The decision by the Democratic Socialist Republic
of Sri Lanka to abstain from the General Assembly vote
calling for an end to violence in Syria, and stepping down
of its president, cannot be accused of inconsistency,
given the island republic’s wish to continue importing
Iranian oil, serve tea at official Syrian garden parties,
and its pummel- the- minority most successful
bombing strategy, that just three years ago seemed
to be the talk of Colombo town. Unfortunately,
the government faces a resolution of its own,
upcoming in Geneva, and perhaps the abstaining route
indicates a not unsubtle wish that it may go
unperceived in the noise of those who said yes
or no. Some of us noticed, however, the way Lankan
diplomats exercised the popular will and we present
evidence here in the court of poetry.