My lawless mother land

by Basil Fernando
[June 11, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka Guardian]

My lawless mother land
What am I to say to you

Today, I saw the photograph
Of this young woman
Whose hand and a finger is severed by a thief
A woman from Vavunia


I also heard that the thief
Shot her husband when he tried
To protect her
And then the theif fled

Just yesterday I read about Doti
A mother aged fifty
Telling about the abduction of rape
Of her seventeen year old daughter

And that was at Kalutara
Where the police protected
The rapist, who at the high court
Not far from the police station

My lawless mother land
What am I to say to you