Dawn of hope

Saturday 1st January, 2022

The dawn of a new year always brings hope, which gives people a reason to live amidst numerous crises. Some words of wisdom attributed to Nietzsche come to mind: ‘He who has a why to live can bear almost anyhow.’ Year 2022 is also sure to throw up daunting challenges and set new goals for Sri Lankans mired in multiple crises. Celebrations to ring it in were low-keyed owing to the prevailing health emergency and economic hardships.

A let-up is thought to have occurred in the national health crisis as the number of Covid-19 fatalities is under control. But it can be deceptive, and no room should be left for complacency while other countries are adopting stern measures to ward off the Omicron threat, which must be taken seriously if trouble is to be averted. Health experts are warning of a possible tsunami of infections with the potential to overwhelm health systems.

There are no signs of Sri Lanka’s economic health improving although there has been a marginal increase in the country’s foreign reserves. Good news is that tourist arrivals are on the rise and remittances are flowing in albeit in dribs and drabs. All gains, however, will be lost if one mistake is made on the health front.

The threat of a food crisis is also said to be looming large on the horizon with the national agricultural output decreasing due to the current fertiliser shortage. There are winding queues in most parts of the country for cooking gas, kerosene and milk powder, and a food crisis is the last thing the country wants.

Power plants are low on fuel, as we have reported, and the country’s only refinery has been closed again for want of crude oil. The cost of living continues to rise steeply with precious little being done to contain it. People’s patience is wearing thin as a result. Some irate members of the public turn unruly when government politicians happen to go past them, and there have been instances where they even expressed their anger with choruses of boos. The powers that be had better heed these signals and mend their ways. They ought to realise that popular mandates are ephemeral, and they have to tread cautiously without provoking the public further.

What we are experiencing on the economic front is something that everybody knew would happen someday. It has however begun playing out sooner than expected. If a person lives beyond his or her means, and gets into debt, which takes a sizable chunk out of his or her income, then he or she will be in serious trouble in case of a drop in his or her income. There is no need for dismal science experts to predict that. It is common sense. The same goes for the countries that do not care to curtail their expenditure or manage their resources frugally. The pandemic has only precipitated trouble for this land with a bunch of lotus eaters at the helm. But for a drastic drop in the country’s foreign reserves, the carnival would have gone on with governments wasting public funds, hoping to pay back loans with foreign exchange to come. Now, the incumbent dispensation, whose leaders have also made a tremendous contribution to the current economic mess, has had to stop trying piecemeal remedies and make a serious effort to find a lasting solution to the chronic economic crisis. One hopes that it will succeed in its endeavour.

The year ahead of us will be a tough one, but we are left with no alternative but to resolve to face it while staying safe.

We wish our readers a very happy New Year!