By Mario Perera, Kadawata

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ There was a detailed article on this subject in the Lakbima Newspaper this morning. The article begins by stating that Paba ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”hogs the spotlight for all the wrong reasonsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢. This is not entirely true. She does take a bow and rightly so for activities in line with her talent, which is acting, singing and dancing. The ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”wrong reasonsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ have to do with what is beyond the pale of her innate and cultivated qualities. Paba came into the limelight through a widely followed television series. Then she hit the political headlines by becoming a staunch supporter of General Fonseka during the presidential election. She then was induced to contest the parliamentary elections by Karu Jayasuriya on the UNP ticket of course. Having entered parliament someone else or some others induced her once again to change sides and she crosed over to the UPFA. What this crossing over meant is that she dropped General Fonseka like a hot potatoe and the UNP as well.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ To call Paba a political fledgling is no doubt a tender overstatement. Her interview with ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”DeranaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ was a disaster. It was so hilarious that it was re-broadcast and, as was expected, produced vehement protests from the victim. Paba, in politics is like someone with no swimming skills being thrust into deep murky waters. In fact her only qualification for being in parliament is her popularity for other reasons than political. This however is not only her situation. There is a very high percentage of parliamentarians who qualify to be on the same list as Paba. If I may cite just one other name, then Sanath Jayasuriya would be it. What they and the multitude like them, as well as those you use them do not want to know is: weda barinam wedak ne (if you are incapable you are useless).

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The event that focuses newspaper attention on Paba has to do with a battering she received allegedly from her husband one Mahesh Chaminda. This is not the first time that conflicts between Paba and her husband have surfaced in public view. The incident under scrutiny is of major proportions. It has called for police investigation with a high level team brought into action, as well as other organizations such as the Child Protection and WomensƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ Bureau. Why the intervention of this institution I wondered? Was it because Paba was nothing more than a grown up ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”childƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢? The reason I understand is that the assault was over a family matter, a private one, and the aggressor, her own husband.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ As for the assault, the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”LankabimaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ explains that she was warded by her security personnel who ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”feared for her lifeƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢, such being the savagery of the physical battering she received. The assault we are further told was of an ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”inhumanƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ nature. The injuries were to her eye and ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”several parts of her bodyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢. She had been assaulted while in the car, when outside the car, while she was lying on the ground, while being dragged inside her home, and even after she had sought refuge in a room behind a locked and barred door which had been broken open. One can easily surmise the duration of such a brutal aggression. It was certainly not a matter of a few seconds or even minutes.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Now what is most disconcerting about the entire incident is that the damning episode took place IN THE PRESENCE OF HER SECURITY PERSONNEL called the MSD. This is the comedy aspect of the tragedy. The MSD make themselves into a laughing stock by reasoning out their inaction as being because it was a family matter! HA HA. That a helpless young woman was being inhumanly attacked by a drunken brute left them totally indifferent. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It was a private family matter was it not? I hope that the criminal investigation will take cognizance of the fact that ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”they also serve who stand and waitƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢. One ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”SapumalƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ commenting on the Lakbima article states: PabaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s husband is a well known robber and (has) a close relationship with ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”RaththaranƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢. It will not be surprising at all should this be true and the MSD in the know of it. As Horace Walpole wrote that this country ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”serendipityƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ is one of unexpected suprises. At the moment Paba is being examined by neuro surgeons and forensic medical officials.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ As for laughable matters, that is not all. Lakbima mentions that Paba is receiving visits by fellow artistes and fellow politicians with no doubt the following advise: do not worry, it was a private and family matter and the assailant was after all your own husband. To make it even more laughable is PabaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s own statement that her husband is nevertheless a darling when he is not drunk or brutally aggressive!!! What a long suffering little lamb this Paba.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ A top team of police officers is handling the matter. This Mahesh Chaminda is a well known guy. He is politically very influential and as can easily be guessed, a businessman. What better under such circumstances which is going hand in glove with politicians (all ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”raththaranƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢). That the top team headed by DIGs and police personnel of similar ranks cannot find him, this wantedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  criminal, is a joke. Also they appear content waiting for Mahesh Chaminda to give himself up. ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Oh he will turn up somedayƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ is what they are thinking and saying. The police has also found the solution to this very private and family issue, that is, to send the couple for counseling! What a wonderful and thoughtful police force, and what brain power…their boss is a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”doctorƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ is he not? Coupled with this news was that of another ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”doctorƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ (Doom) of Kelaniya stating at a public rally that he will be firing his pistol soon. We all hope that the reference is to his water pistol.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ What else can one conclude but that we are living in a country where judgment has gone to brutish beasts and men have lost their reason.