars but even 800 million more to achieve a nice, round figure of
3 billion dollars. This was mainly due to the donors being impressed and depressed.
President Kumaratunga came out eloquently about the danger she faced at the hands of
extremists in going ahead with the peace process. She also reminded the audience about
her father being assassinated (By a Buddhist priest).And then what happens?
A Buddhist Priest cum Politician makes an unscheduled address and hands over a petition
to a petrified President. Everyone seems powerless to stop this naked exhibition of Yellow or
Saffron power that defies decorum. In one swift move Rathane demonstrated to the donors
that Kumaratunga was not exaggerating when she referred to the danger posed by
extremists. Donors impressed by Kumaratunga and depressed by Rathane.This in turn
swayed the donors into backing Kumaratunga to the hilt. Even if she had orchestrated all
this it could never have been better. Athureliyata Jayawewa!
One donor representative had this to say about Rathanes performance " My respect for him
would have been high if he had asked us all to go home with the money saying national self
- respect was more important than dollars. But no! he wants us to give the money but only
not to insist on equitable sharing with the Tamils and other minorities. Give us the money but
dont tell us what to do is his stance. That is not appropriate. If he and others of his ilk do not
want our interference then simply tell us and we will go elsewhere".
If the Bhikkus dont want anyone dictating terms then all they have to do is to ask the
Western money - bags to go home with their money
But the problem here is that some chauvinists believe the world owes them much. All what
they want is the unlimited supply of moolah to help them get on merrily with minority bashing.
Beggars want to be choosers. He who pays the piper is not allowed to call the tune.
- D.B.S. Jeyaraj