This cat admits she is not always brimming with malice and has a news-item-mouse to tease and play around with, each week. At such odd moments, she dries up like a well in the Uma Oya Project area and lies supine with nary a purr or growl.
Such was the case these past few days. She never ever touched on the Bond case as its ramifications were far too labyrinthine for her to navigate.
Then came a command, purportedly from the Most Ven Mahanayake Maha Theras of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters ordering the government to stop all work on a new constitution. As she growled at this stepping too far in ‘advising’ the government which is their right from long ago with a history of great advisors like Weliwita Sarankara Thera, also from Kandy if this cat is not correct and needs to be corrected, she was stopped short in her warpath. The Prime Minister no less, declared it was a statement made not by the Mahanayakes themselves but an issuance from their karaka sabhas. Too delicate to navigate with claws extended and nasty growls meant to be national, patriotic and noteworthy, even though the qualification was drawing a very fine point of dissension. So, she lay back and ruminated, when lo and behold the favourite target of her malice made a statement, taken very seriously by his co-sitters in the Chamber by the Diyawanna. MP Wimal Weerawansa said that a bomb should be dropped on the august seat of government, the Parliament, no less.
The day this announcement was made seriously or with his peculiar sense of humour, this feline was on a night prowl and missed TV news broadcasts which surely would have gone to town showing the natty white clad, well groomed vociferous ex JVPer making this announcement, deserving of being swept aside as another inane remark intended to provoke. But no! This time Wimal Wee hit the mark, too accurately for his comfort. MPs protested; some feared a lunatic bombing on their heads, mostly nodding in sleep after heavy lunches; while others ran to the father-figure Speaker. “See what he said! He is going to bomb us! He must be having practice having been in the JVP in the late 1980s, if not also in the 1970s.” So the Hon Speaker had to take note of what was said, treat it like a threat and give a ruling on it. We await his verdict. Of course, we know natty Lochinwee is not bothered. He has gone through much more than this – a bomb threat which will surely end a damp squib. He can shout out he was doing a Trump and trying out fake news, a joke, aney.
Talent galore
You may recall that this cat handed out two bouquets last week; one to the Governor of the Central Bank for receiving a nambu naamaya from a prestigious institution overseas, and the other to the President who selected Mr Coomaraswamy to be the Head of the troubled Bank of Last Resort. Thus praise is now an in thing in this column.
Full praise goes to The Workshop Players under the leadership of its founder, Jerome L de Silva, who recently put on stage the adaptation as a musical of George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion. So My Fair Lady was on at the Lionel Wendt theatre for an entire week of full houses. Jerome had passed on the director’s onerous task to Surein de S Wijeyeratne in this 25th year of the group. And, what a marvellous show it was. Everyone this cat spoke to praised the production in superlatives – marvellous, etc. Jerome acted the part of Col Pickering and Higgins was played by youthful Herath who had a fine presence on stage, superb voice and carried the difficult role to perfection. The two girls who took on the role of Eliza were excellent, as were all other players. The set designs and the change of many scenes were done expertly. It was a real three hour treat of good singing and spectacular show.
Which brings this cat to the real topic she means to touch on: the vast reservoir of talent that is within us Sri Lankans. If correctly tapped it springs forth superbly.
Choirs – school, local and foreign - are at the moment performing in competition at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre, the Lionel Wendt and in churches and other venues. This cat is rearing to go for a couple of shows. Again our talent on show. And a big bouquet to Soundarie David Rodrigo who is one of the organizers of this massive show.
Congrats to this lawyer turned musician and conductor. We are proud of you, we meaning all Sri Lankans, especially us women.
Menika