Just desserts and deflated egos
Last week we read the shocking news of twelve
MPS stuck inside the parliamentary elevator for about 15 minutes till they were rescued by technicians, who rushed to the scene.
Among those trapped were the likes of Dinesh Gunawardene, Bandula Gunawardena, Wimal Weerawansa, Dayasiri Jayasekera, Chandima Weerakkodi, C.B. Ratnayake, Dullas Allahapperuma, Chandrasiri Gajadeera, Gamini Lokuge, Mahinda Yapaabeywardena, Ranjith Soysa and Ranjithaluwihare.
Not too long ago most of them, together with their other joint opposition colleagues, were seen going wild and behaving disgracefully in Parliament, breaking chairs, throwing books and water mixed with chili powder at the MPS on the other side of the House and the police personnel bravely protecting the Speaker while some of these unruly JO MPS were sitting on his chair and pouring water on it. Some were even seen damaging or destroying parliamentary property. From what they said in Parliament, they appear to have got the shock of their lives and being stuck in mid-air had turned these people’s representatives into cardboard Sandows.
Most of the comments on social media provided interesting reading, none of the commentators spoke of having any regrets or showed any concern over the incident, but the general feeling was that this crop of MPS had for once received their just desserts and that the duration of their detention should have been longer.the mindless machine had taught them that in the final count they are powerless and nobodies. they are here today and gone tomorrow. after all what have they done for the people of this country other than spewing out drivel in parliament and wasting the taxpayers’ money to provide themselves with luxury lifestyles, pensions for life after five years and several other perks and privileges while the ordinary people are struggling to make ends meet. Why did the Speaker even have to apologise on behalf of the maintenance staff? What can you expect, when 12 burly MPS, who otherwise, have the time of their lives in parliament – with good food and‘pure and pasteurised milk’, all for a pittance – so thoughtlessly and foolishly, crowd into an elevator to attend another unproductive parliamentary session when the poor elevator which would have taken these MPS up and down for years must have rightfully decided to protest, sending those caught, within the locked doors, into a frightened frenzy.
According to some media reports, wimal Weerawansa had even called for a discussion in Parliament on the elevator breakdown. If allowed, it would only be another useless, time and money-wasting exercise to inflate their deflated egos.the maintenance staff know about the breakdown let them handle it without Weerawansa having to teach them their job.
RUSSELL CASIE CHITTY
NUGEGODA