Features
The Criminality of a Leader
By Anura Gunasekera
If an armed group emerges from my home after a long discussion with me and, immediately thereafter, proceeds to attack a group of unarmed people in very close proximity, and to destroy their property, I should be the first person the police needs to take in for questioning. However, it took almost three weeks after the event for the police to question Mahinda Rajapaksa , former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, over the May 9 attack on the unarmed protesters just outside his gates. In my view, he is as responsible for the mayhem that took place at Galle Face thereafter, and the violence at several locations across the country which followed, just as if he had personally directed the events. As MP Sumanthiran commented soon after the event, a view subsequently endorsed by many individuals and representative groups, Mahinda Rajapaksa should have been arrested immediately for inciting civil disobedience
The Galle Face protest was always peaceful, controlled, and at times quite innovative and amusing. The participants passionately articulated a series of demands which were being echoed with equal enthusiasm by other groups right across the country, except perhaps in the far North. There was never even the faintest threat that the protest would turn violent. The real significance of Gotagogama and Mynagogama was that both combined to reflect a focal point for a different Sri Lanka, without political, racial and religious animosity, the harsh features in the ugly face of the Sri Lankan polity since independence. To all decent citizens it represented a more moral Sri Lankan society. Perhaps I am being both romantic and optimistic but that is how I wish to view it. It is on this fragile utopia that the inspired thugs unleashed their violence.
Despite his easy camaraderie, hail-fellow-well-met persona and the diligently cultivated rustic appeal, Mahinda Rajapksa is fascist to the core. Unlike his younger sibling, the present president, who does not pretend to be anything other than the despot that he is, and to that extent is sincere, Mahinda is a total hypocrite. The day before the unleashing of the May 9 mayhem, he paid homage at the Sri Maha Bodhi, the site most sacred to the Buddhists of this country, and at other significant sites in Anuradhapura. It is the kind of public piety, patently false, practiced comfortably by fascist rulers, heads of crime families and political charlatans, who see no moral conflict in prayer in the evening and the orchestrating of violence next morning.
Just a few hours after the Galle Face incident, the venerable Omalpe Sobhitha thero, in a media interview, flanked by his eminence, Cardinal Malcom Ranjith and another leading Buddhist thero, encapsulated this dissonance, this behavioural incongruity, this hypocrisy, with deadly accuracy; roughly translated, what he said is as follows; I have reproduced the relevant segments as the venerable thero denudes Mahinda Rajapaksa’s public persona and exposes it in all its ugly detail;
Quote-“Yesterday, dressed in white, having worshipped at the “Atamasthana” with flowers and promised to do many good deeds, this is what he did on returning to his official residence. We have exposed his false piety before but people did not believe us. Perhaps now the Mahanayakes will realize that this man’s devotion is a sham. Whilst projecting a Buddhist attitude, love for the country and for the nation, what he engages in are anti-national and anti-religious actions. This individual’s conduct is not only anti-Buddhist but goes against all civilized belief. We feel ashamed that the chief priests of those sacred places accompanied this devotee, as if to provide him with security. However, what the chief prelate of Malwatte said is that he would not admit any of these people in to any one of his temples.
What is absolutely clear is that the people are peaceful but the government is fascist. To the list of despotic, cruel rulers, such as Hitler and Pol Pot, renowned for their tyrannical governance, the name that is added from Sri Lanka is that of Mahinda Rajapaksa. Today, we experienced one example of that tyranny. As his eminence the Cardinal said today, from time to time, previously, we have seen examples of the above. For this outrage conducted in broad daylight, in public view and before the international media, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa must take first responsibility.
This murderous group was deployed after being invited to and dined in his house, with liquor produced by ethanol manufacturers. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has responded to these protesters, who have conducted themselves peacefully for over a month, with thugs unleashed by him. However, the younger brother cannot escape censure by thrusting the entire blame on the elder brother. What is absolutely clear now is that this terrorism is not to be confined to Galle Face or the neighbourhood of Temple Trees, but that the intention is to create bloodshed across the entirety of Sri Lanka and, thus, to retain hold on power. Therefore, we would like to tell them quite clearly, that this attempt to replicate Hitler, or Pol Pot, will be unsuccessful. Irrespective of wherever else in the world it has happened, the peace loving people of this country will not permit the elder brother and the younger brother, and their cohorts, to replicate the Pol Pot example in this country.
We must mention that the venerable Mahanayake’s and his eminence the Cardinal have sounded a warning and given prior advice. As advised by the religious leaders, you must immediately resign from the Premiership. Constitutionally, the power of the president must be curbed and the presidential office re-scripted. This country must be governed peacefully and democratically. Religious leaders have proposed that the country be handed over to an independent, non -aligned, or even aligned, group of intellectuals. Your time is now finished. Mahinda Rajapaksa, we also saw robed fascists being involved in the same acts of terrorism. That is an insult to the robe in its entirety. It is an insult, not only to the ministry of Buddhism but also to the civilized world and to religious society…….. we are giving the final advice, the final command, to both elder and younger brother. Let go completely of power and create the environment for the nation to establish the governance of its choosing. The prime minister must resign immediately. Gotabaya Rajapakse, the younger brother who has permitted his elder brother to engage in terrorism, must also resign.”End of Quote.
The aftermath of the Galle Face violence was an eerie and frightening replication of the anti-Tamil riots of 1983, with buses being stopped by raging mobs, occupants assaulted and the vehicles burnt. Houses and places of businesses were set on fire, especially those belonging to Pohottuwa politicians, as well as those symbolic of the Rajapaksa dynasty. But, unlike in 1983, the violence was Sinhalese against Sinhalese, a Sinhala-Buddhist polity for so many years seduced by the Rajapaksas’ divisive rhetoric, turning on itself and frenziedly snapping at its own entrails like a gut-shot hyena. It was also the expression of the barely contained rage of a nation under siege, denied the essentials of daily life through the colossal mis-governance by the Rajapaksa family cabal.
The police were equally complicit in the mayhem at Galle Face, making less than feeble attempts to restrain the armed thugs from Temple Trees. How is it that the same force was able to prevent thousands of university students from entering parliament whilst, in numerous locations across the country over the last few weeks, they were also able to manage equally large, and equally angry, crowds? The police contempt for the judiciary has also been reflected in the studied indifference by the Inspector General of Police, to the instructions of the Attorney General to take action against DIG Deshabandu Tennekoon, who is alleged to have provided easy passage to the Galle Face attack squadron.
The attacks of arson against Pohottuwa politicians and their associates cannot be attributed to ordinary citizens, who have been spending hours each day at one queue or the other, waiting for cooking gas and fuel which does not arrive. They were clearly well organized and perhaps pre-planned. Another curious feature of those events was the submissiveness of the police, almost as if they were permitting the violence to escalate, enabling, at the appropriate stage, the conspicuous use of repressive counter action under the then operational state of emergency.
There were unconfirmed reports filtering through social media and other sources, that many of the thugs who attacked the protest sites had been detainees held in various institutions, in outstation locations, released temporarily for this purpose. Whether true or not, the fact is that they arrived at the protest site, armed with clubs and other blunt weapons, irrefutable proof of a pre-planned assault. The discovery of cartons full of cheap arrack bottles in some of the vehicles which accompanied this group, is proof that they were spiritually primed for the task that lay ahead. The fact that the leaders of this group consisted of regional heads of the Pohottuwa faction, who emerged from Temple Trees immediately after being wined and dined by Mahinda Rajapaksa and his leading associates, reinforces the conclusion of the their complicity.
The long political career of a vainglorious man, signposted by overwhelming political victories, ignominious rejection and defeat, miraculous resurgence, accusations of massive corruption and complicity in the intimidation of opponents, has come to an inglorious end. The Rajapaksa family project, nursed assiduously by Mahinda Rajapakse over the years, has been derailed. As things are today, Namal, the son so diligently groomed for greater things, might find it difficult to secure a “Grama Niladhari” appointment in a hamlet in Hambantota.
Whilst the Rajapaksa comet is disappearing in to the sun, the agony of the nation continues, inflamed by Mahinda Rajapaksa’s parting shot as it were. There is no justification, or condoning of civil violence, even as a response to tyranny, but the reality is that had the Rajapaksa brothers heeded the cry of an anguished nation and ceded power to create the space for a new governance, instead of listening to the echo of their own rhetoric, the tragic incidents of May 9 would not have taken place.
In his address to his loyalists at the Temple Trees convocation, minutes before they surged out in pursuit of his bidding, Mahinda Rajapaksa, at his actorish best, figuratively thumping his chest, assured the viewers and listeners of his dedication to the nation. It is the hypocrisy of this man, so cruelly exposed by the Ven Sobitha Thero, but so easily believed by the gullible Sinhala-Buddhist polity, which has brought our nation to this sorry pass. Such evil men must never be allowed access to positions of power. It is the Sinhala-Buddhist majority which gave them the license to pillage the nation, enthusiastically contributing to their own downfall. Perhaps the grim present provides a lesson that they will not forget in the future.
In conclusion, let me quote the last words that assassinated journalist, Lasantha Wickrematunge wrote, an eerily prescient epitaph for himself and , as recent events have now proved, an equally appropriate prediction for the final fate of Mahinda Rajapakse himself. ” in the name of patriotism you(Mahinda), have trampled human rights, nurtured unbridled corruption and squandered public money like no other president before you. Indeed, your conduct has been like a small child let loose in a toyshop. That analogy is perhaps inapt because no child would have caused so much blood to be spilled on this land as you have, or trampled on the rights of the citizens as you do. Although you are now so drunk with power that you cannot see it, you will come to regret your sons having so rich an inheritance of blood. It can only bring tragedy. As for me, it is with a clear conscience that I go to meet my Maker. I wish, when your time finally comes, you could do the same. I wish”
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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