`Getting mislead’ | Sunday Observer

`Getting mislead’

15 December, 2019
Krishantha and I chatted till the train reached Panadura Station.
Krishantha and I chatted till the train reached Panadura Station.

The positive change in society was witnessed by the entire country with the announcement of the 2019 Presidential Election results. It was proved on November 17th that our people are not what they were in 2015. Fortunately, hereafter any NGO, politician or other individual funded by an NGO will not be able to `brainwash’ Sri Lankans, especially the youth.

Krishantha is a 27-year-old graduate attached to a leading state institution. He was seated next to me in the train recently.We had an hour to chat until the train reached Panadura from Maradana. Since there is no bomb threat, being vigilant on parcels that do not have owners was not necessary and I had the required mental peace to chat with him. He is my cousin’s best friend.

“How are you ? Where is the motor bike given to you by the Government before 2015 ? What happened to it ?” “Akka, I still have it. It’s at home. It’s worth over Rs. 250,000 but I paid only Rs. 50,000 for it. It’s only now that I realise the value of what I received and the truth behind everything. Today I’m travelling by train because my father wanted to use it. That motor bike is very useful and I always thank the Government led by current Prime Minister and then President Mahinda Rajapaksa for giving it to me.You know Akka,I did something very stupid and ungrateful in 2015. I voted for the swan symbol in 2015. You know why Akka, all my friends voted for the swan after being mislead by the fabricated `news’ created and communicated to society.”

I was listening to his story.......responding from time to time. “What mislead you ? What made you vote for the swan?” “Akka…all my friends were using internet all the time. Since many of them work in the private sector, they always use internet for official work and also to keep in touch with each other. They get`news’ or`gossip’ within seconds. I did not have access to internet that much. So I got all the `information’ from them.

“Akka....you may not believe what they told me from time to time.....once they said that corruption was so high in the country and some political leaders got billions of money in their foreign bank accounts! After some time they were talking about the disappearance of people and murders. I was shocked and very excited.

I wanted to get more and more`information’ from them. You know what I did ? The `news’ provided by my friends was not enough for me. Now I know all the `news’ I received was fabricated. I bought a tab believing that I will receive free WiFi.

“Akka....it took five long years for us to understand the fabricated `news’ and `gossip’ little by little. Actually we could not find even a single person who disappeared, not even a single person who had gone or at least seen a white van. In 2015 we were in an artificial world created by a well organised set of politicians and NGOs who earned and spent money. But we learned a lesson Akka....We saw with our own eyes how billions of rupees disappeared in broad daylight from the Central Bank.....bomb blasts…..and everything that was missing for years.When my parents, uncles and aunts told me about huge bomb blasts that took place at the Central Bank, Pettah bus stand and Katubedda, I did not believe their severity. They were only `horror stories’ for me. But Akka….after Easter Sunday the series of suicide bomb attacks..I understood what fear for life is.” “Hmmm......yes of course you are telling the truth,” I said.

“Akka the funniest part is this. You know we, the public sector workers got huge salary increases during the past five years. But Akka...you may not believe me. My salary is over after paying my mobile, data, land phone, light and water bills and buying my monthly train season ticket. My father gives me money to buy my shirts and trousers. My mother gives me pocket money. Akka we do not have luxuries at home. My parents’ pensions were not enough to buy medication. They had to go to private pharmacies monthly to buy drugs which were very expensive and not available at the state hospital where they attend clinics.

“On November 16th I rectified my error Akka. I hope it is not too late.”

I heard the loudspeakers of Panadura Station……”See you later Malli.” I got down from the train in a happy mood. “No, it is’nt too late,” I told myself.

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