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Saturday 12 August 2017

Even the Menik Ganga peed*

Two hundred breasts
when by two divided, one hundred women
the feast was splendid indeed
even the Menik Ganga** fell incontinent upon its shores

Having removed a hundred jewelled girdles, brasiers, pearl necklaces and earrings 
The mango was cut, slice by slice, even as the Goddess Pattini residence held
Even Manamperi*** peeked out hearing the whistles and joyous cheers
Submerged was the Vedahiti Kanda with the yolk of peacock eggs

Two hundred smoldering eyes
when by two divided, one hundred women
the feast was splendid indeed
even the Menik Ganga** fell incontinent upon its shores




[translation of "මැණික් ගඟටත් ඉවුරේ චූ යයි" from the collection "මීළඟ මීවිත" (The next wine) by Ruwan Bandujeewa]


*A politician threw a party to celebrate sexually abusing a hundred women — news item
** Literally, ‘River of Jewels’ which, for many Sri Lankans is the holiest river in the island, and which falls into the sea in the Southern Province, the ‘territory’ of the said politician

***Reference to Premawathi Manamperi, beauty queen of Kataragama, abducted, raped and killed by those tasked to put down an insurrection

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