Features
Disability studies established in Lanka, Nalin’s heart attack in Johannesburg
Some remarkable Japanese CBR workers
(Excerpted from Memories that Linger: My journey through
the world of disability
by Padmani Mendis)
The work done by the Disability Studies Unit (DSU) in Sri Lanka I have chronicled with my memories at home in Sri Lanka in a later section. Here let me recall but one other outstanding contribution that the DSU made at that time to the pursuit of disability studies and its practice. Through an agreement signed with the Child Health Unit of the University of London and the Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, a course for the education of Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) was pioneered in 1998.
Since we had just one SLT at the time, we arranged for the London counterparts to send us six SLT teachers a year, each for one month for a period of six years, until some of ours could take over teaching functions. They also sent us Mary Wickenden as a full-time course coordinator for three years. Kelaniya University would establish relevant posts in the DSU by this time. What started as a diploma course became a degree course not much later. Soon those graduates were following masters degrees and then doing their doctoral degrees.
We started by selling our SLT course to the Ministry of Health for just six students at a cost of Rupees 90,000 per student per year. The ministry was required to establish a cadre and increase it annually. Private students were also enrolled. The DSU continued as a self-financing unit. When diplomas became degrees, I believe that initiative was no longer needed because the costs were met by the university.
The DSU is now a Department of Disability Studies or DDS with a large cadre of staff carrying out two degree courses. It has in the chair a Professor of Childhood Disability. A Disability Resource Centre to support disabled students and a Centre for Disability Research chaired by the Dean run alongside the DDS. The DDS is also the technical resource for the National Centre for the Rehabilitation of Children run by the University. It is called Ayathi.
Parting with satisfaction and fulfilment
I was sad to leave the DSU. Prof. Carlo Fonseka was no more the Dean. When leadership changes, so do policies. Disability was no longer viewed as a social issue and one of human rights. This was a Faculty of Medicine. It was made known to me that the responsibility for running the DSU would be taken over by a Senior Medical Teacher.
It was time for me to go. I left with a sense of satisfaction and fulfilment. I look back on that experience with an immense sense of joy. And of appreciation to the people of Sweden who made that possible. And then I continued on my journey in the World of Disability. This time with invitations also from the Japanese and the Norwegians.
Japan and Norway, major CBR supporters
Looking back, I wonder how I may, at this time of my life, share with you adequately my memories of all those other great individuals and organisations who contributed to the growth and development of Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) and with whom I had a relationship in those early decades. All those people, those who lived with disability and those who did not, were concerned about improving the lot of a neglected, often oppressed section of our society. A few who I have not written about as yet come to mind. Of them, two press urgently on my memory. They are the Japanese and the Norwegians. Although I will spend some time with these two, that is not to say I have forgotten the many others. So before I go to those, let me share with you memories of Handicap International and of a personal experience in South Africa.
Handicap International
Handicap International, better known perhaps as HI, is one that brings back memories. They invited me to work in Nepal on many occasions to see the Nepalese on their way with CBR. I first met HI as a new-born in 1982 as Operation Handicap International or OHI. OHI had its headquarters in Lyon, France, not far from Geneva. Its co-founder, Jean-Baptiste Richardier, met us often at WHO and gave us valuable information and advice on appropriate assistive devices to include in the WHO Manual. And on other matters in general.
My relationship with HI was a long one though we did not meet frequently. It continued until much later, when they would call me in Colombo for briefings and discussions leading to work when needed. I hear that it is now called Humanity and Inclusion with branches in many countries. The name change was apparently to reflect that their work was no more confined to disabled people. It is also extended to other vulnerable groups. My, how it has grown in 40 years. Just wonderful.
South Africa, University of Witwatersrand and a Personal Experience
I cannot forget Marjorie Concha, a CBR pioneer in South Africa and Professor of Occupational Therapy at Witwatersrand University, Johannesburg, and her staff. Marj invited me over to meet with professionals in that part of the world and to visit a CBR project started by her department. Plans were first a three-day meeting with the professionals. Then a weekend at Krueger National Park with Marj and her husband Ettel, and thereafter on to CBR. The project was in Tintswalo in North Eastern Transvaal and adjoining the park.
This was a rare occasion on which Nalin had joined me. South Africa and Krueger wildlife could not be missed. But that was not to be.
At the end of the third day and with the end of the meeting, Nalin took ill. The hospital doctor instructed us to go to the Heart Hospital a few kilometres down the road (from our hotel). We found out later that this hospital was built for whites only during the apartheid regime. No expense had therefore been spared. It was the best that it could be. Thanks to the great Nelson Mandela, it was now open also to blacks, browns, the yellow-skinned and to all colours of the rainbow.
The Heart Hospital in Johannesburg
The warm and friendly young native African doctor who saw us was a cricket fan and knew well of our country. Sri Lanka was known all over the world not just for our tea, but also for our cricket. He talked of Arjuna, Murali and Aravinda. Sri Lankan Cricket was reason enough for his special concern.
Soon he told us that Nalin had had a heart attack. He arranged for Nalin to be admitted immediately. By this time it was nearly midnight but the Specialist came without delay. He told me the damage to the heart was extensive and severe. He had Nalin put on all the necessary life-saving machines. He said he would be back in the morning and carry out the required tests to make an accurate diagnosis.
He advised me to go back to the hotel and return at seven when he would be back. When I did go back in the morning, Nalin was in heart failure and in a coma. He remained in that state for the next four days. I was allowed to sit by his bedside all day. I had my meals in the hospital canteen. Nalin had a specialist nursing sister attending on him full-time, monitoring him closely. Each day would be written on his bed-head ticket, “Patient’s condition uncertain. Family informed.”
Back at the hotel on that first night there was much to be done. Communication by fax with the insurance people in London was a priority. But guess what? The insurance people informed the hospital that they would not meet our cost. We found out later that this was the reason – apparently Sri Lankans were notorious for travel insurance fraud. They would take out a travel insurance, go to a place like the UK, have pre-planned surgery and make costly insurance claims. So the London insurance people presumed we were one of the same breed. They refused our claim.
Fortunately, the owner of our insurance agency in Sri Lanka was Nihal Senaratne. Nihal came up trumps. He told the insurance people what the consequences of their refusal would be. All Nalin’s bills were settled. Otherwise that experience would at that time have cost us about USD 20,000. Such was the hospital. Such was the quality of care. Cheap in terms of the result.
Meanwhile my Lecture Tour was put an end to. But Marj and her staff did not end their relationship with me. They were in touch with me constantly through every day. I told them what I needed urgently was to get to a shopping centre. Two colleagues took me to one where I could buy for Nalin a couple of pairs of pyjamas. As a Sri Lankan, he wore only sarong at night. I was preparing for when he would come out of the coma. I knew he would recover. He had to. And then he had to have some smart pyjamas to walk around the hospital in.
Being with the Japanese
The Japanese came into CBR later, having first I suppose to look into their own disability situation. If I may name one individual who led the support for CBR in that amazing country, it was Yukiko Oka Nakanishi. She had lived with severe disability since the age of four years when she had polio. Yukiko’s empathy with people in the developing world who had disability themselves and for others of us who worked in the field of disability was infinite.
With her knowledge and commitment she earned the trust of JICA, the Japan International Cooperation Agency. She was one of its consultants and advisers it seems to me forever. JICA is the implementing agency of official Japanese development aid that supports socio-economic development and economic stability in developing countries. Influenced by Japan’s disabled people, JICA continued to push forward strategies to realise the full participation and equality of disabled persons globally.
Yukiko Oka Nakanishi
Yukiko was married to Shoji Nakanishi who also lived with very severe disability from a very young age. They are perfect partners, complementing each other’s work based on their life’s experiences before they met. And then continuing successfully to work towards changing the situation for others who had to face those same situations. She, through the Asia Disability Institute she set up. And Shoji, through the Human Care Association he founded.
Both promoted the Independent Living Movement (ILM). Shoji set up ILM through the Human Care Association. He took a leading role in it in his country, in the Asia-Pacific region and globally. Together, they harnessed the cooperation of many other fellow Japanese to change the situation of disabled people in their own country. And in other countries. And they continue to do so.
I had the good fortune to first meet Yukiko when she took up a post for three years at ESCAP, the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok. Her task was, broadly speaking, to stimulate interest in disability issues in member countries of ESCAP and to discuss with them what they could do about it. Numerous meetings and workshops were held in Bangkok towards achieving this purpose and I was sometimes invited to share experiences of CBR at these events. ESCAP comes within the UN Economic and Social Commission headquartered in New York.
An Unusual Experience
I will illustrate how intensive CBR workshops generally were with a personal experience. I was the rapporteur at a multi-country workshop held in Khon Khaen city in north-eastern Thailand in 1990. Yukiko and her boss were working on the report with me. We worked long hours to get daily reports done. Then we had to get the final report ready by Friday morning so the participants could approve it.
We worked all night Thursday. We had it ready and photocopied. But it gave us time only for a quick shower and an even quicker breakfast so we could get to the workshop in time. The workshop ended by 1 p.m. for lunch. By 3 p.m. I was on a local flight to Bangkok with a direct connection to an international flight back home to Colombo.
Quite soon after boarding the flight to Colombo, I started feeling somewhat groggy. I held on for as long as I could, but decided finally to call a stewardess. Before I knew it, I found myself waking up flat-out on the aisle with a circle of worried faces peering down at me. I had collapsed.
When the flight landed, I was brought down in a wheelchair in the cargo lift. To be taken directly to the Medical Centre at the airport. When I said I was a diabetic, the good doctor gave me a glassful of glucose, quite sickening to drink and quite unnecessary I thought. I told her the reason for my collapse was fatigue. I was still unfit to walk, so the stewardess wheeled me out. Nalin was waiting to collect me. He nearly collapsed himself when he saw me being pushed out in a wheelchair.
by Dr Gotabhya Ranasinghe
Senior Consultant Cardiologist
National Hospital Sri Lanka
When we sought a meeting with Hon Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Minister of Health, he graciously cleared his busy schedule to accommodate us. Renowned for his attentive listening and deep understanding, Minister Pathirana is dedicated to advancing the health sector. His openness and transparency exemplify the qualities of an exemplary politician and minister.
Dr. Palitha Mahipala, the current Health Secretary, demonstrates both commendable enthusiasm and unwavering support. This combination of attributes makes him a highly compatible colleague for the esteemed Minister of Health.
Our discussion centered on a project that has been in the works for the past 30 years, one that no other minister had managed to advance.
Minister Pathirana, however, recognized the project’s significance and its potential to revolutionize care for heart patients.
The project involves the construction of a state-of-the-art facility at the premises of the National Hospital Colombo. The project’s location within the premises of the National Hospital underscores its importance and relevance to the healthcare infrastructure of the nation.
This facility will include a cardiology building and a tertiary care center, equipped with the latest technology to handle and treat all types of heart-related conditions and surgeries.
Securing funding was a major milestone for this initiative. Minister Pathirana successfully obtained approval for a $40 billion loan from the Asian Development Bank. With the funding in place, the foundation stone is scheduled to be laid in September this year, and construction will begin in January 2025.
This project guarantees a consistent and uninterrupted supply of stents and related medications for heart patients. As a result, patients will have timely access to essential medical supplies during their treatment and recovery. By securing these critical resources, the project aims to enhance patient outcomes, minimize treatment delays, and maintain the highest standards of cardiac care.
Upon its fruition, this monumental building will serve as a beacon of hope and healing, symbolizing the unwavering dedication to improving patient outcomes and fostering a healthier society.We anticipate a future marked by significant progress and positive outcomes in Sri Lanka’s cardiovascular treatment landscape within the foreseeable timeframe.
by Fr. Emmanuel Fernando, OMI
Jesuit Fr. Aloysius Pieris (affectionately called Fr. Aloy) celebrated his 90th birthday on April 9, 2024 and I, as the editor of our Oblate Journal, THE MISSIONARY OBLATE had gone to press by that time. Immediately I decided to publish an article, appreciating the untiring selfless services he continues to offer for inter-Faith dialogue, the renewal of the Catholic Church, his concern for the poor and the suffering Sri Lankan masses and to me, the present writer.
It was in 1988, when I was appointed Director of the Oblate Scholastics at Ampitiya by the then Oblate Provincial Fr. Anselm Silva, that I came to know Fr. Aloy more closely. Knowing well his expertise in matters spiritual, theological, Indological and pastoral, and with the collaborative spirit of my companion-formators, our Oblate Scholastics were sent to Tulana, the Research and Encounter Centre, Kelaniya, of which he is the Founder-Director, for ‘exposure-programmes’ on matters spiritual, biblical, theological and pastoral. Some of these dimensions according to my view and that of my companion-formators, were not available at the National Seminary, Ampitiya.
Ever since that time, our Oblate formators/ accompaniers at the Oblate Scholasticate, Ampitiya , have continued to send our Oblate Scholastics to Tulana Centre for deepening their insights and convictions regarding matters needed to serve the people in today’s context. Fr. Aloy also had tried very enthusiastically with the Oblate team headed by Frs. Oswald Firth and Clement Waidyasekara to begin a Theologate, directed by the Religious Congregations in Sri Lanka, for the contextual formation/ accompaniment of their members. It should very well be a desired goal of the Leaders / Provincials of the Religious Congregations.
Besides being a formator/accompanier at the Oblate Scholasticate, I was entrusted also with the task of editing and publishing our Oblate journal, ‘The Missionary Oblate’. To maintain the quality of the journal I continue to depend on Fr. Aloy for his thought-provoking and stimulating articles on Biblical Spirituality, Biblical Theology and Ecclesiology. I am very grateful to him for his generous assistance. Of late, his writings on renewal of the Church, initiated by Pope St. John XX111 and continued by Pope Francis through the Synodal path, published in our Oblate journal, enable our readers to focus their attention also on the needed renewal in the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka. Fr. Aloy appreciated very much the Synodal path adopted by the Jesuit Pope Francis for the renewal of the Church, rooted very much on prayerful discernment. In my Religious and presbyteral life, Fr.Aloy continues to be my spiritual animator / guide and ongoing formator / acccompanier.
Fr. Aloysius Pieris, BA Hons (Lond), LPh (SHC, India), STL (PFT, Naples), PhD (SLU/VC), ThD (Tilburg), D.Ltt (KU), has been one of the eminent Asian theologians well recognized internationally and one who has lectured and held visiting chairs in many universities both in the West and in the East. Many members of Religious Congregations from Asian countries have benefited from his lectures and guidance in the East Asian Pastoral Institute (EAPI) in Manila, Philippines. He had been a Theologian consulted by the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences for many years. During his professorship at the Gregorian University in Rome, he was called to be a member of a special group of advisers on other religions consulted by Pope Paul VI.
Fr. Aloy is the author of more than 30 books and well over 500 Research Papers. Some of his books and articles have been translated and published in several countries. Among those books, one can find the following: 1) The Genesis of an Asian Theology of Liberation (An Autobiographical Excursus on the Art of Theologising in Asia, 2) An Asian Theology of Liberation, 3) Providential Timeliness of Vatican 11 (a long-overdue halt to a scandalous millennium, 4) Give Vatican 11 a chance, 5) Leadership in the Church, 6) Relishing our faith in working for justice (Themes for study and discussion), 7) A Message meant mainly, not exclusively for Jesuits (Background information necessary for helping Francis renew the Church), 8) Lent in Lanka (Reflections and Resolutions, 9) Love meets wisdom (A Christian Experience of Buddhism, 10) Fire and Water 11) God’s Reign for God’s poor, 12) Our Unhiddden Agenda (How we Jesuits work, pray and form our men). He is also the Editor of two journals, Vagdevi, Journal of Religious Reflection and Dialogue, New Series.
Fr. Aloy has a BA in Pali and Sanskrit from the University of London and a Ph.D in Buddhist Philosophy from the University of Sri Lankan, Vidyodaya Campus. On Nov. 23, 2019, he was awarded the prestigious honorary Doctorate of Literature (D.Litt) by the Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya, the Most Venerable Welamitiyawe Dharmakirthi Sri Kusala Dhamma Thera.
Fr. Aloy continues to be a promoter of Gospel values and virtues. Justice as a constitutive dimension of love and social concern for the downtrodden masses are very much noted in his life and work. He had very much appreciated the commitment of the late Fr. Joseph (Joe) Fernando, the National Director of the Social and Economic Centre (SEDEC) for the poor.
In Sri Lanka, a few religious Congregations – the Good Shepherd Sisters, the Christian Brothers, the Marist Brothers and the Oblates – have invited him to animate their members especially during their Provincial Congresses, Chapters and International Conferences. The mainline Christian Churches also have sought his advice and followed his seminars. I, for one, regret very much, that the Sri Lankan authorities of the Catholic Church –today’s Hierarchy—- have not sought Fr.
Aloy’s expertise for the renewal of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka and thus have not benefited from the immense store of wisdom and insight that he can offer to our local Church while the Sri Lankan bishops who governed the Catholic church in the immediate aftermath of the Second Vatican Council (Edmund Fernando OMI, Anthony de Saram, Leo Nanayakkara OSB, Frank Marcus Fernando, Paul Perera,) visited him and consulted him on many matters. Among the Tamil Bishops, Bishop Rayappu Joseph was keeping close contact with him and Bishop J. Deogupillai hosted him and his team visiting him after the horrible Black July massacre of Tamils.
Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement
By Gomi Senadhira
senadhiragomi@gmail.com
“You might tell fairy tales, but the progress of a country cannot be achieved through such narratives. A country cannot be developed by making false promises. The country moved backward because of the electoral promises made by political parties throughout time. We have witnessed that the ultimate result of this is the country becoming bankrupt. Unfortunately, many segments of the population have not come to realize this yet.” – President Ranil Wickremesinghe, 2024 Budget speech
Any Sri Lankan would agree with the above words of President Wickremesinghe on the false promises our politicians and officials make and the fairy tales they narrate which bankrupted this country. So, to understand this, let’s look at one such fairy tale with lots of false promises; Ranil Wickremesinghe’s greatest achievement in the area of international trade and investment promotion during the Yahapalana period, Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (SLSFTA).
It is appropriate and timely to do it now as Finance Minister Wickremesinghe has just presented to parliament a bill on the National Policy on Economic Transformation which includes the establishment of an Office for International Trade and the Sri Lanka Institute of Economics and International Trade.
Was SLSFTA a “Cleverly negotiated Free Trade Agreement” as stated by the (former) Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama during the Parliamentary Debate on the SLSFTA in July 2018, or a colossal blunder covered up with lies, false promises, and fairy tales? After SLSFTA was signed there were a number of fairy tales published on this agreement by the Ministry of Development Strategies and International, Institute of Policy Studies, and others.
However, for this article, I would like to limit my comments to the speech by Minister Samarawickrama during the Parliamentary Debate, and the two most important areas in the agreement which were covered up with lies, fairy tales, and false promises, namely: revenue loss for Sri Lanka and Investment from Singapore. On the other important area, “Waste products dumping” I do not want to comment here as I have written extensively on the issue.
1. The revenue loss
During the Parliamentary Debate in July 2018, Minister Samarawickrama stated “…. let me reiterate that this FTA with Singapore has been very cleverly negotiated by us…. The liberalisation programme under this FTA has been carefully designed to have the least impact on domestic industry and revenue collection. We have included all revenue sensitive items in the negative list of items which will not be subject to removal of tariff. Therefore, 97.8% revenue from Customs duty is protected. Our tariff liberalisation will take place over a period of 12-15 years! In fact, the revenue earned through tariffs on goods imported from Singapore last year was Rs. 35 billion.
The revenue loss for over the next 15 years due to the FTA is only Rs. 733 million– which when annualised, on average, is just Rs. 51 million. That is just 0.14% per year! So anyone who claims the Singapore FTA causes revenue loss to the Government cannot do basic arithmetic! Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I call on my fellow members of this House – don’t mislead the public with baseless criticism that is not grounded in facts. Don’t look at petty politics and use these issues for your own political survival.”
I was surprised to read the minister’s speech because an article published in January 2018 in “The Straits Times“, based on information released by the Singaporean Negotiators stated, “…. With the FTA, tariff savings for Singapore exports are estimated to hit $10 million annually“.
As the annual tariff savings (that is the revenue loss for Sri Lanka) calculated by the Singaporean Negotiators, Singaporean $ 10 million (Sri Lankan rupees 1,200 million in 2018) was way above the rupees’ 733 million revenue loss for 15 years estimated by the Sri Lankan negotiators, it was clear to any observer that one of the parties to the agreement had not done the basic arithmetic!
Six years later, according to a report published by “The Morning” newspaper, speaking at the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) on 7th May 2024, Mr Samarawickrama’s chief trade negotiator K.J. Weerasinghehad had admitted “…. that forecasted revenue loss for the Government of Sri Lanka through the Singapore FTA is Rs. 450 million in 2023 and Rs. 1.3 billion in 2024.”
If these numbers are correct, as tariff liberalisation under the SLSFTA has just started, we will pass Rs 2 billion very soon. Then, the question is how Sri Lanka’s trade negotiators made such a colossal blunder. Didn’t they do their basic arithmetic? If they didn’t know how to do basic arithmetic they should have at least done their basic readings. For example, the headline of the article published in The Straits Times in January 2018 was “Singapore, Sri Lanka sign FTA, annual savings of $10m expected”.
Anyway, as Sri Lanka’s chief negotiator reiterated at the COPF meeting that “…. since 99% of the tariffs in Singapore have zero rates of duty, Sri Lanka has agreed on 80% tariff liberalisation over a period of 15 years while expecting Singapore investments to address the imbalance in trade,” let’s turn towards investment.
Investment from Singapore
In July 2018, speaking during the Parliamentary Debate on the FTA this is what Minister Malik Samarawickrama stated on investment from Singapore, “Already, thanks to this FTA, in just the past two-and-a-half months since the agreement came into effect we have received a proposal from Singapore for investment amounting to $ 14.8 billion in an oil refinery for export of petroleum products. In addition, we have proposals for a steel manufacturing plant for exports ($ 1 billion investment), flour milling plant ($ 50 million), sugar refinery ($ 200 million). This adds up to more than $ 16.05 billion in the pipeline on these projects alone.
And all of these projects will create thousands of more jobs for our people. In principle approval has already been granted by the BOI and the investors are awaiting the release of land the environmental approvals to commence the project.
I request the Opposition and those with vested interests to change their narrow-minded thinking and join us to develop our country. We must always look at what is best for the whole community, not just the few who may oppose. We owe it to our people to courageously take decisions that will change their lives for the better.”
According to the media report I quoted earlier, speaking at the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) Chief Negotiator Weerasinghe has admitted that Sri Lanka was not happy with overall Singapore investments that have come in the past few years in return for the trade liberalisation under the Singapore-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement. He has added that between 2021 and 2023 the total investment from Singapore had been around $162 million!
What happened to those projects worth $16 billion negotiated, thanks to the SLSFTA, in just the two-and-a-half months after the agreement came into effect and approved by the BOI? I do not know about the steel manufacturing plant for exports ($ 1 billion investment), flour milling plant ($ 50 million) and sugar refinery ($ 200 million).
However, story of the multibillion-dollar investment in the Petroleum Refinery unfolded in a manner that would qualify it as the best fairy tale with false promises presented by our politicians and the officials, prior to 2019 elections.
Though many Sri Lankans got to know, through the media which repeatedly highlighted a plethora of issues surrounding the project and the questionable credentials of the Singaporean investor, the construction work on the Mirrijiwela Oil Refinery along with the cement factory began on the24th of March 2019 with a bang and Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his ministers along with the foreign and local dignitaries laid the foundation stones.
That was few months before the 2019 Presidential elections. Inaugurating the construction work Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the projects will create thousands of job opportunities in the area and surrounding districts.
The oil refinery, which was to be built over 200 acres of land, with the capacity to refine 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day, was to generate US$7 billion of exports and create 1,500 direct and 3,000 indirect jobs. The construction of the refinery was to be completed in 44 months. Four years later, in August 2023 the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to cancel the agreement with the investors of the refinery as the project has not been implemented! Can they explain to the country how much money was wasted to produce that fairy tale?
It is obvious that the President, ministers, and officials had made huge blunders and had deliberately misled the public and the parliament on the revenue loss and potential investment from SLSFTA with fairy tales and false promises.
As the president himself said, a country cannot be developed by making false promises or with fairy tales and these false promises and fairy tales had bankrupted the country. “Unfortunately, many segments of the population have not come to realize this yet”.
(The writer, a specialist and an activist on trade and development issues . )
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