Admirable VVIP; no end to violent murders

Thank the gods (Olympian to Cass’s borrowed Greekness or Hindu or our devathawas?) for an admirable Sri Lankan public servant who shines forth. A poll taken a month or two ago had Central Bank Governor topping the list as the most admired and worthy Sri Lankan. Except for some high-up politicians, none in the country will contest the results of that poll and what Cassandra expresses this morning. She is so thankful that she can start this column during Christmas festivities (or deprivation to most locals) on an optimistic note and write about a good person.

Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe

Dr Weerasinghe, the 17^th Governor of the Central Bank, is one genuine public servant and most important person to the economy of the country who is approved of by almost all Sri Lanka’s. Why say ‘almost all’? Who pray are the exceptions? Cass cannot name names as she is a small fry and writes most from gut reaction and not from know-allness, but there was a minor uproar a short time ago when it was said that the President – voted in by sheeplike pohottuwas – wanted to substitute him, first by not renewing the Governor’s service. Mercifully, there was an outcry in Parliament, Cass believes, that prevented the Prez from removing Dr Weerasinghe from his post. Sheer madness or expediency or listening to directing buds, to remove the one man who was saving the country. Spartan King Leonidas faced and defeated the Persians at Thermopylae bringing victory to the Grecian States, going down in Western history as the epitome of bravery exhibited against overwhelming odds. Our hero is working hard and honestly (for a change) to stem the economic downturn of Sri Lanka and raise it from its bankruptcy.

Some readers may wonder why Cass has to refer to Thermopylae of around the 4^th century BC for her example of saving a nation. Dutugemunu comes to mind, but there have been too many past claims to be his descendent or like this great hero. I recall grateful people at the end of the civil war referring to the then Prez Mahinda R as present day Dutta Gamini. A maverick who stormed Rupavahini Corporation headquarters and emerged painted red, and tied an officer to a tree for missing a meeting, among other peccadilloes, claimed direct descent from our great king. He held Prezes in his palm as it were, so beholden were they to him. Maybe the leaders who tolerated him were keen to keep skeletons hanging in cupboards the key to which he possessed, and not exposed.

Accepting Dr N Weerasinghe as our hero of the present, I got chatting to an economic advisor to a past PM. He commented on the openness of the Governor; his weekly press briefings where he outlined what’s what with the CB and the financial state of the country. “One official who is transparent with work undertaken.” It is correct to say Dr Weerasinghe, almost singlehandedly, has slowly but surely turned the nation towards getting out of the dumps it was pushed to by past Presidents and their chosen Governors of the Central Bank.

Brief Bio

Cass is very much a person’s person, meaning she wants to know a person’s background for interest’s sake. Hence she googled and found many articles on Dr Weerasinghe, including the Wikipedia write-up.Dr. Weerasinghe, a career central banker, with extensive experience in monetary and policy, comes from Dickwella. He schooled in Rahula College, Matara, and Ananda College, Colombo. His first degree in science was from the University of Kelaniya, and Masters and PhD in economics from the Australian National University.

He worked for long in the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and served as Asst. Governor from Aug 2009 to Sept 2012 when he was made Deputy Governor till October 2020 when he was not given the Governorship but sidelined by Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The same Rajapaksa invited him back to assume the highest post in the CB in an attempt to prevent the ship of state caught in a violent financial, political and social storm from total shipwreck. He has, in addition, held many prestigious international posts and was an Alternate Executive Director at the IMF. What better person to save us at this eleventh hour. His achievement studded career also includes lectureships in the University of Colombo and in Australian universities. What a sharp and shocking contrast to some of his immediate predecesors. The most eminent saviour of our nation (no exaggeration) was in comfortable retirement in Australia when the SOS went to him. Very patriotically and with concern and love for Sri Lanka, he agreed to return and accept the very onerous task of steering the country to calmer seas. He knew he was competent to achieve success and we, so grateful nationals, have already seen signs of advantage and improvement.

The facts above are a propitious start to Cass’ Cry during this month of seasonal joy, celebration and togetherness. It also evokes hope for the future of this country. Now we proceed to the bad and what is presently a common condition in this serendipitous island made rotten by scheming, self centered politicians and top bureaucrats.

Murders most foul

Such occur daily. An oldie was recollecting the fact that murders then were so infrequent in Lanka that when committed it made newspaper headlines, the only ones of its kind. Time was when murders and love affairs gone wrong had kavi kola hastily printed and sung in buses as they waited for times of departure.

Cass remembers the biling achcharu murder of a wife in Galle, who was supposedly murdered by her doctor husband, in love with another, and surprisingly aided and abetted by his mother. More recently we had abduction of little children, raping and ending their lives,At present times, murders of the most repugnant and surprising kind are committed almost daily. I moaned in this column the death of a honest, hard working three wheeler owner/driver who was pounced upon by a speeding luxury vehicle, pushed, dragged along and jammed to a metal gate. Poor Tuan died at the hands of a speeding motorist returning from an entire nights’ carousing in a nightclub, with women companions.

Then the strangling of a businessman who all acclaim was a gentleman, in Kanatta, one of the very few places sans CCTV cameras. Again the closing of the stable door after the evil is done. Mayor Rosy S has promised to install cameras at Kanatta.

It is a universal surmise among people of Sri Lanka that the blame lies squarely on the impunity enjoyed by violence-inclined individuals; lapses and delays in enacting laws; and the definite corruption-caused incompetence of the police. Cass does not need to elaborate on these. Drugs also play a most damaging role in the safety condition of the entire island.

Another astounding announcement:

use of drugs by school children in Colombo is rampant. This is akin to murdering the children while causing the slow death of parents too. In this instance blame lies with teachers who are not doing a proper job since a teacher has to develop the personality of a child in his/her charge, not merely teach the three R-s and more. Sickness creeps into society by some making money through import and distribution of dangerous drugs.

A teacher from Ampara who keeps in touch with Cass complained that whatever he does or innovates to get his class of boys interested in learning English, they remain indifferent dullards. “They are romantic, only that is in their minds.” Cass inquired whether drugs had crept in. He replied it did not seem so, but when a boy was reprimanded for smoking a cigarette in school, he countered with: “I smoke at home” implying his parents were utterly negligent. Is it the malais of hopelessness caused by price increases and food scarcity that has entered society as a whole and caused cankers within?

Authorities have much to answer for. Maybe with a clean sweep at the very top – Parliament, Cass means, the situation will improve.Let’s forget all these minuses and look for pluses and enjoy the season of the birth of Jesus Christ with a new year to follow!