Piyal Samarakone

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Seeing the fading light of the war brought immense hopes to all patriotic Sri Lankans regardless to their casts and creeds, but only knowing lot more miseries haunting their backyards at will.

Putting off underworld out of business means no lesser significance than winning the war as it holds a firm grip on all quarters in our society.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  As we see some feeble light at the end of the tunnel, it will be another mile stone for the rapid recovering post-war nation and hope that we are blessed enough to see overwhelming eradication of this menace which gathered its present momentum since early 80s.

Politicized underworld gangs showing great amount of impunity and immunity to the existing law of the country and what we witness today is laws do exist but they lack in order and their ratifications. Once invulnerable and invincible infamous god fathers, disappearing in sizeable quantities today and some even leave without a trace, not surprisingly.

Undoubtedly, the relentless campaign against underworld hit the very bottom of certain corrupted political quarters and their political fortresses rattle with disbelief and their dependency on underworld and clandestine activities too are being challenged as never before. ItƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s a popular secret that handful of politicians already agitated due to the on going rampage against the underworld and make desperate attempts to throw lifeline to the fugitives.

The style of underworld gangs held sway in Sri Lanka is quiet a unique phenomena which could not match even to the barbaric act of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-SavakƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the death squads operated in Iran during ShahƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s regime or present day death squads in Sudan called ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-JanjaweedƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.

How many times we have seen the fathers being killed by these criminals in front of their children? How often weƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢v seen our future political leaders perished at the hands of these merciless criminals? How often weƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢v seen they are being apprehended? How often weƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢v seen they are being prosecuted by the law enforcement authorities? How often weƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢v seen political Pinochets manning their hooligans in front of the general public?

The professionalism induced with political blessings made our underworld figures even more ruthless and gained fame and wealth in a rapid pace, to earn a name you need to be in the business for substantial amount of time they donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t get IRC status in over night, worth to mention famous quote by Julius Caesar ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Rome wasnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t built over nightƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. The fortresses built by our notorious king pins cannot under estimate by any means, and some even can challenge narcotic King Pablo EscobarƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s talent when it comes to the real business amongst the elite of the big society. They were well rooted and well organized and having excellent network with other rivals and cartels as well as uniformed and un-uniformed hand full of corrupted officials.

The conflict which span over three decades unarguably a blessing in disguise for most of the criminal operatives who imposed the rule of the jungle at will in every nook and corner of the island.

But present day political &social landscape tend to bring plenty of adverse effects on these ill fated elements proving the old norm of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-whenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  one thing go right every other followsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.

Although we are forced to believe the witch hunt would not deviate from its main aim, Sri Lankan pattern of dealing with critical issues such as this bears no good credentials.

Nevertheless, winning against Goliath certainly brought plenty of determination and courage to overcome most of other anti-progressive issues and bringing down badly behaved Liliputs would be a kindergarten exercise, as our General once stated. If so, to deal with the remaining nemesis would not be so difficult.