The usual suspects crop up in post-disaster Sri Lanka

IT didn’t take long for them to show through the velvet glove.

- By Wijith DeChickera

Arrogance amongst the amateurs, appeals to elites to save the state, acting out of customary character in times of repeated crises.

There is little surprise perhaps but certainly a lot of regret and even disappointment. Citizens beyond their electorate were beginning to expect more or better from a regime set on system change.

Shall we leave it to these five trends to illustrate the current state of the nation? Or have you set your mind against the signs?

Arrogance insulted

First there was that breathless hush in the soggy outfield while a nation waited with bated breath for the announcement of a state of emergency to be declared.

Then there was the cough to honesty and beating about the bush to reassure self and supporters that its legal provisions would not be exploited as in the past.

And now the stunning disclosure that those who insult the head of state are to be found at fault with?

Is ego so thin-skinned? Or goodwill and common sense thickened?

Amateurish invitations

There is a right and proper place for softer even feminine approaches to governance.

But appealing to the solidarity of the people to step in where the state has failed is tantamount to hard-boiled amateurishness being tone-deaf.

And far too many times before have professional cynics exploited the generosity and indulgence of the people they were meant to serve for the sinned against to let it pass now on the grounds of ignorance.