"Those days everybody called me mad" -- Devani Jayathilaka

"Those days everybody called me mad" -- Devani Jayathilaka

The country spoke about Mrs. Devani Jayathilaka, an officer of Gampaha district forest office. When she happened to be present at the launching of a film a few days back ... this is how she responded to some questions posed to her: 

* You became popular in the country because of brave speech. 

  I don't wish to make any comments regarding that incident ... because as a government officer I can't
do so. But I must say that this is not the first instance where I spoke. At the same time I am not the only government officer who spoke like this. It's because most persons in our department have fought at various places ... have become inconvenienced in the presence of a lot of people. 

Most people in our department have been subjected to accidents and have paid the price in giving their lives ... by going to save the environment. Those things don't come out. This then is one incident ... which came before the media and became popular. So, I believe that everybody who preserves the environment deserves this popularity. 

* What is the message you wish to give to the country?

  I like to give a message not as an officer ... as a common woman, as a citizen. I ask only one thing from everyone. Go against wrong. What I ask from everyone who praise me is to speak against it even if a small mistake happens in this country. Even if one goes in a bus, only one person speaks out. What happens is that everybody would look at that person and only laugh ... not speak. A person who speaks out is called 'mad'. Those days most people told me too 'mad'. I don't wish to say anything more. Video of her talk, from here