Memo to Scott Morrison: Sri Lanka for Dummies | by Tess Lawrence Courtesy:Independent Australia ( July 12, 2014, Canberra, Sri Lanka Guardian) Friendly advice to Scott Morrison, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection on his trip to Sri Lanka from contributing editor-at-large, Tess Lawrence. BEAM ME UP SCOTTY, Ive prepared a diplomatic aide-memoire on Sri Lanka for you to read on the plane today. Sort of Sri Lanka for Dummies. Here we go. First up, dont forget that Sri Lankas correct moniker is the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. Got that? The name covers all contingencies. Except one. It is run by an uncrowned monarchy. Secondly, on no account get into any white vans. Especially if there is one waiting for you on the tarmac. Its a bit of a fad by the government – called white vanning. Sort of like planking or water boarding. Next, everyone in Sri Lanka has the same surname – Rajapaksa. Including all the elephants in and out of the room and all the leopards and the rest of the fauna and flora. Remember that. It will come in very handy. That includes the President and Cabinet Members, MPs and big businesses. Think the Obeid clan. Heres a list I prepared for you earlier. POSL President – Mahinda RAJAPAKSA FOSL First Lady — Shiranthi RAJAPAKSA nee WIKREMASINGHE (Miss Sri Lanka, 1973) Speaker of the Parliament – Chamal RAJAPAKSA Minister for Defence and Urban Development – Mahinda RAJAPAKSA Secretary for Defence – Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA Secretary for Urban Development – Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA Minister for Finance and Planning – Mahinda RAJAPAKSA Private Secretary to the Minister for Finance and Planning – Shameendra RAJAPAKSA Minister for Ports and Highways – Mahinda RAJAPAKSA Minister for Law and Order – Mahinda RAJAPAKSA Deputy Minister for Water Supply and Drainage – Nirupama RAJAPAKSA Minister for Economic Development – Basil RAJAPAKSA Member of Parliament for Hambantota District – Namal RAJAPAKSA Member of Parliament for Gampaha District – Basil RAJAPAKSA Chief Minister of Uva Provincial Council – Shashindra RAJAKPAKSA National Organiser of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party – Basil RAJAPAKSA Chairman of Lanka Hospitals – Gotabaya RAJAKPAKSA Carlton Sports Network TV Channel – owned by brothers Namal and Yoshitha RAJAPAKSA Board of Sri Lankan Telecom PLC – Shameendra RAJAKPAKSA Director of SLT Publications Pty Ltd and SLT Hong Kong Ltd – Shameendra RAJAKPAKSA Director of Sri Lankan Airlines Ltd – Shameendra RAJAKPAKSA Okay, thats enough, you get the picture. Its getting late and Im tired of typing the same name all the time. And I havent included the appointments of wives, girlfriends, mistresses, boyfriends, lovers, nieces, nephews, aunties, uncles, cousins, in-laws, outlaws, et al to Government and the Rajapaksas dynastic business interests. Anyhow, even if Ministers do have another surname and even if Sri Lanka big business CEOs are not called Rajapaksa, behind the scene, there is likely to be a family member pulling the strings. One more tip, make sure you dont let anyone else pack your suitcase on the way back. Im not talking about any gifts from the President, but those sneaky refugees will do anything to get to Australia and you need to be on the lookout in case they hide one or two of their kids in your suitcase. And Im not even going to brief you on Sri Lankas complicated caste system. All you need to know, for the purposes of your visit, is that the Rajapaksas are right up there. Let me know if they like your pressies. Those old customs and border protection patrol vessels will come up a treat with a lick of paint. After all, theyre of no use to us. Weve excised the whole of Oz from the migration zone. What a class Act. Wouldnt it be a scream if those refugees used the boats to flee to Australia? Thank goodness theyre not sea worthy. The boats I mean. Bon Voyage Scotty. Take some time out for yourself. Get away from High Court challenges and The Great Unwashed. Youll find the Rajapaksas are your sort of people. Missing you already.
Posted on: Tue, 29 Jul 2014 15:14:20 +0000
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