27th June, 2004  Volume 10, Issue 50

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'Stowaways' left high and dry! 

The boys who ventured out - albeit illegally - were imprisoned at an enormous cost to the country and were released on Vesak Day. The story does not end there. What is the plight of these boys? They not only lost the Rs. 50,000 to the fraudulent agents but much more of their meagre possessions mortgaged or sold by their kith and kin to visit and fight for their release. Now they are free, they are not back to square one, rather square zero.

The authorities are quick to punish lawbreakers - without focusing on the root cause or a way to solve the problem. These youngsters again are jobless and in addition moneyless too. Unless the country provides them with some means to survive, can we really blame them if they stoop to theft or drugs to survive? After all, as Prophet (Sal) said, "Hunger is the root cause of most evils."

A country which boasts 70 cabinet ministers - with all the perks added on, cannot brush off the responsibility of offering some mode of survival for jobless youth. It is not as if we don't have avenues to employ them fruitfully. Our roads are in need of repairs, hospitals are neglected, schools are dilapidated and we need manpower to rectify all of them. Thousands of young men are twiddling their thumbs, and out of frustration smoking cigarettes and ganja for want of something to do. Why not employ them to repair our roads, schools and hospitals? If we think hard enough, I am sure we can find donor countries to pay for the development of the infrastructure while giving employment to the youth.

Will the politicians and authorities, instead of bickering about petty issues, turn their efforts towards the development of the country?

Dr. Mareena Reffai
Dehiwala

•  Unadulterated political fraud

Sandanaya plays Migel by day
and Dhaniyel by night

The headline of this write-up is the anglicised version of the colloquially satirical Sinhala proverb, which needs no interpretation to the average Sri Lankan. Nevertheless, its sub-text is to metaphorically deride the duplicity of the character of unscrupulous people, particularly those engaged in politics who take a very high moral ground publicly on issues just for the consumption of hillbilly voters for winning over their support at elections, with an ulterior agenda of doing something entirely contrary to such rhetoric, when they are back on the saddle of power. Once they have been elected they are not at a loss to cite tonnes of fabricated alibis for justifying the volte-face they make of the very same policies they espoused.

This is exactly what is unfolding right now of the performances of the Sandanaya comprising mainly the SLFP and the JVP which presented itself to the people at the election as paragons of political virtue. The occasional murmur of disapproval they make to the politically eunuch prime minister and issuing of mild press statements are mere facades to show the people that they remain faithful to their original policy stances. Didn't they launch much more violent and aggressive campaigns using the tools of agitation in their Marxist political repertoire on the very same issues when they were in the opposition? Perhaps, since the last election, they might have attained a higher plane of political maturity which has convinced them that the lukewarm and moderate protest on such issues would augur well for themselves as well as the country. Practising hallowed principles is not as easy as preaching them.

The solemn promises made by way of policies in Rata Perata, the rhetorical title given to the Sandanaya's election manifesto have been stealthily turfed out, giving itself the liberty to implement a set of policies of an entirely different hue; hence the performance of the Sandanaya being compared to the proverbial character of Migel by day and Dhaniyel by night.

Besides, given the palpable duplicity of the policies poised to be implemented in lieu of those which were solemnly declared in the Sandanaya's manifesto called Rata Perata, it now merits more aptly being redesignated; 'Api Perata - Rata Passata' (i.e. our survival and interests are of prime importance and then follows the interest of the country). To put it very simply, it is an unadulterated political fraud perpetrated on the hillbilly voters who gullibly swallowed it, believing in the utter falsehood about the dealings of the UNF government in the process of the implementation of its peace process.

The Sandanaya as voters would, no doubt, vividly remember, made outright condemnation of the UNF's performance, particularly with regard to the way it handled the peace process, with a pseudo commitment made to replace it with a more sublime and enlightened policy in this regard in the avowed 'best interests' of the country. The following were, inter alia, the major policy areas of UNF, which were subjected to vehement criticism by Sandanaya with a solemn undertaking given to correct, remedy and reverse them when they have turned the table:- alleged illegality of and the flaws in the peace agreement entered into between the UNF government and the LTTE, re-negotiation of the peace agreement as Sandanaya may deem fit, unacceptability of the recognition of LTTE being the sole representative of the Tamils in the negotiation process, the outright rejection of the ISGA as the basis for future negotiations, for the Sandanaya was of the view that ISGA would lead to the ultimate division of the country, discarding Norwegians as facilitators in the negotiation process, and unwarranted concessions claimed to have been extended to the LTTE by the UNF, with undue and disastrous exposure made of national security.

Other major promises made to be implemented within a time frame of three months were:-

An across the board increase of 70% of the salaries of public servants

Taking immediate steps to bring down the soaring cost of living

Generation of 300,000 new employment opportunities for the unemployed

However, the Sandanaya has now made a convenient U-turn on all the above issues which were subjected to ruthless criticism and has reconciled itself with the fact that the fascinating paradigms of policies held out to the people have miserably turned out to be nothing but promises of cloud cuckoo land having no prospects of being materialised. The enlightened and pompous new approach the Sandanaya promised to launch by opening a new chapter on the peace negotiation process had hopelessly collapsed forcing the Sandanaya to humiliatingly follow the same old paradigm of the peace process followed by the UNF government. Instead of having browbeaten the LTTE as boasted at the election, the Sandanaya has had to eat proverbial humble pie at the hands of the LTTE, by agreeing to comply with all its terms, despite the fact it originally took the position that it would commence negotiations with LTTE on its own terms.

The sad irony of the circumstance is that the UNF in the opposition has apparently abdicated its democratic responsibility to its constituency. It has an obligation to expose the duplicity and the malafide of the Sandanaya, and the way it has been backtracking all what it stood for in soliciting the vote of the people. Whilst the UNF is in deep slumber, Sandanaya has taken the liberty of breaking the proverbial earthenware in the abandoned house.

Kay Dharmadasa
Ragama

No pie in the sky promises by Ranil 

As the clich goes, people get the leaders they deserve. So I keep hoping all those loud promises and big grand plans that the UFPA made to the masses will be delivered. In Ranil, we had a pragmatic leader who saw reality for what it was. Not something to make grand pie in the sky promises with. The rupee remained relatively stable and now it is over Rs. 100. After three months in office can this government list its significant achievements besides limiting the size of the cabinet?

On national security is it doing anything different from the UNP government? Ranil was able to meet Bush and Blair both of whom are two of our most important foreign partners for aid and trade. He was able to outwit LTTE's propaganda machine in the west by showing a degree of flexibility ensconced in reality.

I feel sorry for people in Sri Lanka for electing anyone based on short term whims and fancies without looking at the long term prospects of development and peace. Grand plans cost money and money comes from Western donors. We do not have oil or other significant natural resources to make us a nation like India. We are chronically dependent on handouts. Those who dish out the cash expect responsibility and good governance.

Mano Ratwatte
Usa

Discrimination on grounds of religion

I am a Burgher, a practising Catholic, married to a Muslim. We have a daughter, who is four years old. I was educated at a prominent Catholic Girl's School in Colombo 4, and maintain active membership in the OGA.

On April 24, the date announced for issue of application forms for admission to nursery grade. I stood for several hours in a queue to obtain a form.

I was astonished when the nun issuing the forms refused to give me a form, saying she had been instructed to refuse Muslim applications. This is religious discrimination at its very worst. It is a denial of my daughter's fundamental rights, as well as a contravention of the UN Convention on Children's Rights.

I feel it is grossly unfair and immoral to penalise my child on religious grounds. It is especially galling as it is common knowledge that there are numerous Muslim and other non-Christians in all classes at this school.

This refusal of admission to school on religious grounds is an evil practice which should be terminated immediately as it can further antagonise the Muslim minority in the country.

Angry Old Girl
Attidiya

Constitutional crisis - a way out

There was a constitutional impasse or gridlock in the recent past. Or was it a deadlock? The situation is likely to continue in spite of the keenly contested election of April 2. The Executive President will continue may be for another year or as she claims for another year thereafter. The UPFA with 106 seats may not be able to garner the support of the three major minority parties unconditionally. If the UNF manages to get a sufficient number to form the government along with the minority representatives, it will be facing a more hostile executive president.

The JRJ constitution, if viewed narrowly has prevented the smooth functioning of the government when the parliament and executive presidency are in the hands of two opposing parties or groupings. Is it a diabolical machination to perpetuate a stalemate situation or is it a blessing in disguise?

The national question has been the plaything of almost all the political parties is the country. It is an issue that has to be sorted out. It has to be sorted out not by the government in power alone, thus paving the way for the opposition to capitalise on it from the other side. It is something that has to be taken out of the adversarial theatre and held aloft as an issue which has to be sorted out not only by consensus between the two major alliances but also with the active participation and meaningful input and satisfaction of the affected minorities.

The gridlock imposed by the constitution which does not permit any group to get the clear two third majority to amend it has to be viewed as a rational basis for all the players to open their eyes and sit at a forum to iron our the differences and forge a meaningful solution. If viewed as a rational and humanitarian issue, it is not that mind-boggling.

What has to be accepted in the first place is the equality of each and every citizen in the country, irrespective of creed, caste, ethnicity, or any other differentiating or discriminating label. If this is accepted sincerely, every effort should be made to ensure its practical realisation. This calls for legal sanctions, legal restrictions and other constitutional guarantees. The basic idea embodied in article 29 of the 1948 constitution could be further embellished to ensure that no legislation that endows an unfair advantage on a community should be permitted. In the same way, any disadvantageous provision that adversely affects any community should not be allowed.

What is required is the desire to live together and not the domination by a permanent numerical majority or an articulate or even armed minority.

There is no justification for dominance purely because of the preponderance of numbers. This calls for affirmative action with retrospective effect spread over a reasonable period.

The minorities should not be driven to take to force of arms to win their legitimate place in the polity. The former should not crush the latter. The latter should be treated on par with the majority in the sense of equality as human beings and not as voting cattle that can never make or break governments.

R. Suntharalingam
Urumpirai

Malays betrayed once again? 

The new UPFA government formed under the leadership of Chandrika Kumaratunga too has ignored the Malays despite the many requests made directly and also through the print media. Their appeal was to appoint a Malay as a member of parliament to represent the Malays. It was heartening to hear the President mention the Malays as a distinct race and to give them due recognition in all her election speeches. She had also nominated a Malay candidate in the national list. She is a prominent educationist. However, for reasons unknown this candidate has not been considered for entry to parliament.

In the past it was the SLFP that gave due recognition to the Malays and appointed Malay members on two occasions to the parliament. There are nearly 70,000 Malays living all over Sri Lanka and around 25,000 of them are settled in Colombo and its suburbs. Surely a fraction of them at least would have voted for the success of the UPFA, if not all. This was solely because of the impact made by the Malay candidate in the national list during her election campaign.

In the past, no Malays were considered in the appointments to government institutions. The Muslims of Sri Lanka don't constitute the Moors alone. This fact should be realised at least now and the President should consider the Malays as a significant group that are contributing to the economy and the general welfare of the country.

On the other hand, the UNP has ignored its stalwarts to accommodate minority communities like the Memons and Colombo Chetties and Parsies (of course, the fact remains hidden whether it was done for monetary gain). Now these insignificant groups have representation in parliament, thanks to Ranil!

If the UPFA intends to fulfill the hopes and aspirations of the people as promised in its election manifesto, the Malays should be given due recognition, prioritising the women. This would certainly bring fruitful results at the next provincial council elections.

Mohamed Sadikeen Samsudeen
Nuwara Eliya

On May 23, we were awakened to the shocking news that our neighbour, Hema de Soysa had suddenly passed away. We were stunned as Hema seemed to be in the pink of health and was always endeavouring to keep fit. Adding to our astonishment was that this exercise-enthusiast had died virtually at the foot of his treadmill, at home.

Hema was one of Sri Lanka's illustrious sons. I had the privilege of knowing him closely for almost half a century. He was my senior at Peradeniya University in the mid 1950s. I really didn't know him then, though I had heard of him because of his fledging romance with a fellow student from the north, a romance that bloomed into a life-long marriage; in those Peradeniya days, the romantics were among the stand-outs in the campus. Hema was thus a bridge-builder between the communities, a son of Nawalapitiya soil who came to enjoy nathaswaram drumming as much as he did the Kandyan.

Soon I came to know Hema as a colleague at the Central Bank of Ceylon, then as fellow-students at the London School of Economics. Next we interfaced in the Ministries of Finance/Planning and finally in Washington when Hema joined the IMF in 1973.

Hema's contribution to economic policy-making in Sri Lanka was impressive. Successive finance ministers were quick to see Hema's unique public finance skills and commandeered his services on his return from the London School of Economics, and Hema served as director of economic affairs at the Treasury for more than five years, beginning in 1968. It's a tribute to Hema's tact as well as his professional skills that his advice was sought after and valued by Finance Ministers of varying political hues, from SLFP/LSSP to UNP. I recall, for instance, that Hema's voice was pivotal in scrapping the bank debit tax which was proving to have harmful effects, including increased tax evasion. A defining characteristic of Hema was that he was no push-over and he held steadfast to his professional convictions. I once asked him what he had learned from working at the Treasury. He said to me that he realised that economic policy-making is, as in politics, the art of the possible, and as he put it "taking two steps forward and one step back."

Sri Lanka eventually lost this public finance expert to the IMF, where he advanced rapidly with his Sri Lankan experience and hard work propelling him to progressively higher levels of responsibility, and eventually to the position of division chief. Hema retired from the IMF about five years back, but only in name. Soon he was back in the saddle as macro-economic adviser to the government of Gambia, a position he held at the time of his death.

Hema had a taste for the finer things in life and didn't miss out on luxuries such as vacations to exotic places, and prized events such as the Olympics and Sri Lankan cricket test matches. Hema was equally known for his charitable disposition, such as his contributions to putting a number of children through school in Africa.

Though Hema had passed the proverbial 'three score and ten' milestone, his demise came too early in view of his youthful vigour which so characterised him and the many years which appeared to lie ahead. I know that he had plans to return to Sri Lanka and give of his rich life-long experiences, but death had to intervene. So Sri Lanka lost one of its distinguished and liberal - minded sons, and we in Washington lost a devoted family-man and trusted friend.

Nadaraja Ramachandran
Maryland, USA