Wake-up call for continuity of freedom

For Sri Lanka to continue to live free
This is a little prayer and a plea
Sri Lankans in and out overwhelmingly believe
That Lanka is a great amazing place to live
Lifestyle and friendliness coming down from early days
Was a longstanding outcome of Buddhist culture and its ways
With hard work and royalties valued perseverance
People viewed this as a blessed land of abundance
Vast expanse of paddy land filled with green
Man-made reservoirs and dagobas could be well seen
People lived happily in those good old days
Unassuming righteous life in a simple way
They enjoyed the fruits of their farming labour
Which made Lanka self-sufficient in their favour
This was put a halt to by foreign domination
Of four centuries and also royalty’s termination
Its attainment of freedom was an unexpected success
But post independent development was a long process
Next was the ruthless war, terrorism and turmoil
Which was put an end to by mighty forces in Northern soil
Then came changes in Lankan political scenario
With mistakes and errors incorrigible even by any wonder hero
Power and money hunger were predominantly prevalent
Negligence and corruption was rampant
Appointments were made from a political yardstick
The workforce was mostly politically picked
The loyal, educated, civil service well renowned
For high standards at one time was weakened
Sri Lanka now desperately needs external support with hope
Without aligning to power blocks across the globe
Lanka needs to value trade relations with all countries
For a robust economy to proceed with no barrier
In trade and commerce, plans and policies for future
Should bring about a change in the entire economic structure
Regarding health, education, tourism and trade
Progressive programmes in every sphere should be made
The current market conditions should be stable
With hardworking and improved expertise able
The quality of production and services need
To improve up to international level with speed
Lanka should also be an industrial nation
With modern high-tech facilities for increased production
Sri Lanka should be the best ever tourist destination
Enabling it to be their centre of fascination
A novel feature in this era should be a drop-in taxation
Offering the poverty stricken, a great consolation
The massive menace of drugs, racism, terrorism and crime
Should be totally swept away from this paradise isle

- Rupa Banduwardena