Mourning in a crisis!

Mourn not Merry?  

Ex Prime Minister (PM) Rathnasiri Wickramanayake passed away on 27^th December 2016.

The Home Affairs Ministry of Sri Lanka declared 31^st December as a national day of mourning as a mark of respect to the late PM. Few hours later they cancelled 31^st & declared 30^th. Later they scrapped the idea of mourning.

Any average home will experience chaos & conflict at a family funeral. May be Home Ministry was also chaotic just like an average home when the Ex PM died?

May be they didn’t want to kill the mood of those who mourn with a hot drink? As we know at some family funerals alcohol & tobacco is served to those who mourn at rear gardens, car parks or at a neighbour’s house etc.

Home ministry managed the funeral of Ven Maduluvave Sobitha. No one is sure why the remains of late monk was dressed with exposed arms in an unprecedented way of dressing remains of a Buddhist monk. May be the ministry was not sure how to dress the remains of Ex PM? 

May be they weren’t sure how many days should be declared as they declared seven days of mourning when Pandith Amaradeva died? May be they didn’t like the Ex PM’s voice?

Ex PM’s party (SLFP) leaders may be thinking that not mourning will resolve interparty conflicts despite the fact that he served twice as PM under SLFP Presidents Kumaratunga & Rajapaksa. Kumaratunga who severely criticize Rajapaksa nepotism picked Rathnasiri first as PM to fill the post after her mother resigned from the post. May be some didn’t want to do a ‘mathata thitha’ even for a day since it was the ex man’s line.

The average citizen should develop skills to; face family crisis with confidence, manage finances, manage relationships & protect property etc. during a crisis. If the citizens develop these skills, may be the Home Ministry will learn from the people.

© Dr. Samitha Hettige, December 2016.