Features
Hospital experiences and fun time holidays with friends in the UK
Excerpted from Memories that Linger: My journey in the world of disability
by Padmani Mendis
A sharp recollection is of my first day at the Hollymoor Hospital, Northfield where I was to have contact with patients who had psychiatric conditions. A nurse led me from the entrance and paused to open a door to a sectioned off part of the hospital with a key. He then led me through a second locked door to a third. On entering what was obviously a lobby area of a ward, he led me directly to a patient who stood absolutely rigid and looked as if he were a statue. The nurse said to me, “This is your patient, Mr. Ex. I will be back for you in half an hour.” With that the nurse disappeared, locking the door behind him.
Now what was I to do? I was scared out of my wits. Gingerly I approached Mr. Ex and tried to have a conversation with him. But Mr. Ex would have none of it. We had learned that life was changing for patients with schizophrenia with the introduction of new medication. But it obviously had not reached Mr. Ex as yet. He would not respond to me. So I stood there for half an hour looking around me in great fear.
There were patients who were just walking to and fro, gesturing “madly”; others who would be moving their bodies in one direction or another, sometimes even turning round in circles; and plenty having conversations seemingly with themselves, conversing with emotion – laughing one moment, angry the next. And then there was one who would not take his eyes off me. I reminded myself, “don’t be silly. You have been told that none of the patients in this ward are violent. None get out of control. Just pull yourself together.” Those 30 minutes were the longest ever.
Happier times were to come during my stint at the Sorrento Maternity Hospital. Antenatal classes, preparing would-be mothers for natural childbirth were joyful; and postnatal physio with those who had just become mothers was rewarding. Catching time to observe the miracle of childbirth in the delivery room was sheer luck.
Similarly, two-weeks were spent at the Patshull Rehabilitation Centre. The Centre was located in Patshull Hall on the very large Patshull Estate. We were told that the house and estate dated back to the 18th century. Patshull Hall was now used to provide intensive rehabilitation to young men to make them ready to go back to the sports that they had come from.
Most of these muscular and burly hulks had had knee surgery. Torn cartilages while doing sports was common and had to be removed. As a student I was here to experience what intensive rehabilitation was; this was to be learned by joining the young men in such strenuous activities as playing football and walking and running many kilometres a day. I did not learn this through participation with them as I was expected to. Instead, I learned through observation.
Holiday Time was Fun Time
And in between all these periods of learning came holidays. Time for fun and a different kind of enjoyment. Let me share a few as they surface in my consciousness. A week in Aberdeen over the Scottish New Year or Hogmanay, was one of my earliest while studying in Birmingham. It was arranged as a group vacation by the British Council located in the city centre. The Scottish family that hosted me made me a part of their family from the time they met me. On New Year’s Eve, after a traditional dinner which had, of course, to include Haggis and Turnips, they took me ‘first footing”.
As we approached each house, I had to be at the front so that the hosting family would see me first. Why? Because seeing a dark face was a good omen! A toast of sherry was a must in each home visited. Very soon my head was turning around. I don’t recall how that night ended.
The next day we were at a gathering in the Town Hall, being hosted by the Mayor. Now, in our group were two Russians, a total novelty in the UK because Russians had just started stepping out. One of these two was particularly good looking with an attractive personality and was an instant hit. I was a novelty too in my colourful saree and brown skin. The two of us were soon paired off. We were standing on either side of the Mayor when called for, interviewed together and at the centre of photographs. This continued for the rest of our holiday. Now why do I remember that young man’s face so clearly as I write this? Where is he now at 85 years of age or thereabouts?
Then there was the week on the Norfolk Broads in the East of England. The summer vacation was coming to us at Belmont. Eight of us made plans for a holiday together on the water, on the Norfolk Broads – none of us had been to that part of England before. We booked a houseboat that would accommodate us all.
We made plans to get there and soon we were off. Joyce, Gerry, Gill and Jackie decided they would hitch-hike their way there. Barbara, Mahin and I took the train – we were not used to asking strangers for a ride. Lyda was driven there by her boyfriend Lew who came back later to collect her. The four on the road were lucky with their thumbs and had good rides so all eight of us arrived at the houseboat more or less together.
The next day we were lazing around on deck wondering how we could get around the Broads. Our houseboat was moored. We could not afford a motorised one. But not for long did we have to wonder. Soon enough, alongside came a boat on which were four happy and loud young men. They saw a group of young women on another boat and knew their holiday was made. It turned out later that they were cameramen for the BBC.
They were soon enough on board our boat. And soon enough too they had more or less paired off with our native friends. We had our ride on the waterways for the rest of the week. The boys took us around and we provided their food. Scrabble and other board games while sailing during the day; in the evenings it would be a drink at the pub nearby and a sing song or charades at night. A good arrangement and one that made for an exceptional holiday, sailing the waterways.
Later, the eight of us would have a caravan holiday together at Beer in Devon on the south coast. Yet another way of life and another experience. One fun memory was the eight of us hitching a ride to the city of Exeter on the south-east tip of England. A farmer and his truck on their way to Exeter was kind to us, stopping to take us all the way. Mahin and I had the privilege of riding in the front seat on account of being elders. The other six had to perch themselves on the bales of straw being carried by the farmer to the fair in town. Rather precarious, but safe.
One year, Mahin, Jen and I went to Guernsey on the Channel Isles. We wanted a restful holiday. After getting off the boat, we walked around for a while and found a hotel to suit us. To save money we booked a room for three; Mahin and Jen shared a bed while I had one to myself. We would spend our days walking around the island and on its beaches, sitting down occasionally at a café for a coffee and to watch the passers-by. One day we went to the island of Sark. No motorised vehicles are allowed on Sark. We hired a horse cart for the day and were driven to all the hot spots of Sark. We did not see the Dame of Sark who at that time made many of the decisions that had to be made about her island.
Another day we took the boat to Herm and collected sea shells on the beautiful beach. We lay on that beach in the sun. When we got up to leave I held my forearm against Jen’s. She said “Oh Padi, you have got a tan. I didn’t think you could.” After that whenever my friends sat in the sun, I would always find a shady spot to lie in. It was a quiet week and we were back at Belmont refreshed.
Space for a last memorable holiday. This one was in the Scilly Isles off Exeter at the south-east corner of England to where as I said we had hitched a ride. This too was arranged by the British Council. I felt safe going on holidays arranged by them when I had decided to go alone. The isles only export was flowers and this attracted me.
What I am left with are memories of unending fields of flowers. Fields of yellow daffodils, of white and of yellow narcissi, and of tulips in their myriad of colours. Memories of staying with the only dentist serving the islands and his lovely wife; a young, warm and generous couple. They took me to see the flowers close at hand, to see them being plucked, packed and made ready for their journey to many parts of Europe. Their destiny.
To Their Homes with Friends
As I look back on those holiday memories, they come merged with the joyous visits to the homes of the many friends who took me to meet their families. Elizabeth took me to her home on a farm near Warwick for a weekend. The long drive was lined with apple trees all covered with white blossom. So was the area around the house covered with similar trees. Mrs. Surman and Elizabeth took me out the next day. We passed their horses grazing in the meadow. They lifted their heads in greeting when they heard the motor and tossed their tails to say hello.
Mrs. Surman stopped her car at our destination, way out on a country road. “Look, Padi,” she said. I turned my head only to see a sheet of blue. And just then that blue sheet swayed gently in the breeze that blew over it, as if to wave at me. “Oh, bluebells,” I said. She replied, “Yes, this is a Bluebell Wood.”
On another weekend, Jen took me home to West Kirby in Cheshire to meet her father, Vicar McTear, her mother and two younger sisters. Gill took me to meet her father Colonel Brysson, her mother and young sisters in Liverpool. Jan took me to meet her family to Shrewsbury in Shropshire. Beryl took me home to spend an evening with her family not far away in Walsall, Birmingham. Her parents were green grocers and they lived above their shop. I came away with a generous bag full of plums and apricots, and later as it turned out, chicken pox. A special gift from her young brother.
Rosemarie Mapp took me home to meet her farmer father and her mother. And her young brother who would one day inherit that huge farm. Like at Elizabeth’s farm, this too was plentiful with apple trees. This time they were laden with fruit. I told Mrs. Mapp that I loved apples. I had never seen an apple-laden tree before and had always wanted to pick one straight off for a bite. Could I please do that?
And so it went on and on. They all gave me beautiful memories to live with.
Overcoming Loneliness
On certain days when I was still at Woodlands, I would have a day off while my friends would all be working. Such days were often lonely. I had to get out somewhere to get rid of that feeling. Many a day I spent walking in the parks and around town. On many other days, I would take the short train ride to Stratford-on-Avon and reflect on the Bard. How could one man have produced all that brilliant writing? I would at times repeat to myself, “Friends, Romans, Countryman…” and “Is this a dagger I see before me? Come, let me clutch thee…” as my brothers had taught me when I was still quite young.
When it was the season, I would go straight to the theatre and buy a ticket for the afternoon matinee to be performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company. What was on stage did not matter, they could all be enjoyed. I would next buy myself a sandwich and a packet of crisps and sit by the River Avon watching the swans swim by. Until it was time to go to the theatre for the performance.
One particular lonely day I thought I had to do something different. So I dressed in my Sunday best – in a soft Dacca cotton in peacock blue, put my hair up, wore my heels and took the bus to the Birmingham Zoo way across on the side of town. I was not alone for long. As I was strolling around, I noticed that an elderly couple was looking my way. They appeared to be talking about me. The gentleman had a complicated looking camera hung around his neck.
Then they had decided. They came up to speak to me. It appeared that he was a professional photographer. He was on an assignment for Kodak, testing a new colour film. Could he take some photographs of me with which his film could be tested? Yes of course he could. We spent the rest of the day together. When it was time to go our separate ways, he took down my address and said he would send me some photos. Which he did. And I sent them to my mother.
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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