Features

How did the ‘Pearl of the Orient’ miss the bus?

Published

5 years ago

2021/02/28

by Air Vice Marshal [retired] A B Sosa VSV, psc

It is said in several fora that when we were given Independence on a platter by the British in 1948, our economy was only second to that of Japan in Asia. In this context it is relevant that Japan which was ravaged in the Second World War in 1945 had recovered to the extent of being a top ranked economy within three years. The “Jewel in the British Crown”, India which had of course been sapped dry by their colonial masters and other Asian countries were at this stage economically struggling with a sizable proportion of their citizens in abject poverty and virtually starving as they could only have one meal a day. Of course, quite a number starved to death.

Our ancestors and their progeny did not face this tragedy. On being granted Independence with not one bullet fired in anger the tragic slide of our economy commenced. Within a couple of years most of the other Asian countries which were referred to as “Tigers” [not to be confused with the LTTE] made rapid progress. I was the only Executive Director of a multi national Korean company for a period of 12 years after my retirement from the SLAF. At informal get-togethers with my Korean colleagues they asked me “what went wrong”? My considered reply was that “we ate what we had and frittered what we earned”.

They joked with me that on our being gifted our Independence, we opted for “democracy” whilst they who had got over the ravages of war had opted for “development”. We had got our wires crossed and were belatedly trying to emulate them whilst they were on the path of democracy only after they had reached an acceptable level of development. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Any Sri Lankan visiting an “Asian Tiger” land will only stand and stare in awe and weep for our motherland.

In retrospect I have pondered on the tragedy that has befallen us in the period from 1948 to date. My personal conclusion is that we, with our sense of democracy, elected self seekers from the time of our much bandied universal suffrage. My thoughts on this subject are briefly as follows. The rightful person who should have been at the helm in leading the then Ceylon was the incomparable philanthropist Sir Don Baron Jayatilleke. He gifted his prized possession “Thurban House” on Bauddhaloka Mawatha to be utilized to house the Department of the Public Trustee. To date, this magnificient edifice houses this department. He also gifted his coconut estate viz “Pitakanda Estate” located at Maduragoda in the Kurunegala District. All proceeds from the estate were to be utilized for the maintenance of the “Thurban House” and any unutilized funds were willed to be distributed for educational, charitable and social work as decided by the Public Trustee.

This Oxford University educated gentleman was not a typical “Lord of the Manor”. In 1924 he stood for election to the Legislative Council. He was so hugely popular to the extent that no one dared to contest him. Thus, having been elected uncontested his deputy was Mr. D S Senanayake. The latter realized that the colonial rulers will quit Ceylon in the foreseeable future and the first Prime Minister will be Sir D B Jayatilleke. He hence, activated an internal conspiracy to oust Sir DBJ and maneuvered for him to be posted to India as our High Commissioner there. This honorable gentleman agreed without realizing that he was committing “political hara kiri”. It was several years later that he realized that his throat was slit by some of his political colleagues. He died in India a heart broken person.

When Mr. D S Senanayake became Prime Minister his deputy was the suave Oxford Educated luminary Mr. S W R D Bandaranaike. DS who was a master of nepotism made political life difficult for his deputy as he desired to make his son Dudley his successor. The illusion has been created that D S Senanayake was the “Father of the Nation”. When he fell off a horse and died it was open sesame for Dudley to step into the prime minister’s office. Bandaranaike by then had struck out on his own and the rest is history.

Whilst the father and son duo were at the helm there were rumblings that the populace was experiencing difficulties in making ends meet. Hence, they decided to give massive subsidies in food and other essentials. This largess could not be sustained for long. As a result, a couple of years later the disgruntled masses came out in an uprising which is referred to as a “hartal”. Dudley could not stomach this situation and handed over the reins to his colleague, Sir John Kotelawala, “a man of the world”.

This Prime Minister was trounced at the subsequent polls by Mr. Bandaranaike who had marshalled the support of the “Pancha Maha Bala Vegaya” – the sangha, teachers, ayurvedic physicians, farmers and the working class. Of course, he too had promised more than what was possible inclusive of Sinhala being made the official language within 24 hours. The rest is history.

Among the crucial factors that accelerated our downward slide were unscrupulous politicos who got involved in trade union activities. They urged the so-called “buddhimath janatawa” to demand unreasonable increases of wages and to desist from diligent work. They indoctrinated that the “capitalist class” inclusive of the government were exploiting the “sweat and tears” of the proletariat. As a result of this, productivity suffered and thus the cost of production of goods kept increasing which resulted in them not being competitive in the international market. I have personal experience in that the work force of almost 4,000 in my company was being constantly misled by the union leaders that the expatriate owners were exploiting them and making profits off their “blood, sweat and tears” [dadiya, kandulu sura kanawa ]. This phenomenon was common to most industries particularly those owned by foreigners.

To make matters worse, these politicos when in the opposition kept instilling in the masses the concept that the Government in power must succumb to their demands. Hence, the public were demanding concessions and subsidies across the board which the Government, even though it could ill afford to do so, was compelled to concede if it was to retain power at a subsequent national poll. Thus, funds that should have been utilized for the development of the country were frittered away to appease the misguided.

This unfortunate phenomenon was an occurrence irrespective of who was in power. My contention is borne out recently when some tremors were felt in the Digana area people living there were virtually demanding that the Government must step in to sort out the threat of a major earth quake! When such a regrettable national mentality prevails, is it a surprise that due to the initial nepotism of the leaders who selfishly clung to their positions from the time of Independence on a platter until now, maneuvered themselves into office and made all possible efforts to retain it? Can we expect complete accountability similar to that prevailing in South Korea where its former President is now serving a prison sentence for her corrupt practices whilst in office?

The slide down the slope continues with only darkness pervading in the “tunnel with not even a distant light in sight”. In this context I quote the words of Justice Khanna of the Indian Supreme Court “experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government’s purposes are beneficent. The greatest danger lies in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well meaning but lacking in due deference to the rule of Law”. Hence, we can only ponder on the machinations of the selfish persons who monopolized the seats of power for the past 72 years. We can only dream of an “oyster making that mythical pearl” in the years ahead.

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Features

The challenge of keeping value-based politics alive

Published

36 mins ago

2026/05/28

Sahan Weerasooriya

Anti-migrant protests in Durban, South Africa. BBC

The current outbreak of anti-immigrant protests in Durban, South Africa is bound to have taken many a subscriber to value-based politics or political idealism quite by surprise. After all, this is evidence that despite the historic accomplishments of nation-builders of the stature of the late President Nelson Mandela it cannot be taken for granted that identity politics, including racism in its worst forms, is no more in South Africa.

At the time of this writing details are scarce on the substantive root causes of the protests but it could very well be that economic grievances, particularly on the part of the majority community in South Africa, are contributing considerably to the disaffection. Shrinking employment and material prospects are likely to figure majorly among the factors igniting the unrest.

Fortunately, the local authorities in Durban are losing no time in calling for peaceful co-existence among the relevant communities and are pointing to the vital importance of stepping-up national integration processes. Apparently, immigrants in sizable numbers from neighbouring countries are present in Durban. However, international TV footage of the protests quoted some local authorities as saying that the majority of the immigrants in some centres that housed them were not illegal migrants and had the documents that entitle them to be in Durban.

In the Durban protests the world has fresh proof of the socially divisive consequences of the gathering globe-wide economic disaffection, touched off particularly by the continuing crisis in West Asia. Going ahead, the world would need to brace for increasing identity-based unrest of the kind it is just witnessing in South Africa.

Considering that the material lot of ordinary people everywhere could only aggravate progressively, with the US and Iran showing no signs of negotiating an end to their confrontation any time soon, it will be left to the more democratic and progressive sections of the world community to initiate positive measures collectively to bring a measure of relief to the discontented.

The swiftness with which such relief will be provided would depend crucially on the importance those sections taking up these undertakings attach to value-based politics as opposed to Realpolitik of power politics.

Going by these yardsticks, Italy could be considered to be moving in the right direction. Recently Italy came to the fore in initiating the collective named, ‘Rome Coalition for Food Security and Access to Fertilizer’, which has as one of its aims the swift provision of fertilizer to economically weak African countries.

In a recent statement Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, said that a principal aim of the project was to ensure that the farmers of Africa gained easy access to fertilizer, considering that food security is a growing concern among some of Africa’s economically vulnerable countries.

The statement went on to mention that some 30 countries hailing from the Mediterranean region, the Middle East, the Balkans as well as the FAO had been invited to join the coalition. The venture is far-seeing in that food security is main among the reasons for social discontent which in turn could degenerate into endemic political turmoil and bloodshed. Separatist violence and geographical fragmentation of countries wouldn’t be too far behind these developments, as Africa itself has often proved.

It is hoped that more G7 countries would take the cue from Italy and do what they could to ease the hardships of economically distressed countries, particularly of the global South. In these efforts they would need to break rank with the US, which is today brutally indifferent to the consequences of its policy of making ‘America First’, come what may.

Going by current developments, the Trump administration seems to be blithely oblivious to the wider, deleterious effects of its policy course in West Asia. Besides rendering Iran militarily and otherwise impotent nothing else seems to matter to Washington, as regards West Asia. This is policy short-sightedness of an extreme kind. After all, right now West Asia could be said to be sitting on the proverbial powder keg.

On the other hand, Iran is not giving the world the impression that it is doing anything constructive to get out of the policy straitjacket that it wove for itself decades ago. Rather than enter into a policy of ‘live and let live’ in relation to Israel in particular and initiate a process of reconciliation with the latter, it has chosen to operate within policy parameters that continue to damn Israel. This has put Israel always on the ‘defensive’ so to speak and prevented the opening up of space for meaningful dialogue.

That said, Israel is obliged to explore the possibilities of entering into a negotiatory process with the Arab-Islamic world that could lead to a de-escalation of tensions and bloodshed. It cannot continue to look at its neighbours through lenses that distort them as archetypal enemies who should be ‘wiped off completely from the face of the earth.’

In other words, the need is urgent for Realpolitik to give way to value-based politicks. Italy is beginning to prove that the latter approach could be pursued with some success. May be the EU and the UK could throw their weight behind these initiatives as well and establish that international politics could be refashioned on the basis of humane, civilized norms. The UN would need to be fully supportive of these moves and prove an organizational nucleus of the operations that follow.

In fact the time is ripe for people of conscience to collectively stand up on the side of peace and say ‘No’ to war and violence. Organizations such as the ICRC, the WHO and Medicines Sans Frontiers have already taken up this call. Referring to the widespread destruction of health facilities and their dehumanizing results these organizations have said, among other things, that ‘This is not a failure of the law. It is a failure of political will.’

True, ‘failure of political will’ among those powers that matter accounts for the runaway, uncontrollable nature of war and destruction in contemporary times, but more fundamentally it is a failure of the human conscience. It could very well be that the phenomenal levels to which violence and war have been unleashed today have had the effect of deadening consciences. This is a matter for urgent study and wide discussion.

Features

Vesak celebrations … with Cuteefly

Published

38 mins ago

2026/05/28

Sahan Weerasooriya

Perfect for celebrations, gifts, and meaningful occasions // Gift pack

I would describe Indunil Kaushalya Dissanayaka as innovative and creative, and she operates under the name of Cuteefly.

Indunil always comes up with something novel to celebrate special occasions, and she does it with candles … and that’s her profession.

She was in the spotlight when she created a happening scene, with candles, for Christmas, Sinhala and Tamil New Year, and Valentine’s Day.

As lanterns light up Sri Lanka for Vesak, the Colombo-based candle maker is quietly turning wax and wick into little pieces of the festival.

Candles reflecting Vesak themes

Her candles reflect Vesak themes – light, peace, remembrance, giving, etc., to enable you to fill your Vesak celebration with devotion and beauty.

Among her Vesak creations is a lotus-shaped soy candle, scented with sandalwood, lavender, etc., meant to burn during this Vesak Poya Day.

Indunil Kaushalya Dissanayaka: Customers
praise her for her creativity

These handcrafted Vesak candles are perfect for offering at the temple, she says.

What makes her creations so novel is that they come in different shapes, scents, themes, and all are handmade.

What’s more, her customers have heaped praise on her for her creativity.

According to Indunil, her creations are perfect as a thoughtful gift … to bring beauty, unity, and light into every moment.

Says Indunil: “Our beautifully handcrafted Unity candles are designed with premium detail and love, making them perfect for celebrations, gifts, and meaningful occasions.”

Cuteefly, says Indunil, is available online.

Readers could contact Indunil on 0778506066 for more details.

He Facebook Page is: Cuteefly.

Handmade with love

Features

Dark Spots …

Published

39 mins ago

2026/05/28

Sahan Weerasooriya

Yes, dark spots do crop up on the skin, especially with sun exposure and, of course, as the skin ages.

However, these tips should be of immense benefit to those who are faced with dark spots.

* Lemon and Honey Glow Mask:

You will need 01 teaspoon lemon juice and 01 teaspoon honey.

Mix the lemon juice and honey well and then apply this mixture, only on the dark spots.

Leave for 10–15 minutes and then rinse with cool water.

Benefits:

Lemon helps brighten pigmentation.

Honey moisturises and heals skin.

Gives a natural glow.

* Aloe Vera Gel Treatment:

All you need is fresh aloe vera gel.

Apply the gel apply on dark spots, before going to bed.

Leave overnight and wash in the morning.

Benefits:

Reduces acne marks and pigmentation.

Soothes irritated skin.

Helps skin repair naturally.

* Turmeric and Yoghurt Paste:

You will need 01 teaspoon yoghurt and a pinch of turmeric

Mix the yoghurt and turmeric into a smooth paste and apply on affected areas.

Leave for 15 minutes and then wash gently with lukewarm water.

Benefits:

Turmeric brightens skin naturally.

Yoghurt removes dead skin cells.

Helps fade dark spots gradually.

Use these packs 02-03 times a week as results are generally seen over time.

You can also try this out: Mix a ripe papaya into a smooth paste and apply to the face, or directly on to the dark spots. Leave for 15-20 minutes and then wash with lukewarm water.