Drama worth watching!

The parliamentary poll of 2010 will no doubt be remembered as the election that made local cinema redundant in Sri Lanka. How the hell can you expect an industry to thrive when anybody who is an actor or actress ends up contesting for parliament?
Jackson Anthony, Geetha Kumarasinghe and Malani Fonseka are tipped to receive nomination form the ruling UPFA alliance. Newspaper reports said it is also speculated that film director Somaratne Dissanayake would get in through the UPFA national list.

Surprise move

Buddhadasa Vithanaarachchi is expected to contest from Jathika Nidahas Peramuna, Wimal Weerawansa’s political party while Ranjan Ramanayake will contest from the UNP. In a surprise move, Upeksha Swarnamalie has also been invited to stand for election by both main political parties although she has reportedly not made up her mind.
Swarnamalie is best remembered as the actress who got removed from the popular tele-drama Paba on ITN for supporting an opposition candidate at the recent presidential election. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Sri Lanka even sacks soap stars who are not on the right side of the political divide. That is how mature and not paranoid we are.
With Anarkalli Aakarssha already serving in the Southern provincial council as a member of the UPFA, it is patently clear that Sri Lanka is forging a unique tradition of fielding (as many) artistes (as possible) at elections.
Perhaps the international media can write some wicked pieces on this and promptly be accused of a worldwide conspiracy to discredit the proud and noble Sri Lankan nation that offers nomination to its artistes because they have sustained our proud 2,500 year history in the face of many, many attempts to corrupt and... well, you know.
Anyway, artistes are a sure bet at elections. Based on the votes some of them have garnered at past elections (take Ranjan and Anarkalli) the Sri Lankan electorate ostensibly thrives on fast tracking actors and actresses into positions of power. And political parties are delighted to give them nomination because they attract crowds, inject glamour into any campaign and are reasonably well dressed.
Besides, an artiste like Geetha Kumarasinghe knows her ducks, geese and swans. That is crucial. You must know your birds if you want to get into parliament.

Film and drama

If this lot wins, I’m giving up my regular rounds of parliament coverage.
I haven’t had much time for TV lately but if I present myself at the press gallery in parliament, I can catch up on several decades’ worth of film and drama. Not only will I get my fill of illicit romances, I can also enjoy a full range of crude jokes; vulgar language and pitched insults; lying, cheating and espionage; violence and roughhousing; tomfoolery; and theatrics. We haven’t yet seen drunken brawls but no doubt it would one day come to that.
This is not to insult the hallowed positions most of the above artistes rightfully hold in Sri Lanka or the great esteem with which they are viewed. No. In fact, it would not be the actors and actresses (should they win) that provide such entertainment. Parliamentarians in recent times have proved competent at all of the above. Take Mervyn Silva, for instance.
But with film industry celebrities thrown into the equation, the picture would become complete. Parliament would offer you the full package for free. No electricity bills to pay or movie tickets to buy. With the economy being what it is, you need to cut corners where you can.
Speaking (somewhere in the text above) of drunken brawls, we sincerely hope the Jathika Hela Urumaya would have better luck with its so-called, purported, supposed ‘mathata thitha’ programme which rather flopped during the last presidential campaign. Or would we have to wait till after the parliamentary election to pretend to put that derelict plan into action again? I cannot think of a poll in Sri Lanka that has been won without copious barrels of alcohol being consumed. (And, no, I don’t mean just ‘a social drink’).
Certainly, the JHU will have to decide whether to make the ‘mathata thitha’ a proud component of their election campaign... or whether they should shelve it in favour of a more realistic endeavour called ‘boru show ekata thitha’. I have a hunch the latter might work. Yes, it just might work.