Denials, Half Truths And About Turns By The GOSL

Over the last few months the GOSL made several hasty, ill advised or unpopular decisions which made it to deny, retract or even make 360 degree turns which have made us the laughing stock of Asia, if not the world.
The presence of a rock in the Hambantota harbour was the first denial made by the Government but had to admit that there was one and that it had to be blasted away at Enormous cost. This was- despite persistent criticism by opposition benches in the Parliament     that the rock was a big impediment to access the harbour by large container ships.
Hasty decisions were made in the private sector pension scheme which had to be shelved after protest by workers at Katunayake Free Trade Zone: this also led to the loss of a young man’s life. In view of the fact that farmers’ pension scheme could not pay the contributors the monthly pension for lack of funds one wonders whether the private sector pension scheme too could end up with no money to pay the contributors if and when it comes in to being.
plastic crates for transport of vegetable produce too met with resistance from farmers as many problems were unforeseen or glossed over. An arrogant minister did not heed advice given by knowledgeable transporters of vegetables as he felt he is bestowed with `omniscience’ once he became a cabinet minister!
A bill to establish private universities too had to be quickly postponed because of stiff resistance of students and university teachers who were critical of the motives of the Minister of Higher Education. Even in this instance the academic community was kept in the dark on this issue by the Minister of Higher Education.
Let us hope that arrogance, ignorance and ‘omniscience’ will give way to humility, sagacity and prudence – that is if they are capable of learning from their mistakes.
Lalith Amarasekera