Rome with bread and circus-shows,
Distracted citizens from their woes.
Our rulers employ the ploys of Rome,
To beguile the hoi-polloi at home
With cricket, rugger, racing-cars,
Lavish pageants and Bollywood stars.
Highways, freeways, their priority need,
To travel fast at breakneck speed,
Harbours, airports, stadiums, what not,
At god-forsaken Hambantot.
Slums and shanties demolished,
Colombo beautified, neat and polished.
Five-star hotels, apartments- high-rise,
Posh boutique-chalets at a price.
Lanka, touted ‘Island Paradise’,
‘Millions’ of tourists will entice.
The helpless taxpayer pays the price,
With tightened belt and self-sacrifice.
Lanka’s leaders go on blundering,
The nation’s wealth keep plundering,
Crime and hunger are widespread.
We have the circuses, not the bread !
– Rev. Fr. Derrick Mendis