[April 19, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka Guardian]
She was queen of all birds,
all elephants,
all plants and flowers,
and all seeds
She did not tame elephants
to fight wars or to be slaves.
She did not cage birds
Or enslave her brothers and sisters.
Seeds were birthed and then gave birth,
Birds sang and then there were more birds,
Elephants ganged and created more such giants,
Kuwani , their queen was queen of love.
Sun shined and rain rained,
winds blew and, at times, rivers flooded.
With love and care she managed it all,
She was the mother, the friend, the queen, the woman.
(Enter---Vijaya, Don Lorenzo de Almeida and Other Looters)
To Kuweni’s land came the looters
They did not come to settle and share
But to battle and take
Whatever that was there
Spirit of love and care
Was no more there
The queen was crushed
Her people ambushed
Murder introduced
Cheaters triumphed
Looters were crowned
Kings were clowns
Kuweni’s blood still survives
Her sprit still lives
Like the trees, bushes and birds
Even in adverse whether survives
Her song can still be heard
Like the rainbow she reappears.
Editor’s note: Kuweni is the mythical queen of Sri Lanka’s original people. Vijaya is the mythical first invader of Sri Lanka . Don Lorenzo de Almeida, Portuguese arrived in Sri Lanka 1505, and is known to be brutal invader. With him began the a Portuguese conquest of part of Maritime Provinces in Sri Lanka which lasted for 150 years. Portuguese were followed by the Dutch and the British who co conquered the whole Island . Sri Lanka regained independence in 1948, however local rulers have failed guarantee freedom to the local people.
( W.J. Basil Fernando is a Sri Lankan born jurist, author, poet, human rights activist, editor. He can be reached at basil.fernando@ahrc.asia)
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