Even before the US citizens went to the polls last Tuesday, there was a full page newspaper ad by a Sri Lankan business house congratulating Senator Barack Obama on his success. That was one measure of the interest the US election had generated in Sri Lanka over the past several months. It did not matter to this advertiser that Barack Obama had campaigned for change from the failed policies of the Republican President George W Bush, who was also similarly congratulated by the same businessman on his election in 2004.

If there was joy in most quarters here at the overwhelming victory of the first non-white, African-American candidate to be elected President of the USA, there was also cause for some concern among some women in Colombo’s coffee party and cocktail circuit who strongly believed that an Obama victory would sadly require to an appropriate name change of the White House, to match the skin colour of the new incumbent.

These were not the only people to feel let down by the defeat of John McCain - Sarah Palin ticket. The vast numbers of plumbers and drainage and waterworks contractors here are hanging their heads very low due to the defeat of Joe the Plumber, who was the economics pundit of John McCain. The great expectations that our own plumbers had of being the economic advisors to South Asian governments and political parties that follow the US Wall Street model of development, were dashed by the Obama victory. In fact there are many already convinced the UNP’s Alternate Budget presented earlier this week had considerable inputs from such political plumbers meddling in economics.

The fall of Sarah Palin has also caused much concern to those who have been parading a former beauty queen, albeit of a much older vintage, as a political star of the Green Jumbo Brigade. Many now feel the Rosy Touch from which they hope to revive the flagging hopes of the jumbos will not even do half of what Sarah Palin did to John McCain’s campaign. There are many who see that woman carter in the  green protest on the price hike of fuel who shouted "Apey Gona, Apita Hondai" having much in common with how Sarah Palin went on cheering   John McCain, making him lose much support.

Those engaged in the fashion and cosmetics business in Sri Lanka were initially puzzled when putting lipstick on a pig became part of the political

debate. There was some excitement about the possible success of the lipstick business in areas from Wattala to Negombo and beyond where pigs are in abundance. Others were looking at how this would help the pork sausage industry, with some ad agencies being consulted on the possibility of promoting sausages with the offer of free lipstick.

With Black is now being the in-thing about the USA, or so many believe, I am told that some enterprising furniture dealers are here already making plans to offer ebony furniture from Sri Lanka,  from antiques to some modern horrors  to furnish the White House. Curio dealer are also looking with hope at making Sri Lankan ebony elephants a niche product in the States, and trying their best to get some displayed in prominent positions in the White House.  The biggest problem they face is the lack of sufficient ebony trees in the country, thanks to the success of felling ebony trees for private hoarding by those once in charge of the conservation of forests.

Back in the cosmetics industry, I am told that Unilever is summoning an urgent conference of its Asian executives to discuss the threats faced by its much promoted product "Far & Lovely", after Michelle Obama becomes the First Lady of the US with Barack’s inauguration as President in January 2009. Initial surveys have indicated the rapid spread of the Michelle Effect, which will be the acceptance of Black as both fashionable and beautiful, by Asian women.  Experts in the fashion industry say this would lead to "Fair and Lovely" being considered a means of being Fair and Ugly; and, to keep abreast with the Obama trend, quick research is being done on new product named "Black and Lovely" to get on to the supermarket shelves in time for the Obama inauguration, with the promise of giving the user a darker or "kaluvan" shade of skin, a la Michelle.

This is the chance for "Kalu Ethanas" to beat the "Ran Ethanas" at Avurudu Kumari shows, and when the next total solar eclipse takes place over Sri Lanka, there will be no rush by Kalu Emaliys and Komalis to take portions of Vada Kaha Sudiya to change their complexions from black to white or fair.

The Hotel Industry is also trying its best to beat the credit crunch and profit from the Obama victory. One idea that has already been accepted is to get Sri Lanka’s reputed Chef, Pubilis of the Mount Lavinia Hotel, to make a special preparation of a "Kalu Pol Maaluwa"  to be served at the Inauguration Dinner of the Obamas, and at all the parties in Washington on that night.  The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau has sent out a special request to all hoteliers to get their chefs to turn out dishes of "Kaluvan Kalu Rasa" or "The Rare Taste of Black" to give Sri Lankan cuisine a special place in the mind of would be American travelers to this part of the world.

Despite the haemorrhage of funds from the US Treasury to prop up the recalcitrant bankers who have caused the financial meltdown in banking in the US and Europe, bothering China and India too; there is a group of Sri Lankan accountants busy drawing up plans for President Barack Obama on keeping his accounts in the black, despite all the spending he will have to carry out his many promises on education, health, lower taxes and alternate fuels.

The election of the first African-American to the White House has also bolstered those in the black money business who believe they will soon have a field day for all their money laundering and other rackets that give them undeclared wealth. There is also a similar mood among black marketers in  Sri Lanka who believe they will be in for even better days, because they can always point out to critics that if black is good for the US Presidency, it must also be the best for the local market.  

There is a great deal of discussion today about the success of the Black Americans in getting one of them elected to the White House, barely forty years since they got he right to vote and even ride together in a bus with a white. Those who were discussing this at the Jathika Samagi Kendra were full of admiration for American democracy in making this possible. Which made me ask them how long more it will take for Sri Lankans to elect a Tamil Prime Minister or President? The first reaction was a shocked silence, after which someone told me not to utter political heresy. Soon after the real response came with everyone joining in a full-throated singing of "Mey Sinhala Apage Ratai" (This is the land of us, the Sinhalese).

Those who have the most to benefit from the coming entry of the Obamas to the White House are the members of the once very popular group of Sinhala singers – The Fortunes. It seems that have made their fortune with the news that their one time hit "Kalu Kelley oba harima hedai" (Black girl o’mine, you are so shapely) already being short-listed to be sung at the Barack Obama inauguration party.  There are some whispers that Barack likes both the words and the melody and will soon be serenading Michelle singing:

There are also many who are thrilled over the prospect that if Barack and Michelle Obama are blessed with another child, a familiar sound in the White House will be the beautiful local lullaby: "Vaneeyang Kaluu, vaneeyang; Nidaa ganna vaneeyan" - Swing my little darkie, swing; swing away to sweet slumber,swing - and the many other lovely variations of it.