A Selifish Request..................

We can call them in many names, but throughout the world they are doing one same thing. That is the world oldest profession. Both men and women engage on this profession willingly or unwillingly. There are movies, songs novels, research, legal frame work but nothing has able to reduce the sex workers. As population grows their number also increasing.

Few days ago there was a press conference in Sri Lanaka by female sex works asking the legal protection and make it more legitimate profession in Sri Lanka. One of the   female sex workers at the press conference giving easiest reason why they are engaging in this profession.Their point is only looking at one side of the whole picture that is only the men coming to the female sex workers. Men responsible for making them into sex workers.so continue their profession they need legalized professional acceptance from the society. But sex trade mostly women dominates by women. Even most of brothel owners are Women. Even former JVP Leader Somawansa Amarasinghe’s   sister was brothel owner. Legalizing will be good for them they can avoid lawyers fee.But there are real stories like   Travis in Taxi driver. we cant make the complete blame over men making women into sex workers.

No body can’t gain respect by law”. “Respect to be earned”, if these sex workers think legalizing this a will bring the respect to them as well their children it’s the most moronic dream. In reality we are too far away from the “Respectful Prostitute”   By Jean-Paul Sartre,

 Not only in Sri Lanka generally most of the time sex workers consider as women dominated thing. But in my understanding it’s not really true, even large number of men also engages in this profession.

Everyone has their own reasons at some point what they are doing. I f someone addicted to drug that is not his or her own fault. There are so many parties have responsibility of making someone drug addicted.But can we accept making drug ad-dictation legalized that will help make any  better change to the society. I don’t think so.

At one point we may be misled my someone, at one point someone may be forcefully make into a sex worker. But making legalize this profession will it make any better to them. During the Second World War large number of Korean women forcefully taken in to Japanese Military bases, these women were known as “Comfort women”. They were forcefully made into not sex workers; they were sex slaves for the Japanese army. But after the war none of these women did not ask legalizing their profession in Korea. They protest against what they had to face by force, but they did not ask the right to continue it. I’m pretty their lives must be divested by people with weapons.

In Sri Lanka there is a local proverb that is the “man who got into the well or a pit has to come out of the same way “, it seems Sri Lankan sex workers are arguing based on this. But this is not correct. Just because someone got raped or does not have a husband or forcefully made in to sex worker will not affect by making it in to legitimized profession. In Sri Lanka there may be situation people openly sending their wives, daughter and sister for sex work.it will definitely increased the number of sex workers, but generations will suffer over this.

It is a brave thing to stand out for our rights, but not for selfish reasons. They are taking examples form red-light districts in Bangkok and Netherlands. Well Thailand Pataya as well some parts of the Bangkok really sin cities. Nothing has made any better in Thailand for sure.

But Netherlands they have well organized social structure before sex work legalized. unfortunately we get influenced  the least appropriate thing from everywhere.If we really wanted be like Netherlands first thing we should do make public transport more efficient in urban .Sri Lanka traffic and poor condition of the traffic is more crucial  issues than sex workers in term of pollution and economy.We  are losing one billion rupees in everyday due to urban traffic. Actually when we fixed this issue we might think about legalizing sex work in Sri Lanka. Till that as it appear to me we are not ready for such drastically change in our society.

At the press conference one of the sex worker asked who is going to feed their children, according to her this is the only way of feed her children.

Cost of living and looking after families are common issues for everyone. Being a sex worker will it solve? If we want to earn money we can steal, we can sell drugs, we can rob banks, and even if we don’t do some one will be doing it. It is impossible to make the everything perfect. But legalizing any of above will it be a reason to minimize or any better to the society.

Like everybody else we can talk any rubbish to the media. Media has a huge responsibility what they going to give to the public. In my understand Sri Lankan media gave unnecessary publicity over this press meeting to make their media stations popular.

"When I was young and had no sense

In far-off Mandalay

I lost my heart to a Burmese girl

As lovely as the day.

Her skin was gold, her hair was jet,

Her teeth were ivory;

I said, "for twenty silver pieces,

Maiden, sleep with me".

She looked at me, so pure, so sad,

The loveliest thing alive,

And in her lisping, virgin voice,

Stood out for twenty-five."

- George Orwell

A Free Bird..............

Generally most of women like jewelries. As Marlin Monroe said diamonds may not be our best friends, but we do wear some jewelries. In Sri Lanka especially for a girl parents give earrings as first ever gift. Even whatever the income level somehow a gold earrings are still not a difficult 

requirement to fulfill. Before their daughter  get married somehow parent make some gold jewelries.

Actually in India it’s compulsory thing. Most of Tamil houses they collect certain amount of  gold  in household. No wonder why India is the largest consumer of gold in the world.

Those who can’t afford gold lease they will wear yellow string with a piece of turmeric, but there are certain exceptions where jewelries replaced by something else. The worst replacement I have ever heard is a cyanide capsule   tied with a string. I have no clue how it feel wearing a cyanide capsule since age of 14.

 Subramaniam Sivakamy alias Thamilini  Joined to LTTE at the age of 14 she wore  cyanide capsule  till 2009,As the leader of the LTTE women’s wing she  responsible of make other women wearing the cyanide capsule. But it is obvious even Thamilini had no courage to use it at the end of the final battle. She was rehabilitated by the end of the war ad released in 2012. 

While undergoing rehabilitation at "Poonthottam "Thamilini completed a basic course in computers and also obtained training in bridal dressing. But Thamilini was formally released on June 26th 2013 and handed over to her mother Ms. Sinnamma Subramaniam. She lost her father many years ago. In the organization none of women did not allowed to fall in love. The punishment for love was sending them to the front line. They never had female costume or anything remotely close to them; LTTE was the only organization which women were sent to front line as well children. While Thamilini and others were holding guns the organization leaders’ daughter had red roses in their hands.Not about other things the LTTE did not allow to have loose hair to  their female members.It was cut into very short or tied up.But it seems that  nothing has  mattered  to their leader's daughter.

There were reasonable reasons Tamil uprights, but for LTTE terrorism cannot justifiable.

After the rehabilitation she said that she had learnt a bitter lesson and would never ever join an extremist organization again. All that she wanted was to stay with her mother and family and then hopefully marry and lead a normal life, said Thamilini with voice quivering and eyes tearing.

Most of the other women Thamilini wanted to have normal life with a family. She had lost her childhood as well the youth. More or less this is a  dream of any women.

But sadly yesterday Thamilini passed away after two years battle over a cancer at the age of 43.in life she lost both battles .

 “Suthanthirapparavaigal”(Birds of Freedom) was the popular name by which the Women’s political division of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE)was known in the past. They were never become the free birds within the organization. Their energy their soul everything used to server others .it’s a ridiculous thing to call them birds of freedom at a point where they did not have any freedom.

Now at lease she is free…..

Sri Lanka Customs

Over three years ago I went to India with my mother, like most other Sri Lankans we did some shopping and my mother bought two dozens of Henna hair color claiming this is much better than in Sri Lanka. Since I’m not using I can’t say which is better than the others but Indian product was relatively less expensive than in Sri Lanka. Both of us safely reached to Katunayake international airport around 22.30 by Sri Lankan Air Line. We were tired but As usual before the arrival we were going through airport office custom .The Sri Lankan custom officer while we he was still using his mobile phone orders us to open our luggage.There were few sarees that my mother bought in my luggage mostly were books.

Then the custom office found out Henna hair color packets. There were two dozen which technically 24   sachets packets. The custom officer showed his awareness of law and said only 6 packs can be allowed. He questioned my mother whether she is running a saloon .other 18 number of packets will subjected to taxes. Then I politely asked can I take 6 packets claiming that I’m using then only another 12 packets will subjected to the tax. With this question the custom officer got furiously angry. He questioned saying are you trying to violate Sri Lankan custom law in a smart way.he can take legal action  based on my idea of violation Sri Lankan custom law.

Well my mother is law abiding citizen than me.She said I’ll take only 6 packets  which is allowed by law. The custom office can keep the other. I also felt it’s a sensible decision .As a country we should be happy about this kind of lawful custom officers. They are earning for this country, but they are equally fair on every case our country is a much better place

.

As per the mission the Sri Lanka Customs is dedicated to enforce revenue and social protection laws of the state while facilitating the trade with the objective of contributing to the national effort and in due recognition thereof. Also Sri Lanka Customs is one of the oldest Customs administrations in the world which celebrated its 200 years in 2009.

Also if we trace ancient Sri Lanka there is evidence of the existence of Customs tax collection in Sri Lanka over 2000 years ago at the Godawaya Harbor in Hambanthota.Well this is not Hmbanthota Mahinda Rajapaksha Port..

The stone inscription existing at the Godawaya temple provides probably one of the oldest evidence on Customs duties in the entire world. Ancient internal port had functioned from 2nd Century AD to 12th Century AD at Godawaya in Southern Sri Lanka near the mouth of the Walawe River. This inscription had been made by King Gajabahu (114-136AD) and states that he had ordered the donation of duties collected at the port to the Godawaya Temple for its maintenance.

Like many other things in Sri Lanka we have proud history, but sadly we can’t be happy or proud about our present or future.

Currently  Sri Lanka custom is a heaven for corruption. Our general believes is the police, the politics are the most corrupted. But when it comes to Sri Lanka custom their corruption is negligible.to become a custom officer in Sri Lanka not an easy task. A degree or equivalent qualifications are must. Out of all government services Sri L lanka custom officers five scale salary which including commissions for their outstanding performances. Most of Sri Lankan custom officer are educated in Sri Lanka through the free education up to the university. We can understand a poor police cop getting 1000 SLR as a bribe where his monthly income most cases less than 25000SLR.But why highly paid custom officer are taking bribes in millions?

Few days ago Three Customs officials were arrested while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rc. 125 million, which is equaling to 1.68 million  US$ . According to Bribery Commission sources this is the largest ever recorded case of bribe taking, detected by them. This much of money any government officer may not be able to save in his whole life.

The Customs officers in question has informed a foreign company that a payment of Rs 1,500 million was required for the release of a consignment of spare parts imported to be used by the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB). Later, the three Customs officers are said to have solicited a bribe of Rs.150 million while promising to waive off the duty and other payments. Following negotiations, the bribe had been reduced to Rs 125 million. The company had later informed the Bribery Commission about the incident.

The three suspects nabbed are  Assistant Customs Authority M.D.U.P. Perera, Deputy Director Customs  Jagath Gunathileke , and Customs officer Sudheera Parakrama ironically one of the above officers received 30 million reward few months ago for his outstanding performances.

This is a one incident, there was a, another incident a custom office directly responsible of murdering his colleague simply because he has refused to take part of the huge bribe. Both of they were educated in Peradeniya University; we can’t believe what are the objectives of our education.

But at least we can be happy; we have well activated commission of bribery after the new director general. We salute you Madam…….!

We Shall Grow Coconut and Pineapple.........................

Just after the introducing television to Sri Lanka  in early 80 's  most of houses had only black and white televisions. Not in the main cities, but in small villages there were only few televisions. The whole neighborhood gathers around that particular home the everyone watched television together. There were not much television channels so everyone happy with the same programme. There were no arguments over tv channels. The house owners making tea, people eat beetle leaves, it’s not only an experience of watching television, it was a social event. Sometimes there was bad reception.to everyone helps to fix the antenna which always fixed into a bamboo tree.

But things are drastically changed now. We have television in almost every house. Sometimes we have more than a television per houses. And we have over 30 television channels plus cable channels and satellite antennas. Even with a house with only four members there is conflict over channels, since we have so much to choose we are going our own ways. I ll tell you a good story, I had a cousin brother after he got married the first thing he did was bought a television and made their bed room into a television room, Because the sister in law had bitter arguments over tv channels with his father in-law.so my cousin brother bought this  their own television. But the problem did not solve as he expected .little while later new couple started fighting over the television channel. But I do remember in this same house about twenty years ago all of us gather in front   of the small black and white television and watched cartoons very happily. Now it an only a good old memory.

Out of all my childhood television experiences I do remember one tele drama. Even those days tele drams were not common as today. One episode for one week. These tele dramas I cannot remember the name but it was about drug addicted son and his wealthy family. Drugs were supplied to the son by father’s close associate.in the end it came to know father himself was a drug dealer  and his son indirectly become a victim of the process. Most of the actors in the teledrama were film actors. During that time there were not this much actors everywhere, the role of the drug addicted son was done by Kamal Addararachchi, though he was subjected to many controversies I have to admit he is good actor. He was in his early twenties while he did this role.People started believing he  is really drug addicted one after watching the tele drama, this was in late 80’s and drug addiction  just started to begin.

Most of infamous drug smugglers to the Sri Lanka had direct links with Pakistan also majority of them were Muslims May be this is different in western part of the  world  where it has notable drug lords such as  George Jung, Pablo Escobar, Carlos Lehder Rivas or  Frank Lucas none of them linked  with Pakistan or Muslims. But In Sri lanka Colombian Cocaine is not very common drug. Instead of that we have Heroin from Afghanistan known as “Afghan Kush Kush”. 

But this smuggling drugs did not happened so openly. They did very primary methods of smuggling drugs such as swallowing, body packing, hiding the goods in luggage, or clothes, Sometimes the goods are hidden in the bag or vehicle of an innocent person, who does not know about the contraband, for the purpose of retrieving the goods elsewhere. And it came to Sri Lanka in really small quantities. Usage of drugs mainly with the urban youths, it has not spreading into the villages. Most cases school children were targeted in the city. There were very unfortunate stories  about boys who got through  grade 5 scholarship exam  came to leading schools in Colombo and ended up  using drugs.

The real stories like” Basketball diaries” actually happened  with some school children.Also we never had drug dealers who keep it as a  controlled business what we saw in “Godfather “Young school  students were the main victim.Apart from that there was a higher percentage of drug use on the coastal belt of southern part of the Sri Lanka. Because of the Civil war the northern part coastal belt as well the youths not been widely open to the tourism. Around Hikkaduwa the most popular beach town in Sri Lanka for decades linked with drugs .it’s more like a beach culture.

The drug business is not an effort   of single, Like rest of the world even in Sri lanka this is very much linked with support of the police, crooked politicians and  very clever lawyers  etc.

But in the past  ten years our country became a center for the drugs .My home town Ingiriya which is over 60 km from Colombo there were no people who were addicted to drugs, but in past ten years this became very common in the Ingiriya area.it started with sand miners oh River Kālu. Then spared into the school children.

After the end of the Sri Lankan civil war drugs were widely available in the northern part of the country.

About Jaffna peninsulas was always famous for its educated, ambitious hardworking youths, but after 30 years of civil war the old Jaffna peninsula turned into an epic center for drugs.

Well how this happened? Who is responsible for this disaster? As Sri Lankans we are partially responsible for what have made into this country. We ll we can scold our government and politicians but we are the people who elected them. We had a  prime mister who had   lunch with person charged with drug dealing. The same prime minister later told what the wrong of having lunch with a friend is. Yes the prime minister is correct there is no fault of having lunch with a friend, but problem is the friend is charged for smuggling drugs to Sri Lanka. Meanwhile the same prime minister’s son got elected to parliament and the good government’s offers a minister post. Well this is Sri Lanka.

But yesterday Colombo High Court Judge Preethi Padman Surasena sentenced Gampola Vidanage Samantha Kumara alias Wele Suda to death over possession of and dealing in heroin. This is only for 7.9 grams in 2007.but same person has 57 charges and other court process not yet been finished.As per the police this person is responsible of supplying 60%   drugs in Sri Lanka. During the 19 years of his activated his time before he was captured in Pakistan he has send 10000milion worth drugs to Sri Lanka. We Sri Lankans easily could have made bricks out of his drugs.

But Wele Suda appealed and said “When I came to the Court, the CID took me away saying they needed to obtain a statement from me. 80g heroin were put on me and then I was produced in Court. I was not aware of anything. That is all I have to say my Lord." To the judge. He is innocence his own ways.

But the Police had traced assets worth Rs 185 million belonging to Samantha Kumara alias Wele Suda,

As per the list of property  a two-stored Bungalow at Wijerama Road, Colombo 7, a house at the  Royal Park housing complex, Rajagiriya, two houses in the apartment complex at Bagatalle Road, Colpetty, a house at Palanwatte, Pannipitiya, a house at Obawatte, Madiwela, a land 16 perches in extent at Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo 7, a 15-perch block of land at Nedimala, Dehiwala, a Prado vehicle, a BMW vehicle, 3001 grams of gold and Rs 18.2 million in banks.

In addition, the police team had raided the ‘heroin headquarters’ of Wele Suda located in a super luxury multistoried residential complex at Sri Jayewardenepura and seized 901 grams heroin, as well as Rs 9,071,680 in cash.

But Wele Suda said this all he earned by his coconut and pineapple cultivation which was given from his father. If it is that much profitable business I’m going to stop practicing architecture, we should grow coconut and pineapple.this clever planter but thinking his children should not follow the same sending to the international schools like most of other leading business men. Yet  again  this is just only one piece of a huge chain, what about the others?