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It wasn’t me!

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Politico’s mantra

I am not a great visionary, politically-minded scholar, or expert of any sorts. I am a very simple person, an average Sri Lankan citizen, like many of you, born in Sri Lanka, studied in a state school, graduated from a state university, and now mployed with a moderate pay check. So why do I feel the need to bother you with my blather?

It is because I feel that I have been offered the (mis)fortune of a different vantage point on the happenings in Sri Lanka. I recently moved to another country, temporarily, while all my roots, my heart and my soul are still back home, in Sri Lanka. I got so homesick that I spent a great deal of money to return to my country for a mere two weeks, after being abroad for just three months. For a brief moment, I got a glimpse of the ground realities back in Sri Lanka; the piles of people shrivelling under the scorching sun waiting to get a can of petrol/diesel/kerosene, or a cylinder of gas; the empty shelves labelled paracetamol in the drug store; the sound of the generator that was running for hours and screaming in agony during power cuts, and being ashamed of the inequalities in society it represented. I suddenly felt like an outsider, observing the daily struggles of my fellow countrymen while sitting on a cushy sofa in an air-conditioned glass bubble. I departed with a heavy heart, and now, I hear of the peoples’ plight but I myself am spared the physical discomforts they experience. I see photos and videos of dreadful scenes and feel the same frustration, but I am yet not hopeless because I have the luxury of a respite in a foreign country. My friends and family tell me of their plans to migrate abroad, when I intend to do the exact opposite, a minute influx against the great exodus. Yet, my heart bleeds to see my country, with all its imperfections and limitations, being plunged into an abyss of darkness, both literally and metaphorically.

I few weeks ago, I was astonished at the level of tolerance of the Sri Lankan people. Even under such trying circumstances, it seemed as if the populace were in a slumber of sorts. Almost complacent and maybe in a state of learned helplessness. I was amazed that the very persons responsible for the misfortunes Sri Lanka faced could still appear on national television, drumming “it wasn’t me” and the impunity they enjoyed. Was it some mystical power they wielded over the masses? Maybe it was the numerous embellished amulets being brandished hither and tether or perhaps the red scarf? Well…, whatever it was, the spell appears to be lifting now, slowly but steadily; surely lifting! I am proud of my fellow citizens who have taken it upon themselves to protest and voice their dissent. I applaud you for your courage, no matter wherever or however you found it. I rejoice in the solidarity, irrespective of its catalyst. My only prayer now is that something tangible comes out of all this distress and that this is hopefully not another passing storm.

However, being away from the epicentre of it all has also offered me a broader perspective, a form of introspection of what really brought us to this juncture. Is it really the fault of a handful of individuals or just one family only? Till now, my stock answer to anyone who complained about the blundering state of affairs in Sri Lanka has been that “I did not vote for him/them”. I have flaunted this fact in the faces of many. I have sanctimoniously held on to it as a pauper cherishes his maggot infested ulcer. The truth I have seldom, if ever, admitted is that I have voted only once in my entire life. Looking back, I now feel just as responsible for the sorry state of affairs in Sri Lanka as much as the political stooges who brought these corrupt individual(s) to power. My lame excuse so far has been that there is no one who is worthy of consideration to vote for, but shouldn’t I have made some effort to identify the least rotten of the tomatoes?

For decades, most of our populace has let their loyalties be governed by immediate or short-term personal gains, the promise of a job, a massive building contract, an import license or even a bottle of alcohol and a free lunch. There was seldom any focus on the policies and strategies the candidates brought to the table, and never any real debate of how sustainable or economically sound they were. I agree that looking at the choices we are left with, it seems like picking the least malodorous one from a box of putrefying fish, but yet, have we ever put them to test before entrusting them with running an entire nation?

Yet, even with a diligent population who value the long-term prosperity of the country over temporary personal gains, a crafty candidate who runs a shrewd campaign may still sway public opinion and come into power. The last presidential and parliamentary elections are living proof of how deceptive campaigns could be. There was a great calling for change, promise of transformation and meritocracy. Although, there were many who supported and lobbied for ‘The King’ for shameless personal gains, majority of the 6.9 or so million Sri Lankans who voted for them would have truly believed in this promise only to be utterly disappointed within a relatively short period of time thereafter.

The real question in such a case is what does the public, the media and the law enforcement authorities do when the real colours of the perpetrators start to become visible? How often are they called out? How often are they challenged? Do the law enforcement authorities take decisive action when criminal offences are allegedly committed? Of course, we do not live in a perfect world but a human one. Therefore, we have to accept that there will invariably be some degree of corruption, favouritism, incompetence and even outright stupidity. However, it should never be the norm and most certainly should not be systemic.

But here we are! We Sri Lankans have let it become the norm! The corrupt rulers rob the country of billions of rupees and embark on ill-advised displays of false prosperity for political mileage, wasting precious resources. The minions and hench-persons surrounding them nod their heads in approval and bow with the hope of feasting on the scraps thrown their way as positions, commissions, contracts, tenders and so on and so forth. Lower down in the imaginary social ladder, someone might take a few bundles of blank sheets home from the office or expect their palms to be greased to do the work they are already paid to do. Although a significant proportion of the population are law-abiding citizens making an honest living, corruption and incompetence have become so common place in Sri Lanka now. We have allowed this malady to go on for too long, unchecked and unchallenged, so much so that it has now become nearly systemic. We have turned a blind eye and done far too little for decades, chanting “it wasn’t me“. Sometimes it has been for our own personal profits and sometimes, simply because we did not care enough.

The time has come for us, the ordinary citizens, to own up to our own misfortunes. After all, aren’t we all responsible as we have aided and abetted this self-perpetuating system of corruption, in one way or another?

We have relied on a top-down approach to change this system of corruption for far too long, looking for “heroes” who will right all wrongs. Let this unprecedented disaster in Sri Lanka be a lesson to us all to value principles and never turn a blind eye to injustice. Let this be a calling to be intolerant of corruption at any level. Let us be responsible citizens in every way possible, call out wrong doers and be whistle blowers if we must. We must build a virtuous culture which shuns the corrupt and the unlawful, coupled with a strong and impartial justice system that will put them behind bars, if we are to rise from the ashes one day.

There is a massive peaceful people’s movement in Sri Lanka, and I hope it will continue to gain momentum in the days and weeks to come. Although it makes me optimistic, I am also afraid of the political forces which might hijack this well intended and honest voice of the people. Moreover, it can very easily manipulate agitated masses, and the herd mentality that ensues. Of course, once the dust settles, the culprits will once again harp “it wasn’t me” while the people caught in the cross fires suffer. Sri Lanka is an already broken nation, bankrupt and falling apart. More damage to public or private property, or harm to human lives would only aggravate the country’s plight. It will definitely not help; not even just a little.

I admire and bow my head to everyone who stands for a better meritocratic and democratic Sri Lanka, free from corruption. Let us protest in unison in any way we can and let this be my minuscule share. Let the message be crystal clear, devoid of the distraction of violence or destruction. Let this be the Beginning of a New Beginning!

Disclosure

I have no political affiliations, nor do I support any political party or a group. I admit that I penned my thoughts rather candidly as I feel shielded in this corner of the world, and I seriously doubt whether I would have had the courage or the time to do so had I been in Sri Lanka. Of course, if anyone ever asks me if I wrote this article, my answer would most likely be “it wasn’t me”!

A homesick wanderer



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Opinion

What is wrong with Sri Lanka?

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By Dr Laksiri Fernando

It is not the country per se, but the politicians and the people who are wrong. While politicians should take 70 percent responsibility, the people also should take 30 percent. It is true that these wrongs on the part of the politicians or the people are not limited to Sri Lanka. Even in a country like Australia where I now live, there are intermittent corruption, crime, gender abuse, killing, and misguided politics. However, the difference is extremely vast. Sri Lanka’s wrongs are perhaps 50 times higher than a country like Australia.

One may pinpoint this to the economic difference or development. There is some truth in it. However, the whole truth is not that. It is rooted in the political culture and social culture in general. That is one reason why Sri Lanka was not being able to develop after independence like Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, etc. India also has come to the forefront of development today. Sri Lanka became caught up in a vicious cycle where political culture prevented development, while underdevelopment influenced the political culture.

What is this political culture? It is mainly renovated feudalism with family at the core of politics that dominates the political culture. It is also the same in social culture, families dominating business, religion, entertainment, and the media. Only female members are set apart. It is in a way natural for members of a family to follow their fathers, brothers, or other close members. Or it can happen the other way around, fathers or uncles helping and promoting their siblings.

Even in America or the UK, this could be seen. The Kennedy family promoted members into politics. However, in Sri Lanka this is overwhelming, some families completely dominating politics and social arena. While the Rajapaksas are the most prominent example with abhorrent practices, the Bandaranaikes, the Senanayakes and the Jayewardenes (Ranil Wickremesinghe with links) were also playing the same game. In Australia, I have not come across this process. When John Howard was the Prime Minister, his brother Bob Howard continued to serve as an academic at the University of Sydney whom I used to meet often.

In 1995, I decided to come back to Sri Lanka to serve the country. I applied and got the appointment as the Director of the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (SLFI) through a competitive interview. It was a great institute with many capabilities and the people working there were quite flexible and committed. However, when it came to filling vacancies and expanding the staff for new tasks, I came across political influences and pressures.

I managed to overcome them luckily as the SLFI came under the purview of Chandrika Kumaratunga as the President and as she did not make any interference at least in my case. However, I resigned and came back to Australia within six months as the situation was unbearable. People who tried to influence me were either top ministers or bureaucrats.

Again, when I finally came back in 1997, I first joined the University of Colombo before undertaking any other appointments. By that time, I had fairly learned how to overcome political influence. The university system was fairly reasonable (not completely) and on that basis it was possible for me to follow my impartial principles. However, there was at least one instance where a former friend of mine tried to blame me publicly, claiming that I myself asked for favours! It was heartrending.

Sri Lanka’s public service is large and widespread. There are around 1.5 million people working in its various institutions, departments, and branches. Although there is the Public Service Commission which is supposed to be independent, even in its appointments political and other influences are paramount. The most discriminated people in this service are Tamils, Muslims, and Women. Although there are over 15 percent of Tamils in the population, their presence in the public service is less than 10 percent. Apart from discrimination on the reason of ethnicity and gender, there are discriminations on the basis of caste, religion and region. The dissolution of Provincial Councils since October 2019 has enlarged these discriminations overwhelmingly.

It is mistakenly claimed that the ‘large state sector’ is the primary defect of Sri Lanka’s economy. It is not the size of the sector that has mattered but its inefficiency, incapacity, unproductivity, and sometimes duplication. In Australia, out of the total workforce, 20 percent are in the state sector. But it is sufficiently productive and provides necessary services even to private enterprises. In Sri Lanka, if we count 12 million as the workforce (adult population 14 million), the state sector comprises only around 12 percent.

The state sector undoubtedly should be restructured, and the workforces should be retrained or even dismissed. There is no point in keeping people like Sirimanna Mahattaya in the public service if we take an example from the teledrama, Kolam Kuttama (Funny Couple)! Even privatising certain (loss-making) state enterprises is in order. However, there are certain sectors and services that the state should hold on to. Education and Health are the most priory sectors among others, depending on national dialogues. It could allow the private sector to participate, but the state should not give up its primary responsibilities.

There can be other strategic sectors where the private sector could be allowed like the ports, airports, airlines, electricity, gas, oil, and even water, but the state should not give up its responsibilities completely. Public-Private partnership can be a model in certain areas in this respect.

The stagnation of the education sector has been a primary problem area in Sri Lanka now for a long time. This applies both to school education and university education alike. In the case of university education there have been some curricula and teaching methodology changes but those are not up to modern and current needs.

We still get a huge number of Arts students while the country’s need is in the direction of Science, Technology, Medicine, Nursing and Business Management. Those who come from the Arts streams in schools, if it is not possible to change in the short run, should be able to move to scientific areas, if capable. In Australia, there is no prohibition of changing the stream if the students show high capability in whatever area that they qualify in. School education should be totally reformed with emphasis on scientific and international knowledge.

The discarding of English education (since 1956), in my opinion, has been the major mistake that the country has committed in degrading the educational system, the economy, and the country’s international profile. In recent times young generations are trying to overcome these barriers through private education, tuition, and social media. However, this is mostly limited to the well to do. English should not be considered as a superior or imperial language, but a practical and international language.

While this short article, with word limits, confine to only few areas of ‘wrongs’ that Sri Lanka is committing, a possible conclusion is to call for an overall change in the political and economic system in the country. Those political leaders and parties responsible for the country’s present political and economic crisis should be completely ousted.

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Opinion

Plan to transform country into an export economy

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Dear Mr. President,

A Presidential Media Division statement, titled “Country set for rapid transformation into an export economy” quoted remarks made by you at the inauguration ceremony of a historic temple in Kegalle.

As a caring citizen I said, “three cheers”, happily thinking that at last, the country was on the correct governance path focusing on the creation of new strategic leadership options and policy changes to encourage present and new investors to produce tradable goods and engage in external services. I was delighted that the statement began with a reference that Sri Lanka can no longer continue to rely on borrowings (presumably external?) to address the imbalance between imports and exports, which if pursued will inevitably lead to another economic crisis within a decade.

As I read the rest of the statement, I noted that your plan for achieving such a transformation by holding discussions with the World Bank, ADB and the IMF to initiate a programme and passing two new laws in April. The only other reference even as a vague statement was in relation to implementing an agricultural modernisation programme, where you anticipated results only after 6-7 years. Are you planning in addition to leverage the National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC) and its Secretariat as a part of your implementation strategy[ii] ?

I am sure that many highly competent Sri Lankan trade economists (including those who have guided you in the past), will be able to advise you on more important winning strategic policy/implementation and change management options.

They would surely stress the relative importance of developing strategic networking options with supply chains in the region, assisting capable SME’s to upgrade quality/productivity, and enhancing public infrastructure productivity; along with the need to remove para tariffs, enhance ease of doing business, and one stop facilitation center benchmarking services in South Indian states. These can bring big gains, well before dreaming as your short-term goal, leveraging Free Trade Agreements with India, China, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam and attempting a high jump by  joining RCEP.

Chandra Jayaratne

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Opinion

Solar and wind power projects

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There has been a delay in finalising the unit cost for the proposed 500 Mw wind power project initiated by India’s Adani Group. This is surprising and disturbing as there was a news item that the Cabinet had approved the payment of US dollar cents 14.6 per unit, nearly Rs. 50 in our local currency, without the knowledge of the Ministry for Power and Energy or the Ceylon Electricity Board. If so, what is the reason for the delay in going ahead with the construction of the Wind Power Project at Mannar? The snag may be that other private suppliers too are demanding the same payment as agreed with Adani Group.

As I handled this subject at the Ministry of Power and Energy, I still take interest therein, in my retirement. In my earlier letters to the press, I pointed out the negative aspects of wind and solar projects, mainly, Sri Lanka being an island with a limited land area of 65,610 sq. km, where land is required for agriculture as is seen by the desperate attempt of the government offering uncultivated land both state-owned and private to grow more food.

It is said that four to five acres of land is required to produce 1 Mw of electricity. If so, consider the land requirements for major solar parks. In addition, no plant life is possible under these solar panels, which has multiple effects on the atmosphere. The scenic beauty of this country, which attracts tourists will be lost and thereby foreign exchange which we desperately need. This goes for floating solar projects on hydro reservoirs and lakes which the government has already approved contracts to the private sector. In wind farms, there is the danger to birds and flying insects. It is also reported that due to the noise people cannot settle down in adjacent areas.

It is not my intention to discourage the projects to produce power from renewable sources of energy. I intend to make the authorities concerned seek alternative sites, along the sea coast, avoiding beaches frequented by tourists, rooftop solar panels in all buildings. Do not forget we are actively pursuing the connection of our grid to India and when this project materialises, the energy requirement of this country will be eased to a great extent.

It is strange the Ministers in charge of land and agriculture and also tourism have not objected to setting up solar parks and wind farms on land.

G. A. D. Sirimal

Via e-mail

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