What destroyed us? Ayn Rand’s answer

For well over a decade I was forced to seek “refuge” in North America from the comfortable life I lead for years in Colombo. Occasionally, Lankans in the vicinity here, friends and relatives, meet socially. Much of the discussions, understandably, and nostalgically centres around the Mother Country.  Like many, collectively, we sadly seek the reasons that destroyed our precious Motherland.

We rejoiced when the UN or Agencies connected with grading countries elevated Sri Lanka from Developing-countries status to the next level to those enjoying middle-income level. And then, inexplicably in a way,  came the sad and alarming drop to shameful bankruptcy. Examinations of children were cancelled for the want of paper to print question papers!!!!!  We became the laughing stock of the world.

The answer to what destroyed  a charming and resourceful land of 22 million – which is a question Lankans in the diaspora often ask when they meet – is captured by the remarkable American philosopher and thinker Ayn Rand with characteristic brilliance:

“When you see in order to produce you need permission from men who produce nothing

When you see money flowing to those who deal, not in goods, but in favours

When you see that men get richer by graft and pull than by work And your laws don’t protect you against them but protect them against you When you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice You know that your society is doomed.”

A. Kandappah (by email)