THIS AND THAT

by Goolbai Gunasekara

The political scene changes from day to day….indeed from hour to hour it seems. Here are some thoughts on subjects being discussed among people like me who have no influence in politics but have plenty to say on the bizarre events that have shown a rich vein of eccentricity running through the events of the last four months.

Our opinions are not based on heated rhetoric. Nor are they politically biased. They simply seem to be based on commonsensical (albeit amateur) conclusions by people like me who know full well our opinions are never going to be heeded……..UNLESS !!!

RANIL

We are sure that Mr. Ranil,Wickremesinghe is under no illusions as to his popularity. He knows that next to the Rajapaksas he is greatly disliked at the moment (politically speaking that is.) Nothing personal is intended. He is a cultured and well read man. But he has made mistake after mistake in dealing with the aragalaya that keeps bubbling angrily in small groups because he has given the impression that he will cooperate with former crooks without a change of system. And we ALL want a system change. We still see old faces of corrupt men surrounding him and this upsets us…aragalaya and civil population alike. He has not so far brought miscreants to justice which the population desperately wants.

We ask this…..Surely Ranil has the power to get rid of the old guard and bring in new men, without character blemishes, instead of swearing in those cleared of wrongdoing by a justice system we are not totally happy with? And many who are NOT cleared.

He has the chance to act like an Enlightened Despot instead of a Potty Dictator. Let him do the right thing by the people who have spoken forcefully and he will go down as our best leader yet. So our view is that he should be given the chance to GET ON WITH THIS THANKLESS JOB and HOPE he will rise to the desperate call of Lanka.

ENERGY AND ELECTRICITY

We feel that young Minister, KANCHANA WIJESEKERA Has done a very good job in a most difficult situation. One can see he is trying hard. He speaks excellently on TV and tells the public what is happening with regard to the queues (which he has now dispelled.) He stands to be a mature politician in the making. Alas the energy crisis highlighted by the Chairman of the PUCSL.

The electricity hike is a shock and we need to be reassured that those rascally engineers comprising the so called ‘Engineer Mafia’ who are responsible for our sad plight are taking massive salary cuts and will be denied salary raises or bonuses. May we be told if this is being done? Surely the IMF will expect that sort of action? Mr.. RW must start acting and being very strict with these unpatriotic elements.

ECONOMY

In the face of gloom and rocketing food prices I wonder if the HOUSE really understands the mood of the people. I feel they listen to sycophants around them who tell them what they want to hear, not what they SHOULD hear. Force public servants who are a drain on the country’s finances to start taking the blame. For example how can a bankrupt nation like ours have a stock of SEVENTY unused buses doing nothing for seven years?

THE ‘HOUSE’ AND CUT BACKS

Our disreputable House (except for a few notable exceptions) need to have their salaries cut, their pensions withdrawn, their powers totally curtailed, their cars taken away and their unnecessary security withdrawn forthwith. If there are death threats against them they probably deserve them. We have NEVER seen such a useless bunch of people. Their behavior in Parliament is appalling. They do not have the courtesy to even listen to each other talk. They yawn, they chat among themselves, they get up and leave the chamber, they argue over trivialities and we wonder what they are doing to justify the money spent on these (mostly) uneducated men.

They have the audacity to complain they do not have enough petrol to get to Parliament. Let them use public transport as the Ministers of Sweden are doing or let them stay at home. They do nothing for the country or the people anyway.

SAJITH

Sajith’s father, the late President R. Premadasa, was the best administrator this country has ever had. His work ethic was amazing. He had foresight and wisdom and his economic policies were sound and rewarding. His son has had an excellent education and has great skills as a speaker. His English is impeccable and he can probably impress anyone from the IMF, World Bank, ADB et al. But so far he seems to be playing a passive role when he should be up and about acting as a possible leader of this country. He is certainly growing into the future leader we hope for.

ERAN, HARSHA AND GAJENDRAKUMAR

It says a lot for these politicians that they are recognized by their first names so easily. Eran and Harsha are two of the most trusted and admired men in Parliament at the moment. Gajendrakumar is rapidly earning a similar reputation and seems to have inherited his father, Kumar Ponnambalam’s ability. With men like this why on earth are we having to deal with the likes of Nimal Siripala and Rajitha Senaratne and others of their ilk?

M.A. SUMANTHIRAN

This is another universally respected man who talks commonsense and knows what the country needs. We have the talent but why are the above mentioned names not given Ministries regardless of party politics and just told to get on with bringing order to chaos. Ranil will be a hero by the time he has done this and returned this country to prosperity (if only he will). He will get the credit for tapping into this well of talent who will work with wisdom and foresight and get brilliant results. Most of all….they all have integrity.

If Ranil is allowed to go outside the Parliamentary elected sluggards he will find literally dozens of capable, educated, experienced citizens who will bring this country round. Among them are many women like Savitri Gunasekara, Radhika Coomaraswamy and Tara de Mel. There are many other women of course -especially among the business community. The names that springs to mind are those of Dawn Austin and Kasturi Chelleraja Wilson. Alas I am not very familiar with the many highly gifted women who run businesses with enormous success.

Let us compare the dozen or so names I have mentioned to the 200 greedy, stupid and corrupt men who comprise our Parliament. These men are simply wallowing on the luxurious featherbed of the state. Obviously I discount that small number who are both educated and able.

Are the 200 sordid lot not ashamed of themselves! The Sri Lankans have openly and volubly shown their contempt for the present government representatives who still attend Parliament driven in expensive vehicles, behaving as if they still represent the people. Don’t they FEEL the hatred they inspire? Don’t they fear the possibility of future violence now that peaceful protests have been suspended? How long will they continue with this social irresponsibility? How long will the voters put up with the appalling corruption so shamelessly displayed and so shamelessly not yet punished.

The uprising of the people, the continuing aragalya struggle and the constant demands for justice show that the people of Sri Lanka want these men OUT. They will support ANY man who will have the power and the nerve to change the system. Ranil Wickremesinghe has the power at the moment. Will he have the nerve?

Napoleon’s military success was no doubt due to his genius but it was also due to the fact that he had the ability to choose superb generals. His Napoleonic Code was possible because of this talent he had in acquiring the best men available. Sri Lanka has many such men available. Let Ranil Wickremesinghe SOMEHOW make use of them without concerning himself unduly about points of J.R’s absurd Constitution which prevents any real system change in the name of ‘Legality’. Legality is a much touted word. What crimes are being committed daily in its name.

Lest erudite Constitution experts dismiss all this as a mirage let me remind the reader that I started by saying this is an amateur’s opinion.As an afterword….I have just read in a morning’s paper of the Sept. 8 that the English Medium is being restarted as National policy in schools. Better late than never I guess, but what an appalling waste it has been all these years watching while the country gradually sank into virtual backwardness due to a foolish language policy applied wrongly.