Karu and expert opinion

Karu Jayasuriya, President of the National Movement for Social Justice -NMSJ- is reported to have said that the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government failed because it did not heed expert opinion. I would add that some political leaders do not seek expert advice, and undertake projects which are not financially viable to satisfy their ego to have their names displayed and worse – to earn illegal money in the way of bribes, as alleged.

Having said so, now I cite a specific case – the Norochcholai Coal Power Project. All preliminary work was done for the commissioning of this plant by year 2000, when the then Bishop of Chilaw objected, saying that it would affect the St Anne’s Shrine at Talawila, 12 km away. That objection was thoroughly examined by both local and foreign experts and fears allayed. The country was facing a severe power shortage and a six-hour power cut was in force, and the help of the private sector was sought. It had diesel power plants and asked for high prices presumably to recover the capital cost early. That led to corruption.

However, the Engineers of CEB continued to pressure the government to approve the project by organising seminars, TV discussions and a very impressive seminar organised by the Sri Lanka Institute of Engineers [Electricity Branch]. Karu Jayasuriya, the then Minister of Power and Energy and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe attended it.

The seminar was also attended by industrial, commercial and domestic consumers of electricity, and papers were read and discussed, to stress the urgency of undertaking the project and everyone hoped the government would give the green light, but it was disappointing to receive a letter from Jayasuriya, saying that ‘as a matter of policy, it cannot be allowed’.

That was the stand taken by Jayasuriya then. He could be excused as that may have been the policy of the then government in power and the political party he belonged to and not his personal view.

With the change in government in 2005, Susil Premajayantha was given the portfolio Power and Energy. He was pressured by CEB Engineers to obtain Cabinet approval for the project. He did so.

In this context I am reminded of Moeller’s theory: “One of the major reasons for a country to be subjected to bad governance is when its professionals do not speak out, but worse still, these professionals actually gang up with them in anarchy for their own benefit. What these professionals do not realise is that in the long term, they too would be subjected to the worst treatment by these despotic dictators whom they were keen to protect. Consorting with an autocratic regime is the worst act of treason against one’s own country and its people”. This applies to our country.

Our politicians, when appointed ministers, become experts and dictate to experienced, knowledgeable officials.

I am reminded of Steve Job’s saying, “It does not make sense to hire smart people and tell them what to do. We have smart people to tell us what to do.” What is happening in our beloved country is exactly the opposite of Job’s advice.

G. A. D. SIRIMAL

Boralesgamuwa