BADAGINI and SUDU-KODI AVURUDDA – Jeyaraj Fernandopulle family cannot be alone in not celebrating
Posted by Ajith on April 10, 2008
Sinhala Tamil New Year, or the ‘Aluth Avurudda’ as we call it, is the time of ultimate celebrations. We all, the adults, have pleasant reminiscences about Avurudu of our younger days. The excitement of waiting for the dawn of Avurudda and the delight we had each year spending Avurudu holidays playing with friends can never be taken off our memories.
It is unfortunate that an incompetent and self centred dictatorship that only concerned in building a dynasty and filling family coffers instead of serving the nation, depriving that joy to our children this year.
There were instances in recent past, we as a nation have decided not to celebrate Avurudu, deviating from the tradition. In the aftermath of Japanese bombing Colombo city in 1942 there were no Avurudu celebrations. In 1971, the JVP insurrection took our joy. In 1973 too we did not celebrate Avurudu because of the death of ex-Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake on April 13. Petta bus bomb, killing at least 200 innocent civilians changed our celebration mood in April 1989.
This year 2008, too will be added to this ‘non-Avuduru’ years list by many because most of us are in no mood for celebrations, beaten by two fronts BADAGINI and SUDU-KODI.
So far unprecedented price escalations, a direct outcome of the poor economic management of Jayasundera-Cabraal duo takes Avurudu off from many poor families in Sri Lanka. With their harvest destroyed and cost of living far above the affordable limits, some of them are not even in a situation to buy new clothes for their children. Preparing sweets too is a nightmare with the increasing cost of food items.
Sorry kids, it is not your fault that you do not get new clothes this time. Such things are common any failed state. Please do not blame your parents for not giving you new clothes and sweets. Blame the greedy politicians of the current regime for cheating you and your parents while they themselves celebrating the Avurudu happily with their families.
That is the BAGADINI part. The other stumbling block that prevents us celebrating Avurudu is the SUDU-KODI. This is the direct outcome of the restart of war by current regime after 2005 Presidential Elections. Since then all we see is SUDU-KODI here and there. It is such a common sight under this regime, perhaps SLFP can make SUDU-KODIYA (a while flag) its party symbol.
Ironically, Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle’s family too will not be celebrating Avurudu this time. They have little consolation. They are not alone. More than 5,000 lives were lost after the restart of war by current regime by scraping the Cease Fire Agreement. None of those 5,000 families might be celebrating Avurudu this time. Perhaps, if this government continues this number might be 10,000 by next year. Who is responsible for making this land an ‘Amu-Sohona’? Is turning the country to one big mass grave a promise under Mahinda Chinthana?
On left President Rajapakse is assisting first lady to light the stove. Little he might have imagined the sparks of war he lit in 2005 could have caused so many lives including some of his close associates.
When will we be free from hyper-inflation and food prices that increase on daily basis?
When will we be free from meaningless war that takes a minimum of 500 precious lives every month on average basis?
When will we be free from this incompetent, self-focused and war mongering regime that turned the country to a failed state just within a period of mere two years?
If there is any such date, then only we will be able to celebrate Aluth Avurudda in a peaceful and prosperous land. Let us not lose hope.
