Rise of New Economic Liberation

From cremation calls, to a huge ban on imports, we are moving to the Rajavasala Vimukthiya. Those who still use the Vimukthi line in politics had better be on the watch.

 Amidst all the burdens of the Covid-19 pandemic that has now taken hold in Sri Lanka, there is a raging debate about burial, or cremation, of the bodies of Covid-19 deceased.

This is fast moving to a debate that is isolating one ethnic minority, against a combination of the majority, and several minorities, which can have painful consequences.

The call for cremations is becoming increasingly strident, against the burial callers. What is surprising is that the cremation criers – from politicians, the Sangha, academics, business people, intellectuals and social movers – have not thought of, or said the obvious.

It is that the continuing spread of the pandemic is entirely due to burials of the deceased. Just look at all those countries, from the record holding US, to so many in Europe, such as Spain, the UK, and Russia, where burials are the order of the day for the Covid-dead. Although there is no scientific evidence to prove it so far, the rapidly expanding numbers of the infected must certainly have much, or everything, to do with the many thousands of burials. In some US states, they are now even hiring prisoners to do the burials. Countries such as Brazil and Argentina cannot cope with the burials.

So why not just tell Sri Lanka, and the world, to stop all burials if the spread of Covid-19 is to be achieved? This can be an important publicity factor for Sri Lanka, in a world of the rapidly dying, enabling our leaders to forget the economic crisis we are now in, and make huge anti-burial ceremonies throughout the country.  We can take the ‘One Country, One Law” principle to our people in words, largely ignoring the “One Country, Many Laws’ policy that strengthens the power of the already powerful. 

Whatever opposition the pro-burial Muslims may take, they could be told that the spread of Covid-19 and deaths in Iran, Iraq and all other Islamic states is also due to their strict burial policies, in keeping with their politico/religious teachings. 

We must ignore and completely forget the lack of any scientific evidence to prove this. Just keep in mind that our 2,500-year plus civilization had nothing to do with modern science. It is best to keep science out of both politics and government, in Sri Lanka, because the application of science poses a major threat to the power of crooked politics. Governance here today is a display of the absence of science, and much more the play of words and distorted thinking, which is profitable for those holding the reins of power – the Rajavasala Balaya, and all others hanging on to such Vasala Delight!

We have now heard  President Gotabaya Rajapaksa address the nation, having completed one year in power – with all the power he has after the 20A. There was nothing said there about the destructionof forest land, the great expectations of more Presidential Pardons to convicted criminals, or how education is to be actually improved and made relevant, which most probably will be by having more catcher universities.

We also had his brother – Prime Minister and Finance Minister (apart from many other portfolios) – make the 75th Budget Speech in the country, as he reached  75th year in life. The 145 plus MPs with the government will see the Budget passed, with hardly any serious thinking of the criticisms by those in the hugely reduced Opposition, some of whom may even be in the lineup for more jumps to the government ranks; for the satisfactions of power and shelter in the Rajavasala. 

Will Mahinda present the 80th Budget, too, or will his brother, Basil, move on from the 76th or 77th. Keep guessing.

There was much valid criticism by the Opposition’s Mr. Harsha de Silva, both an economist and politician. Much of what he said was about the poor arithmetic of the budget thinkers or writers, and also about the non-meaningful policies of Pohottuva politics of today. The combination of the Gotabaya and Mahinda political thinking leaves much to be desired in the context of good economics and budgetary policy. But that is the stuff of governance today – a Rajavasala Aarthikaya or Palace Economics!

Let’s move to the big Gotabaya policy of  import bans. We saw this decades ago, under PM Sirimavo Bandaranaike, which certainly helped build several industries and promote local agriculture, but was too much of a burden on the people. With all the power of 20A and the huge majority in Parliament, we could certainly move to much bigger import bans, that will give meaning to the many special portfolios – such as Clay and Batik, just two examples.

If we are to really help the Clay or Pottery Industry, all imports that threaten clay products must be banned. Why should this country, having so much tradition and trust in clay, have metal pots, pans, saucepans, jugs, cups and saucers, jugs and other vessels? Isn’t it time to ban all of this and give the Clay Industry the opportunity it needs, to bring us back to the Clay Glory of the past? This can give a boost to our youth, who may bring new inventions  on clay built electrical cookery products.  

This could soon lead to a powerful “Hali-Valang” economy, that would stand out in the developing world for the First World to also take note.

There is also great hope for the Batik Industry. Isn’t it time to make a call for people to stop western design clothes, from trousers, shirts, coats, skirts and gowns, etc., and move to local Batik wear. There is so much designer opportunity  here, bringing a huge boost to the Batik producers. Just think of all the fashion shows that will display the new Batik Wear, from vertical striped trousers and horizontals striped coats, mixed stripe shirts, and so much in the colourful wear of women. We are on the threshold of a great boost to our economy, with the dance of batik sarongs and trousers, and designer goals that will soon strike global markets. There could also be very special Batik Underwear and Lingerie producers who will even outdo the global leaders.

This is the rise of Gotabaya Economics with Mahinda Politics. We are fast moving to the Rajavasala Sandarshana Yugaya – the Age of Palace Display. Let’s think of more bans on imports of what we can produce here. Just tell the European Union to mind its own business, and let us achieve our own New Economic Liberation. The Rajavasala Vimukthiya.