There are no monkfish around the ocean in SriLanka

There are no monk fish in the ocean around SriLanka. Chandima Uncle told me. A far relative , mail processor , sea lover and fish fact finder often took me on sea rides when I visited Tangalle during vacation.He took me for sea baths every morning and just before sun dripped down. With him , every sea ride was different from another. Different stories . Different games.Different swimming lessons. He was a childhood playmate and even beyond. Fed , read stories  and took care in every possible ways . When he lazed in mattress , nudge him to lie flat on his stomach so that I can walk up and down his spine. Like a tight rope walker. They are the earliest memories of him.

Indian Foreign Minister hugs SriLankan Counterpart Lakshman Kadiragamar

A few weeks old , a conversation on politics and peace reminded me of Lakshman Kadiragamar. Often discussed . And honored. No need of new intros for him. One raised his voice and said , 'we lost one of the most needed men. this country is unfortunate'. Fortunate or not is a question. We are fortunate. In least. We fought terrorism. There are roads in both cheer and hope . But there is a country within us , an elusive and divided place what we call home. Still. The monk fish comment was remembered , in a universe I knew where arrogance and humility intersected. 

Monk fish only live deep down the Atlantic Ocean. All the way from St.Lawrence gulf to North Carolina. They are opportunistic feeders. They eat pretty much anything that comes their way, including soda cans and trash.

A Tamil , Foreign Minister and Senior Adviser to the President on International Affairs , Kadirgamar wanted to tell the world that SriLanka is more than tea , tourism and terrorism. Being a Tamil he didn't manipulate his own ends to the best of Tamil community. Nor he did become rich with Eelam war or Tamil Tigers. Instead he attempted to reform the existing structure pluralistic. having made him an important minister in PA/ UPFA cabinet he showed he was beyond small mindedness. He represented every SriLankan.His carefully cultivated character illustrated Buddhist leanings too.Especially when he requested UN to consider Vesak as an international holiday.Surely it was a brief Kadirgamar undertook for a country. He strove hard to preserve unity,sovereignty and territorial intergrity. And helped to ban terrorism in US and elsewhere.

It's even interesting to see that his life achievements didn't come from northeast.But mostly overseas and in other parts of SriLanka. He was far from his own community. And still loved the Tamils.I was told sometime back that he was laid according to Buddhist rites.As for now, we never  know of his family that was raised with Christian roots. Else whether he wanted to be buried according to Buddhist rites or not.

Whatever he was it all shows that Kadiargamar wasn't uncomfortable with the Sinhalese or Tamils. All he hoped was that the Tamils will come into accommodation with Sinhalese.

There is just one tear. A brush of my hand will wipe it off.People leave.Good people leave early.Have we learned a lesson? Is there anything to learn? Should we learn? I don't know. Maybe we know what is ought to be done. It's just that we are caught in our egos.And do not want to give a damn.

This morning there was no need for peace talk or whatever. But a Facebook post reminded of Kadiragamar again.

It's been six years since  all barbary and bulletins were destroyed. Yet we have fractioned ourselves. We have bayyas , toiyyas, UNPers, SLFPers, thambis, Sinhalese, eelamese, southerners, udarata, pahatharata, colombians, kuddos , yahapalana fellows , those who hide files , take out files and all kinds.

Now where the hell SriLankans are?

We have thrown the pearl away.

( Courtesy - 'The Nation' newspaper , 14th March 2015 , titled ' Kadiragamar was no monkfish')