‘Fleecing the hungry’ – a response

I read The Island editorial of 09 Sept., and feel comforted that we still have some intrepid journalists who can call a spade a spade without fear. Cheers! The response of a reader which appeared in our issue under the caption, “Fleecing the hungry.” was spot on.Your editorial today (12), Vultures at work, made me wonder how long this country can endure such frauds and thought of communicating my views against the backdrop of my stumbling on a far-reaching statement made by a colonial Governor.

In 1910 the then colonial Governor Mc Callum had objected to the granting of franchise to the Ceylonese as we were then known, claiming that they did not possess the capacity to objectively elect their leaders. His assumption was that if this facility was granted that it would only pave the way for families to rule the country. I guess his vision was that in the long run such governance will not benefit the masses. It is abundantly clear that his assessment had been proved correct. After nearly 75 years of self-rule none can say that this objection was with an ulterior motive.

If one were to look at our legislature it has been families with a short break where a man with indomitable courage and hard work penetrated the caste barrier and reached the zenith. That break was short lived and families crept back.

We did have a break in 1977 and unquestionably entered a different era where the direction of the economy was concerned. Yet, a Cabinet with perhaps the best brains failed to address a critical requirement, namely creation of strong institutions where accountability was established by statute. This failure and the appearance of politicians who were not of the same mould paved the way for unbridled corruption.

The downward spiral commenced after 2005 at an alarming rate where one family grabbed power and are billionaires where all are settled for generations after pedalling race and religion. It has been proved beyond doubt that after such a long span that political families by and large had ensured continuity of the same subservient culture by offering carrots instead of elevating the educational and social standards of the people. It’s common knowledge that the benchmark for upward mobility was education. It’s abundantly evident that the allocation for education is small when compared with allocation of funds for highways, etc., and this lapse must get corrected soon.

We are now in the 21ST century and can count on one’s fingers, the number of legislators who surfaced without family connection. The dynastic culture was certainly an impediment to progress and it’s time some guidelines are put in place for party leaders to nominate technocrats to accelerate growth in this day and age to replace signal posts.

Reading the editorial today VULTURES AT WORK may I commend Prof CHARITHA HERATH for dropping that bomb shell which showed how political patronage created havoc in the country. I have watched COPE proceedings and through a Pohottuwa appointee, he displayed leadership qualities where he did not play ball for continuity in office against his conscience but acted in the best interests of the people.

Mr President, public perception is that you were the most suited to pull us out of this quagmire. While acknowledging that KAPUTA better known as Mr 10 % is the puppeteer, ably supported by the master has placed boulders in your way since you cannot dissolve Parliament till March 2023. It is my strong belief that you will place the future of the country before pleasing crooks and give the people the chance to elect a government of their choice after you pass that Constitutional requirement.

As a senior citizen I lament that civil society was in deep slumber and hail Aragalaya for the enormous effort they made to penetrate the concrete walls with a view to bring about a system change, one law for all, recover robbed money, and last not but the least restoration of meritocracy. Sadly, their efforts have had a setback due to penetration by extraneous elements who hijacked the democratic efforts to achieve their goal.

S. Wijeratne Australia