Points to ponder

Some news stories published in the front page of our stablemate, The Island, on Friday together with a letter to the editor on an inside page deserves deep reader reflection. The news stories were a convocation address at the Sri Jayewadenepura University by Dr. Rohan Pethiyagoda and Prof. GL Peiris’s warning that the necessary procedures to hold local government election by March next year as required by the law have not yet begun. Ms. Goolbai Gunasekara, the eminent educationist, wrote the letter under reference to the editor.

First to Dr. Pethiyagoda who readers well know to be a high achiever whose reputation is not confined to this country. We must first congratulate the Jayewardenepura University for inviting him to deliver this address. We do so in the context of living in a country where a political monk, Ven. Muruttetuwe Ananda, whose fame is not only limited to the road in Colombo renamed after him, but also to his appointment as Chancellor or the University of Colombo. Although we are notorious for our short memories, we think readers would not have forgotten that some months ago, graduates from the Colombo University ridiculed him by refusing to accept their certificates from him at the university’s convocation. Having hosted SLPP press conferences at his Abhayarama temple numerous times, he did a volte face during the build-up of the aragalaya and became an outspoken critic of the Rajapaksas. Now as the termites are crawling out of the woodwork he is less vocal on national television.

But all that is by the way. Pethiyagoda made an excellent convocation address by any standard focusing on many matters of national interest. Granted, much of what he said is what most Lankans already know, or ought to know. These included the warning that we may go bankrupt over and over again in the coming years. This, in fact, was something that clearly emerged last week at a Colombo symposium where eminent economists, academics and bankers participated. We would like to excerpt a quote from the conclusion of Pethiyagoda’s address when he told the graduates, their parents and families and others gathered there: “The coming years are going to be tough. You’ll be looking for jobs. I feel sad about it. Unfortunately the mistakes (we would say blunders) have been made for no fault of yours (we would add “except electing these clowns”), but because of crooked, ignorant politicians.” Hear, hear. Nobody with the commonsense which Pethiyagoda said all our mothers had, will disagree with that.

Pethiyagoda whose curriculum vitae (CV) can hardly be bettered, with qualifications in science related subject including engineering and biomedical engineering has hosts of interests in other fields. He, most recently became the first Lankan to be awarded the Linnean medal for zoology, has written widely on many subjects and has served in senior management in the state sector. He would, we are sure, be a strong advocate of science and employment oriented education. But while what was once the single University of Ceylon with campuses in Colombo and Peradeniya has now proliferated into 15 state universities countrywide, they are producing thousands of unemployable graduates with what was recently well described as an “entitlement culture.” They believe the state is obliged to employ them in government departments and SOEs that have no jobs for them. Innumerable such graduates have been employed with political patronage at a huge cost to the taxpayer. The state sector, guzzling up more than the lion’s share of government revenue, has become a monolithic monster. There does not appear to be a workable way of reducing the bloated numbers even in the medium term and no attempts at course correction have been made. But there is talk of opening more universities.

Prof. GL Pieris has given voice to fears that are widespread that the government is attempting to delay the local government elections that are due in March under various pretexts. He was quoted in Friday’s The Island demanding that the Elections Commission should by now be seeking the required funds for that election. There is a strong suspicion that the Chairman of the Commission, Attorney-at-Law Nimal Punchihewa who has assured Pieris’ party two weeks ago that the commission would take steps to hold the elections on schedule, is down for the chop. Everybody knows that the economic turmoil now gripping the country makes any election at this time highly impractical. But they know even better that given that the country is now governed by a president, elected not by the people but by the SLPP’s parliamentary majority, has no people’s mandate to lead the country. They also well know that the SLPP whose president promised us “vistas of prosperity and splendour” was forced by the people not to flee just office but the country. His brother who enthroned him was compelled to give up the prime ministry. Thus the much vaunted 6.9 million vote mandate is now no more. In that context, the fact is that any election will send a clear signal on whether those who are now ensconced in office are entitled to rule. Thus the balance favour an election despite the difficulties and challenges.

Mrs. Goolbai Gunasekara’s letter to the editor expressed amazement that of 400 locally trained nurses who have sought entry to work in the U.S. only four were able to seize the opportunity. The others were disqualified due to their lack of English proficiency. Among other hometruths she says a few have persevered in their attacks on the stupidity of a former education policy that has resulted in the sad state we are in today. She has commented on the dichotomy of a Lankan recently winning the Booker Prize for English writing and another winning the Commonwealth Essay Award. She says Shehan Karnatillake won his prize despite the country’s education policy while Kanya d’Almeida won hers because of an English medium education here. These are all, as we said at the outset of this commentary, are points to ponder.