Features
Missed opportunities due to big and pig-headedness
An article in the January 8 Sunday Island compared Bangladesh with Sri Lanka. We were rather high in international esteem when Bangladesh was born out of a war between the two Pakistans with our Premier Sirmavo B helped by allowing planes on humanitarian business to land here. Then Bangla was considered the second poorest nation in the world. Now where is it and where are we? No need to
Overhead rail system
In our country through pique and wanting to crush Patali Champika, who was the chief promoter of the overhead rail planned to be built with the best aid giver – the Japanese – was abandoned no sooner Gotabaya Rajapaksa came to power with his brothers and their families behind him. It was said in the article that the light rail project was scrapped as a slap to Patali C R. Pique with one person and revenge cost the entire country very much. Structures had already been built and the Japanese were very angered by the decision. It cost us a mint too. And, now like a dog with his tail hanging behind, we are supposed to be asking Japan to please help to set up this very necessary mode of transport within Colombo and its suburbs. (There is a sordid professorial connotation now to the expression: gone to the dogs!)
Quoted from Wikipedia: “The Colombo Monorail was a proposed monorail system to be built. The project was estimated to cost US$ 1.3b. Construction was proposed to begin in 2Q 2015. The Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development proposed a light rail system to be much more feasible than a monorail and recommended light rail, an electrified railway and an inland water transport system that utilises Colombo’s historic canal network.” Patali Champika was the brilliant and dynamic Minister of the Ministry in the newly formed government with Maitripala Sirisena as Prez and Ranil Wickremasinghe as PM, – the latter with only one surname then and the hope of the nation.
This cancellation, a great disastrous blunder of GR as Prez is often forgotten when mentioning his great disservice to the country mostly due to being too presumptuous of his powers and ability, and depending on advisors, later proved to have been idiotic. He is now judged as inexperienced. We talk of his going organic overnight a killer blunder; his reduction of taxes, and permitting the sugar and other scams; forgetting the slap in the face dealt to JICA and thus to the Japanese government who have favoured us very much, remembering JR’s speech after WWII when Japan was being judged and reparation payment discussed.
Privatisation of Uni Education
SAITM medical college was doing very well, approved of by then Prez Mahinda Rajapaksa. Then students of the government medical colleges attached to universities who benefitted from free medical education combined with the GMOA under President Dr Padeniya and shouted, screamed and protested against private medical education. Due to self concern and totally disregarding what was good and beneficial to the country, SAITM was ordered to close down by Rajapaksa. Thus the country lost so very much in foreign exchange alone and in turning out good doctors. Our children had to go to foreign countries for medical education and even other branches of higher education with much strain placed on parents and on the students themselves who had to contend with difficulties in some foreign lands – language, acclimatisation, etc. Cass knows several kids who went to the medical college in Chittagong, Bangladesh, struggling to comprehend the accent of Bangla lecturers and contend with hostile living conditions. If private medical education had been allowed and encouraged, students from overseas would have studied here in SL with fine lecturers and favourbale boarding while pouring in dollars to the government kitty No. Self-expediency always before the good of the country by corrupt leaders.
Takes from the week’s news
Mervin Silva was back in commandeering action. His physical appearance may have changed but not his authoritative voice. TV News on Sunday had a bit on this and The Island on Monday January 9 carried the subheading on page 1: Replica of Dalada Maligawa being pulled down. This was in a temple in Potuhera, Kurunegala where money had been collected for this useless building. TV news gave the impression Morvin or Merve the Perve as he was dubbed, was on a crusade all his own. The newspaper report said the building was objected to by the Mahanayakas of Malwatte and Asgiriya. “The prelates sought presidential intervention.” This fact too needs comment. In our country even the laying of an egg by a hen has to be sanctioned by the Prez, otherwise a command/request holds no water. Well, in the news clip Mervin said: “Immediately bring this built Pattirippuwa down. I say so and it must be done.” What prey is his authority? A past trouble shooter trying to do the same now?
Good solid idea
In The Island of Monday, Chatura Senarath Arambepola suggests the country creates brand ‘Ceylon’. Definitely so. Why does Cassandra who knows next to nothing on trade be it local or international and all that, promote the brand name suggested? Because the name Sri Lanka is dirt now, worthless, connotes bribery, corruption and utter failure. Ceylon was prestigious, and Ceylon Tea ruled tea sales overseas and Air Ceylon, the national carrier, was praised all round. Cassandra remembers short stints in Wales and England where the name Ceylon was recognised while Sri Lanka raised eyebrows of questioning when mentioned as home country. Often the old name was accompanied by the expression: Oh! Wonderful Ceylon Tea! Cass was in Kuwait for a week or two. Speaking to one or two women in a library she visited, the introductory conversation went thus: “I had a maid from Sri Lanka who was horrible. I spent more and got a Filipino.” Or “My maid from Sri Lanka is OK though she knows no English, none other than her native language.” Cass hung her head in shame.
Chatura S Arambepola starts his article thus: “How can Sri Lanka come out of the pit it has fallen and Rise Up?” No Chatura, we did not fall in, we were pushed into a pit of bankruptcy and utter despair by politicians following a certain family, their accepted advisors, and corrupt bureaucrats. And we have to pull ourselves up and out. Yes, you are helping with a suggestion. ‘Visit Ceylon – Paradise of Asia’; buy ‘Ceylon … ‘will be good slogans. We can hide our Sri Lankan shame behind this altered brand name.
No austerity for bankrupt Sri Lankans
While about 40% Sri Lankans are badaginne pelenawa, the Haves are having a whale of a time. OK if it’s on justly earned or family inherited money. But it’s mostly black money or government or Municipal Council money that is spent. Cass received a picture of a loaded table from an overseas friend. Party table of Rosy S’s Mayoral Christmas party; or maybe one of them. Not an inch left of the table, so laden with goodies it was. Who foot the massive bill? Sure dear Rosy will say my husband left me money (just as he built her seven luxury toilets when she was critiqued for expensive renovation of Mayor’s residence). Or was our paid rates money squandered on continued Christmas feasting?
A returning-from-holiday foreign resident exclaimed at the lights sparkling Colombo with blackouts still in force and people merrymaking in starred hotels. “We in Europe were so austere in our Xmas festivities: no lights, no big meals, no fireworks. We expect a recession and fuel is sparse and energy needs to be conserved.” Not so in this Paradise gone to the dogs!