6 October, 2024

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Advice To Economic Council: Look Through Front Windscreen & Not Rear-View Mirror

By W.A Wijewardena –

Dr. W A Wijewardena

Replacing promised commission with a council

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed an Economic Council some 26 months after being sworn in as the President of the Republic. The Terms of Reference of the Economic Council is not available in the public domain which does not go well with the democratic governance system that he had promised to establish.

In his manifesto, titled, Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour, he had promised to establish an all-powerful economic commission, ‘National Policy, Planning, and Implementation Commission’ under the chairmanship of the President to steer the ailing economy. Pledging to disband the existing National Economic Council established by the former President Maithripala Sirisena and the Strategic Enterprise Management Agency established by his elder brother Mahinda Rajapaksa, the new commission was to undertake a vast array of work relating to the economy.

Its job was to formulate national policies and plans, determine public investment, formulate national development strategies, monitor the procurement process, and undertake project analysis and management. All these works were central to the national development process. The establishment of the commission, it was held, would ensure transparency in economic policy formulation and implementation.

India’s commissions are run by professional economists

The title of this commission implied that it was like the Planning Commission of India which functioned till 2014 when it was dissolved by the Modi Government. It was staffed by top class economists who had been drawn from both inside and outside India and its main function was to formulate, implement, and progress-monitor the five-year plans introduced as rolling plans. Considering the changing global economic environment, it was replaced by a new venture called National Institution for Transforming India or NITI Aayog.

It is to function not as an authority but as a public policy think tank that would advise the Government on the measures it should take to transform India to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Among many initiatives it has made so far include a 15-year Road Map, and 7-year vision strategy, and action plan. It is run by professional economists. A close counterpart in Sri Lanka to NITI could be the Institute of Policy Studies or IPS which has not received the due recognition from all the governments that had been in power ever since it was set up in late 1980s.

A council sans economics inputs: Use IPS as advisor

It is not clear where the newly established Economic Council will stand among these diverse models. Surely, it is not a commission as was promised. Nor is it a think tank of the Government since it is made up of top-level politicians whose competencies are not in economic policymaking but in other areas. The four outside members on the Council are not trained economists but those competent in other professions like public administration or accounting.

Hence, it can be categorised as a Cabinet Sub-committee on Economic Affairs like the Cabinet Committee on Economic Management that functioned under Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in the previous Yahapalana Government. Hence, to feed it with the necessary economics input, it is advisable that the Council relies on a think tank like IPS which is independent, objective, and staffed with top-class economists. Without this input, the Council is likely to run into the problem of making erroneous decisions as pronounced by the 19th century French Economist, Frederic Bastiat.

He distinguished a good economist from a bad economist by referring to his ability to see things to be foreseen in addition to what can be seen; a bad economist just sees only what can be seen and does not have a view on the long-term consequences of a policy. What this means is that if the Council is to make good decisions it should be aware of all the subsequent consequences of its policy actions, both favourable and adverse. If this is not done, like the conversion of Sri Lanka’s agriculture to organic farming overnight, the economic costs of the policy actions of the Council will be enormous and irrecoverable.

Worst economic catastrophe in post-independence history

At present, Sri Lanka is undergoing the worst economic catastrophe in its post-independence history. The real economy is shrinking with a negative or a near zero economic growth, inflation is rising its ugly head with food inflation running at 25%, foreign reserves are a pittance forcing the country to seek hand-outs from countries like Bangladesh, rupee is under pressure for a mega depreciation, the insane attempt by the Central Bank to fix it artificially without reserves at 230 per dollar has given rise to a lucrative black market, and all essential items like fuel are in short supply making long queues for them a daily occurrence.

The source to all these economic issues can be traced back to three policy errors made by the Gotabaya Rajapaksa administration. One is the offering of an unsolicited attractive tax concession to income taxpayers and value-added taxpayers causing an unrecoverable loss in tax revenues. The second is the attempt at converting the country’s agriculture to organic farming amidst wise counsel by scientists against it. The third is the refusal to seek assistance from the IMF to overcome the mounting external sector crisis and, instead, relying on an illusive ‘home-grown policy’ for the same.

Treasurer to Parakramabahu I: ‘Your Majesty, your Treasury is empty’

It may be useful for the Council to look at the tax issue closely and identify how the Government’s top policymakers have misled the President. A good example can be found from Sri Lanka’s history. According to Chulavamsa, when Parakramabahu, the First, became the overlord of the Dhakshina Desha, the enterprising young king wanted to bring the whole island under one rule. He had asked the Treasurer of the Dhakshina Desha, the counterpart of the head of modern treasury in Sri Lanka, whether he had enough resources to wage war against other overlords.

That Treasurer had been an honest man when it came to economic advice unlike those who advise the President today. The Treasurer had opened the Treasury and showed the young king and said that it was empty. Chulavamsa says the king acquired the necessary resources not by taxing people but by boosting international trade by setting up, perhaps the first ever in Lanka, a special export processing zone called the Antharanga Dhura.

This wise counsel was not given to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa by his economic advisors. They would have told him that his Treasury was empty with a Consolidated Fund running at a massive deficit of Rs. 438 billion at end-2019, up from Rs. 304 billion a year ago. Because of the shortfall in revenue due to tax concessions, the shortfall in the Consolidated Fund shot up to Rs. 636 billion in 2020. The Contingency Fund for meeting emergency expenditure programs was just another pittance at Rs. 500 million. The Government had been financing itself on a day-to-day basis by raising a massive overdraft from the two state banks amounting to Rs. 194 billion. In 2020, this also increased to Rs. 463 billion.

These overdrafts were outside the Government’s normal borrowing program. Hence, what was necessary was not to offer tax cuts but to increase taxes. The misled Gotabaya Rajapaksa introduced this tax cut to his own peril. The dip in the tax revenue was more than Rs. 500 billion a year. As a result, the tax revenue fell from 12% of GDP to 9% in 2020 and it is continuing at that level since then.

Illogical following of MMT

Then, there was a second error made by his policy advisors. The Central Bank Governor whom he appointed was an academic who had believed throughout his academic career that undertaking expenditure programs through money printing by the Government could deliver miracles to an economy. This was supported by a breakaway group of monetary theorists who proclaimed that they were following an ideology called the Modern Monetary Theory or MMT. Accordingly, money supply was allowed to increase without a break mainly by accommodating the voracious demand for money by the Government.

During the 25-month period beginning from January 2020, the country’s money supply, designated by the Central Bank as M2b, has increased by Rs. 3 trillion or 40%. The main contributor to this phenomenal growth in the money stock was the Government’s borrowings from the Central Bank and commercial banks. The net credit which the Government enjoyed from these two sources, that is, after deducting the deposits it was holding with them, amounted to Rs. 4.2 trillion marking an increase of 173%.

Any macroeconomics student would know that this is fertile ground for domestic inflation on one side and depreciation of the exchange rate on the other. Inflation began to pick up and is now rising at 17% according to the latest data released by the Census and Statistics Department. Rupee was falling in the forex markets, but the Central Bank had been keeping it artificially at 230 per dollar giving rise to a lucrative black market at which it is traded with a sizable premium over this rate. Anybody who wants dollars today must patronise this market rather than using the formal channels.

Releasing the rupee from the tight grip

It is now reported that the Central Bank has now stopped holding onto the artificial cap on the dollar at 230 per dollar. As a result, the market quotes have risen above the cap rate to a level of Rs. 240-55 per dollar. This move by the Bank is a good sign but the market clearing rate for the rupee is somewhat higher than this. Once the country reaches that level, the Council should know that the black market in foreign exchange with high premia will automatically disappear. When the black market is subdued, the Council as well as the Central Bank will regain their power to direct the economy. This is because the existence of black or parallel markets reduces the powers of regulators when they seek to direct the economy.

Avoid firefighting at any cost

One of the pitfalls to which the Council might fall is the possibility of spending its time for fire fighting in the economy rather than coming up with a plan to direct the economy toward the goal of prosperity and splendour. This weakness was evident in the case of the National Economic Council set up under the leadership of the former President Maithripala Sirisena. That council was expected to present a medium to long-term economic strategy-plan. Instead, it was continuously handling such micro issues like whether the fertiliser subsidy should be delivered to farmers in the form of a cash grant, or in quantity form.

These are surely not issues to be tackled by an economic council but by the responsible line ministries. In the present case, given the background and the specialty of the ministers serving on the Council, it is very likely that they would spend time resolving these mundane issues rather than presenting a medium to long-term economic strategic plan. This can be avoided if and only if it engages a professional think-tank like IPS as its advisors.

Go to IMF

The top priority of the Council should be to make the choice – and it should be done fast – as to whether Sri Lanka should seek assistance from the IMF to get over its present chronic and acute foreign exchange problem. Though the previous Governor and the present Governor have been talking about an alternative economic plan or a home-grown economic plan, there are no details of what those plans should contain. Even the Six-Month Road Map presented by the present Governor in October last year does not provide any clue about this home-grown plan.

Since the Council is to listen to these officials again and again, it is advisable that the Council get outside experts to examine and review the goals of the Road Map to ascertain its workability and efficacy to resolve the country’s forex issue. The former President J.R. Jayewardene did a similar thing when he was advised that the country should seek assistance from the IMF and the World Bank. To convince himself of this strategy, in 1980, JR engaged the reputed Singaporean economist and Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Goh Keng Swee to examine the proposal and report back to him. In a 27-page report, Dr. Goh had recommended to JR that Sri Lanka should seek IMF and the World Bank support to resolve acute problems faced by the country.

There is nothing wrong in getting an outside party to review the Road Map prepared by the Central Bank officials because the Council members deserve to know how far its goals have been achieved. If the goals have been stalling, it could come up with a new road map.

SL hit by double whammy due to Russia-Ukraine war

Sri Lanka has just begun to recover from one of the devastating external shocks that was delivered to it in the form of COVID-19 pandemic. Now, another devastating shock has been delivered by the economic sanctions imposed by the Western world on Russia consequent on its invasion of Ukraine. As a result, energy, gas, and wheat prices have begun to rise in the world markets. Sri Lanka is 100% dependent on imports for these three essential items. In this respect, Sri Lanka is hit by two whammies. One is the non-availability of foreign exchange to import them. The other is the escalation of their costs in the international markets exacerbated by the fall in the value of the rupee.

What this means is that Sri Lanka cannot think of neither prosperity nor splendour in the future. Immediate action should be taken by the Council to prioritise the use of these items by industry so that there will not be a drop in production or foreign exchange earnings. In this respect, the Council should look at the future rather than savouring in the past. As Nishan de Mel of Verité Research has said, Sri Lanka should look through the front windscreen rather than looking at the rear-view mirror. This is the biggest challenge faced by the Economic Council.

The appointment of an Economic Council by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is a salutary development though it has been done at this late stage. However, since this Council is not made up of professional economists, it is advisable that it engages an economic think tank like IPS to guide it.

*The writer, a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, can be reached at waw1949@gmail.com

Latest comments

  • 4
    25

    The basic ingredients needed to sustain the population is food, water and shelter. So there is no need for alarm because the basics are already avaiable within the confines of the island. One only need hard currency for luxury items. What makes economic progress is people transacting one another. Re-configure the enocomy so that people produce things within the island starting from the basics. Meet the supply and demand using home grown solutions. It requires thinking outside the box. I would love to meet this challenge if given a chance.

    • 16
      2

      Jambu, I propose you being a member of economic advisory council. Anyone to second my opinion ???

      • 10
        1

        Chiv,
        I second your motion. Jambu says “Economic progress is people transacting each other”. Brilliant! Is he suggesting something like free love?

        • 12
          11

          Dr. Wije: don’t you think that desperate time need thinking out of the Box- especially as the Euro-American Global financial and security order is collapsing fast?!!
          First and foremost, Sri Lanka needs to dump the US dollar and De-DOLLARIZE, like El Salvador, rather than devalue the Lankan rupee to beggar the people, and enable US to asset strip the country, following “advice” of the IMF. Lands and Power plant are being sold off to US and Indian Front companies of BlackRock Hedge Fund, like Adanai.

          Second, Sri Lanka need to look East and needs to stop following the “Experts” and Debt-trap Development “Advice” of the Washington Consensus (IMF, WB and OECD-DAC) and Western Fake Aid Debt trap Donors that have dictated colonial development policies and prevented TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY to enable the country to use its massive Ocean and mineral resources.
          Western Aid and experts has been a form of Colonialism to the corrupt colonized politicians of the island. This is why the country is a Banana Republic manufacturing underwear for Europeans, begging for GSP handouts running behind white tourists,..

          • 11
            9

            This Banana Republic Service Economy, dependent on US-EU is the outcome of dependence on Western Fake Aid and their EXPERTS and ADVISORS who you follow, Dr. WIje, like a puppy dog after the IMF!
            Almost since independence in 1948 so called aid donors have prevented INDUSTRIALIZATION and also trapped and COLONIZED the Lankan business community which is solely lacking in innovation.
            Sri Lanka should be using its Graphite and Rare Earth Minerals to industiralize and manufacture solar panels and Graphene oxide and having export oriented industrialized fishing industry, and taxing Under Sea Data (UDC) Cable Companies and a RICH NATION, but is a beggar nation due to fake independence, Euro-American Colonialism, foreign aid EXPERTS and dependency complex and of course Local political corruption …

          • 7
            2

            Author is talking about Parakramabahu Yugaya. This is exactly what Rajapakse family is trying to create.
            1. No Petrol – At that time there were no motorized transport. People went by bullock carts or rode donkeys.
            2. No Gas – At that time people cooked on firewood.
            3. No Electricity – At that time during night people lit pandams using vegetable oil.
            4. No Chemical fertilizers – At that time people used organic compost for agriculture.
            So why complain about it.

        • 16
          1

          When Narasimha Rao became prime minister in 1991 after the death of Rajiv Gandhi, India had foreign reserves enough only for 15 days of imports. He took the correct decision of appointing Manmohan Singh a renowned economist as finance minister and both together took the decision to open the economy, and India started to boom and is now one of the few trillion dollar economies in the world. When Stalin took over as chief minister of Tamil Nadu, he appointed an economic advisory council most of whom were foreigners with proven performance. Now the finance minister of Tamil Nadu a qualified and experienced professional has embarked on a program to make Tamil Nadu which is currently a 350 billion USD economy into a trillion dollar economy. Sadly Srilanka never had a head of state with such vision and was surrounded by charlatans marauding as experts, placing the country in this position. Look at the members of economic council of Gota Rajapakse. They are all jokers of some sort, who have no credentials. Wijewardena who was part of the establishment in the past, cannot now complain about failings, which was rampant even then.

          • 6
            1

            Members of Tamil Nadu economic advisory council:
            1. Raguram Rajan – Prof of finance Chicago university, Former governor of Reserve Bank of India, former chief economist of IMF ( 2002/2003)
            2. Esther Duflo – Academic in MIT, Nobel laureate for economics 2019
            3. Arvind Subramaniam – Prof at center for global development, Ashoka university, Senior fellow of Brown university Watson institute for international affairs, former chief economic advisor of Indian government.
            4. Jean Dreze – Development economist (?? Israeli), Prof at Ranchi University.
            5. Narayan – former finance secretary and economic advisor to PM (2003-2004).

            • 7
              1

              Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam

              Why should we appoint foreigners to our Economic Council when we have brilliant intellectuals such as:

              Gotabaya Rajapaksa Chairs
              Other Members of the Council:
              • Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa
              • Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa
              • Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal
              • Minister of Trade Bandula Gunawardhana
              • Minister of Highways Johnston Fernando
              • Minister of Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage
              • Minister of Plantation Ramesh Pathirana
              • Secretary to the President Gamini Senerath
              • Secretary to the Treasury S R Aatigala
              • Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Dhammika Nanayakkare

              We always find failed leaders interesting.
              Please let them keep digging.

              • 7
                0

                Tamil politicians are the same. There is not a single one who is capable for the post of chief minister. They have no vision or knowledge and are inefficient. Some of them are corrupt. They too will appoint their relatives and cronies for high positions. Remember what Vigneswaran did. He brought down from Australia a relative named Nirmalan Karthigeyan as economic advisor, who finally turned out to be a joker.

      • 4
        0

        chiv

        Gota has appointed 16 members to the Advisory Comittee to the Economic Council.
        Why has he appointed 4 non Sinhala/Buddhists to this committee?
        What made him to appoint non Sinhala/Buddhists to the committee
        1. Geneva nightmare
        2. World Bank loan application
        Given that he claimed to be a Sinhala/Buddhist president of a Sinhala/Buddhist country ….. 6.9 million Sinhala/Buddhists (majority of the majority) elected him.

        Why hasn’t he appointed Saffron members of Sangha to the Economic Council?
        Aren’t they ashamed of their leaders begging every country for their next meal?

        He should have appointed Anuradhapura Gnana Akki to the council.

        • 1
          0

          Native, I guess he needs collateral for loans. Will any right minded will loan money to Rajapaksa Mafia??

          • 1
            0

            Native, what about Vasu, now warming chair and not working, said if Lanka approach IMF he will quit ??? This power thirsty SOB is like a Leech , will not getaway that easily.

    • 9
      0

      Pictures worth thousand words.
      :
      All except that son of Richard Pathiran, you got to see on the display are stupid men to the best of knowledge of everyone. I am sorry for the guy, who is from Richmond College and we knew him then – but him to sit with stupid men, make us feel today very sorry – …. that is how srilanken mentality works in general. They dont care about the standards, but support stupid, criminals for some reasons.
      :
      All is public secret. If this committee would have been a collection of all parties inthis country, people would have a good reason to see that they finally allowed all party representatives to add their thoughts and minds in the current higly critical turning point of srilanka. Not even the all dangerous war situation were not that dangerous compared to today ‘s situation, because entire world is criticising the bunch of facists in our leadership. Most of them are in the view, that we would be fallen as nothing could help us for a recovery. It will be a free fall – comparably that of Greece and Lebanon.

    • 5
      0

      Jambu

      Here is some interesting discussion.
      Please watch.
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHKXHtXyHMY Abdul kalam sat on floor and answered

      • 5
        2

        There is complaint that there are no Tamils in this economic council. I will suggest two Tamils with the same mental capacity : Dharini Rajasingham and Prof. Sivasegaram.

        • 2
          4

          Dr GS
          Thank you, for DR may even have a better capacity than I.
          She has made many more intelligent remarks than you have.
          What matters is what one does with one’s capacity.
          *
          BTW
          How is your twin brother with a poorer mental capacity than you but did better all the way from Grade 1?

    • 2
      1

      Jambu,
      I love your idea but how do you know the population is already have the basic needs food, water and shelter?I
      “In Sri Lanka, at least 800,000 people do not have a home of their own and are considered homeless by the government, this according to Habitat for Humanity, whose director, Yu Hwa Li, spoke yesterday at an online event organised by a group of Sri Lankan NGOs via zoom.”
      https://www.asianews.it/news-en/Some-800,000-Sri-Lankans-still-homeless-54211.html.
      Do you think that is it possible for Rajapaksa family or any other government ministers to live the same level of basic needs in a village with a family for a month? If you are prepared to challenge you must go with your family to a village where there is no transport, no electricity, no drinking water, no job in a hut for a month.

      • 0
        2

        “Do you think that is it possible for Rajapaksa family or any other government ministers to live the same level of basic needs in a village with a family for a month? If you are prepared to challenge you must go with your family to a village where there is no transport, no electricity, no drinking water, no job in a hut for a month.”
        *
        Good point.
        Are you one of the challengers?
        It is hard to find a location in this country that fits the entire description. The Aththo community comes close but they have water.

  • 9
    1

    What is the difficulty to bring back the taxation as it was earlier and pay back these useless debts.

  • 17
    2

    Well done President. You just know how to do again and again so that it fails. These few guys all from Sinhala Superior race or Bumi Puthras can really do it as you did it. I say they did it, they did it and they really do it. No Tamils or muslims or enlightened guys who could give advice, is only to ensure that these bunch of fellows will collectivey fail. None of them have any balls to say no and only reply will be yes sir, yes sir, you are right. Only thing President missed Thissa Kuttiya and Rohitha and lastly G.L. Pieriya to write some convincing report about the failure in English. Cha..our famous Weeraya and Gamon-Pulle missed the chance because for a change they said no only once. But however, soon the failure as usual will fall on one or two of these guys. I am sure the slimy, opportunistic, greedy Cabral may get a kunu bithara soon. It is only a matter of time.

    • 5
      1

      Black Lankan ,

      Well said B L ! Super Eye solution ! Another name for Rubbish and
      None sense ! 69 million already eating Humble Pie . Eight guys to
      teach Basil “Kaputas” in Shakespeare English ! Wow , what a Ballistic
      launch ! Already , British H C has issued warnings to its Travellers
      to the Island , according to reports . There are handful of people who
      have reasons based on hard facts to believe that this country for a
      long time to come , will not get back to at least its old form , about
      fifty years back ! About fifty years back the country was not much
      developed but there were no signs of Destructive Developments
      by wrong hands like today . Even in 1965-70s there were price hikes
      on essential items but people didn’t feel to mourn it ! People didn’t
      feel suicidal ! People didn’t know Dollars at the time , they ate apple
      and pears produced in Nuwara Eliya ! They were ready to wait
      nearly one hour for a bus in areas out of Colombo and other few cities .
      One has to find out for a realistic research , How busier we got since
      then to fly between places in one or two hours ! Was it a development
      or we were taken for a ride ? Were we longing for a Joy ride since very
      long and we finally got one ?

    • 0
      1

      Black Lankan,
      “No Tamils or muslims or enlightened guys who could give advice, …”
      —-
      If there were smart guys who could advise the Tamil and Muslim communities, they would not have ruined Sinhale, the Land of Sinhalayo and Vedda Eththo by promoting terrorism.

  • 14
    1

    “Advice To Economic Council”

    Look for the nearest exit: your days are numbered.

    • 3
      0

      Nf/
      .
      Last night I happened to watch the sirasa weekly program ” face to face” . .
      .
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WhJiyBDHZQ
      .
      Good moderator, Sameer/ posed the question if all the candidates proposed to the new council are the cabinet ministers/ what is the point of setting another committee with the same stupid ministers? In fact/ Indians have appointed Nobel laureates to such committees in that country. Even Ethiopian s do their appointments a way better than out I’ll fated idiots in power continue with their silly selections
      .
      President s advice just ran away from the discussion not being able to bear the questions raised by SJB/
      .
      representative Lilihini(;a good lawyer by profession). He argued about being fully partial to making the country 100% organic/ unfortunately the moron sounded to have no knowledge about the debt burden the country is now caught by/ / this is comparable to a situation where emergent patient would waste his valuable time not allowing the last set of life saving therapies? Even if everyone would agree with making the country fully organic / can we afford it as a begging nation at this critical turning point of the country? These sons of bitches should be born incapable..🤔🤔🤔🤔🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬🍬😎😎😎😎😎

  • 16
    1

    Mr W.A Wijewardena, No Lankan economic council is worth its salt if you are not in it …….. in any capacity …… even if your advice is not heeded, at least they’ll know there is a field/subject called economics!

    If not, they’ll be listening to Basil’s Kaputu-economics ………. and even that …….. these numbskulls in the “council” wouldn’t have a frigging clue if they are coming or going.

    Economic problems can be solved only by people who have even a basic knowledge of economics ………. not by imbeciles, fools, idiots, cretins, morons, dolts, halfwits, dunces, dullards, simpletons, nincompoops, blockheads, ignoramuses, clods, dopes, thickheads, ninnies ………..


    Just take a look at the “council” ……… these are the Einsteins who got us in to this pickle in the first place ……….. you have to be a total dolt (but when it comes to Lankans, nothing surprises me anymore!) to think these same people can get us out of it.

    If they could, they would’ve already got us out of it!

    • 9
      1

      continued,

      Our woes are not economic …….. but born of incompetence, ignorance and pigheaded-stupidity.

      The Rajapakses, although excellent accomplished swindlers and looters ……… are lousy at managing the economy: they haven’t a goddamn clue!

      Appoint unqualified/unsuitable me, for my pristine “Sinhala-Buddhist” credentials, as the chief neurosurgeon in the Colombo Hospital …….. I’ll show you what incompetence is ………… not second to The Three Stooges: Mahinda, Gota & Basil

      Without a script ……. we should just film them in daily action ………. market them as foreign-comedies to Netflix: a sure money spinner!

      Dollars galore …… all problems solved.

      Stuff “councils:” time to think outside the box.

      • 3
        1

        nimal fernando

        We have a Surgeon General Shavendra (WWV, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP) and another General Kamala (who abandoned) Mangulam Garrison when LTTE Bata wearing baby Brigade attacked the camp. Kamala also claimed he single handedly won the war.

        One should run Central bank the other should be appointed Finance/Treasury secretary. I have all the confidence in both of them.

      • 3
        1

        nimal fernando

        Please listen to Gota’s Viyathmaha speech in 2019 titled ACTIONING THE BLUEPRINT
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVoUflOe6ks&t=755s

        2019.09.08 “වියත්මග වාර්ෂික සම්මේලනය 2019” – ගෝඨාභය රාජපක්ෂ මහතා කළ කථාව

        Do you know who wrote this speech (whatever)?

        Don’t you think we should put forward old codger as our nominee (member) for Economic Council?
        In his speech (whatever it is) he welcomed foreign direct investment

        • 5
          0

          Native,

          “Gota’s Viyathmaha speech in 2019”

          Can you find any one of those people sitting and listening so attentively? ……….. Ah, such faith! ……… Lankans have a great talent to be spectacularly foolish!

          Not a hmmm from Dr Janapriya ….. he is hiding and fretting in some dark corner …….. that no one remembers his desire for a dictator ……… he got more than he bargained for, I suppose :))


          “Don’t you think we should put forward old codger as our nominee (member) for Economic Council?”

          Old Codger is one of the most un-Lankan Lankans I’ve come across …….. devoid of many Lankan traits ……. he’s too rational and world-wise …….

          In keeping with traditions and for smooth functioning of the council we should nominate Eagle Eye ………. he’ll fit in like a glove with the rest of them ……..

          • 4
            0

            Nimal,
            Thanks for the nomination.
            It seems Gota has twigged that his “Economic Coucil” is a joke. He’s appointed a committee of real economics experts to advise it, including Dushni Weerakoon, whom he sacked not so long ago.
            Did you notice the background that Gota used for his Great Speech yesterday? Empty shelves. Very appropriate.

        • 4
          0

          Viyathmaha dogs association is dead silent today until thatc Eranga turned up in a public discussion for a few minutes/ .
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WhJiyBDHZQ.
          .
          Got could better continue his usual job at a petrol station/ that could then save the nation better not causing unbearable problems in motherland..
          .
          His 2 years proved it well not the bugger et at but FM Sarath Fonseka watched mastermind in the elimination of the terror in this country/ but as usual even the credit was stolen in order to survive their politics/ mlechcha politics/ only comparable with their counterparts in Sentinelese/.
          .
          Rajapakshes shoud be given the credit to sinhalese to sentinelese
          .
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeBzAp3G690.
          🤔😉😶😎🤥🐕🐃

    • 2
      12

      nimal fernando,
      “Economic problems can be solved only by people who have even a basic knowledge of economics ………. not by imbeciles, fools, idiots, cretins, morons, dolts, halfwits, dunces, dullards, simpletons, nincompoops, blockheads, ignoramuses, clods, dopes, thickheads, ninnies ………..”

      ‘Yahapalana‘ Government came to power promising to fix the economy but instead of solving economic problems they created economic problems by reducing the GDP growth rate, depleting foreign currency reserves by allowing to import all kinds of rubbish, increasing indebtedness, increasing unemployment, robbing the Central Bank. Does this mean that the guys who managed the economy in ‘Yahapalana‘ Government are imbeciles, fools, idiots, cretins, morons, dolts, halfwits, dunces, dullards, simpletons, nincompoops, blockheads, ignoramuses, clods, dopes, thickheads, ninnies?

      • 5
        2

        Eagle Eye
        What’s your point?

        There were corrupt politicians in Yahapalana Govt. from Ravi K to the head honcho himself, slimy Sirisena, but that does not mean the current yobs, from Basil to Cabraal can be excused. Mahendran is guilty of insider trading but Cabraal is guilty of more, possibly, even treason, for gross mismanagement of public funds (remember Greek bonds?) There should be an end to incompetence.

        • 3
          0

          Raj k.
          .
          😎😎Mahendran is guilty of insider trading but Cabraal is guilty of more, possibly, even treason, for gross mismanagement of public funds (remember Greek bonds?) There should be an end to incompetence.😎😎
          .
          If AM would have been more guilty/ medamulana animals would have worked on extradition at the be6of current brutal regime.
          .
          The very same is case with Easter Sunday disaster/ no doubt Medamulana criminals should be behind that pre calculated killings..
          .
          Colombo s soil is still soaked by the blood shed by those innocent worshippers/ people s torments tremor the city yet today/ we the srilanken s can never be proud as a nation/.
          😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎

      • 6
        2

        “imbeciles, fools, idiots, cretins, morons, dolts, halfwits, dunces, dullards, simpletons, nincompoops, blockheads, ignoramuses, clods, dopes, thickheads, ninnies”

        Ah, speak of the devil !

      • 7
        1

        Eagle Anti Human Eye

        Why do you think Saudi foreign minister Faisal is in town with 18 Foreign Office functionaries. Which part of the island is going to be sold for Petro Dollar and sales proceeds deposited abroad?

        Why don’t ask Gota/Basil to sell the North East to the Saudies, so that they could build Barnes to camels.

        • 0
          3

          Native Vedda,
          “Why don’t ask Gota/Basil to sell the North East to the Saudies, so that they could build Barnes to camels.
          —-
          You mean to the camels that were allowed to put their heads into the tent of Sinhalayo?

        • 2
          0

          Saudi Foreign minister wants to buy Katankudi and name it Sohni Arabia.

  • 6
    0

    Economic Council hope they will not teach only theories and still people are in hungry
    They have to introduce tools to people to succeed

    Bangladeshi Nobel prize winner M Younus introduced micro-credit into an ever more important instrument in the struggle against poverty. has been hailed for cutting poverty not only in his country but across the globe.
    He said I was feeling terrible that here I teach theories of economics, and those THEORIES are of no use at the moment with the people who are going hungry. So I wanted to see if as a person, as a human being, I could be of some USE to some people. He was in the field . Developed micro-credit into an ever more important instrument in the struggle against poverty.
    Muhammad Yunus has shown himself to be a leader who has managed to translate visions into PRACTICAL action for the benefit of millions of people, not only in Bangladesh, but also in many other countries

  • 10
    0

    I said about five years back on this site that we can go on suggesting, advising, arguing and complaining, but that nothing is going to change till there is a drastic change in the leadership of this country and I would like to repost the same today.

  • 10
    1

    How about replacing Vistas of prosperity and splendour with vistas of misery and hunger. This commission is chaired by the number one culprits for robbing this country to bankruptcy. Just what nuggets of wisdom do you think will be ellicited from the backsides of this cabal of thieves escapes me. nothing but foul odour is what you can expect. And you Wijewardena want to give advice to these scoundrels. Here is the only advice to give there fellows GO BACK to where you came from. Get out and go to hell.

  • 4
    1

    Dr.W.Wijewardene,

    You have pointed out various economic Commissions/ councils both in Sri Lanka as well as in India to steer the respective country towards prosperity with politicians and professionals in different mix as constituent members with partiality towards professionals.

    The constituent membership reveals that it is a top down approach and even in this approach various key sectors such as energy, education, , Health, MSME and even sectors such as sports and culture are ignored and omitted or given and only marginal importance.

    Such a commission /council/committee is unevenly balanced, lopsided and could only make patchwork, piecemeal recommendations that will face natural death even before launching.

    Each sector is part of a whole and paradigm thinking is needed to avoid the pitfalls of isolated treatment of various sectors.
    Dr www,
    for your comments and observations please.

  • 2
    8

    Excellent thought provoking article. The writer is very knowledgeable when the subject is economics. He should limit himself to that area.

  • 9
    2

    Thank you for this super article, Dr. W A Wijewardena – it is pure, undiluted wisdom.

    SADLY IT WILL BE OF NO USE IN THE CURRENT CONTEXT, AS THE HORSES HAVE ALREADY BOLTED.

    Look forward to India having its way with us, Full blown Modi, Hindutva and all.

    Sheeeesh,

  • 6
    0

    ” We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” —- Albert Einstein

  • 6
    0

    Dear WAW
    A worth while comparison
    Look at Vietnam . The growth of this Tiger economy is phenomenal. In fact we have a few hoteliers from Srilanka who have invested there in the recent past ( over 12 to 15 years ago) and were doing well

    You have only to look at the constituent membership of the said Group ; what ever name you care to coin. A Rose is not a rose when its a thorn.A thorn is yet a thorn, by whatever name you call it
    What is the key purpose, what are its remits. With no answers for these basic and fundamental questions its a waste time and yet another delaying tactic of the decaying state of affairs in the land.
    Can’t these fellows see that the patient is beyond resurrection?
    The economy is DEAD. Full stop
    No amount of tweaking can revive the economy. You can not tinker anymore
    The governor of the Central Bank and the finance Minister should not be there. No two words about it.
    These two are the jokers in the pack
    If they think that printing money is the panacea, the are more dumb than a dumb.
    Look at the suffering of the masses, haven’t these goons have a heart to feel the pain of the people who elected them??. Am I asking too much

  • 8
    2

    There is no need for any bloody councils. Get back over 30b USD to the Treasury robbed by the Rajapaksha gang since 2003 !! – that includes money siphoned off from The Great Tsunami Robbery as well. All economic woes will be gone in 24 hrs!!

    • 4
      0

      It is sad to see that not a single international entity to inspect stolen wealth of Rajapakshe or the like leaders/

      These truths about stolen wealth remains as permanent doubts so long these men would nt be charged in countries like ours. 😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡

  • 8
    0

    GL Pieris chairing the meeting, what does he know about economics other than saying “yes Sir no Sir Three bags full sir”! I am beginning to wonder if Gotabaya is a sane person. Selecting such a stupid group to form a council, that includes bribe-takers, chain snatchers and rogues like Cabraal, Gota’s sanity is to be questioned. All he had to do is to fire Cabraal who has been the main cause for the downfall of the economy without going to the IMF in time. The no-confidence motion of SJB is planning to bring against Basil must be against Cabraal more than Basil. Cabraal is the main cause of the downfall not Basil.

    All that’s needed today is a National Government. Ranil, Maithree, Mahinda, the backbenchers of SLPP and SLFP will not support a National Government for three reasons. 1) None of them will be the Prime Minister 2) SJB’s Sajith, Harsha and Hiran will take key positions in the cabinet 3) Mahinda will not be able to make Namal the next President.

    • 4
      1

      The sanity of Nandasena is being questioned over these Council
      appointees. Worse was his act in secretly bringing up for the
      One Land One Law a yellow-robed tug, as an intellectual for the job!
      The resignation of the Minister of Justice was fortunately overcome.

      • 4
        0

        Indifference and total ignorance of the people created today’s chaos/ not just the politicians. / people are to be blamed/ no body else/ 🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥

  • 7
    1

    Members of Economic advisory council, here is a thought to get you’ll out of your misery. 1) Send the whole idling military (all of them including police) to Russia/Ukraine ,who ever bids the highest price. I hear both countries are actively recruiting foreigners to fight their war. Even after war they can remain where ever they are working on rebuilding the war torn country. 2) The vacancies created should be filled by currently unemployed youth. (millions of job opportunity) 3) Lanka will get much needed $ or Ruble as wages, wheat and oil as bonus 4) Who else has better experience than our war heroes in fighting, killing and rebuilding, 5) zero casualty, mid sea arms supply, human smuggling, disappearance are added strength.5) Gotha keeps expanding military amidst bankruptcy and this will in turn double the strength.6) All those retired war veterans, who are now on government pay should be strictly send. I am sure none of those patriots will disagree doing so, in saving the country. Who knows there may be more wars in near future and our war heroes will still be in demand. We may even become super rich in double quick time, so much so to become next Singapore. Anny takers?

    • 5
      3

      chiv

      Good idea.
      1. Make sure you send all those Generals (15,000 of them) including Kamala and Shavendra to lead their men in the battle field.

      2. You also should consider sending at least 50,000 members of saffron brigade to the Ukraine front, including Asgiria, Malwattu, Amanpura, … Elle, Athirelia, Gnana, …….

      3. At least 75% of the pen pushers in state departments, should be sacked or sent to wherever ….

      4. All those noisy members of Sinhala/Buddhist minority the supposed vanguards can support their fellow racists in Ukraine with their experience.

      …..
      …..
      ….
      Good luck.

  • 6
    0

    The easiest solution is like an elephant in the room..no one talks about it…guess what..? Kabba can start printing hundred – dollar notes galore..

    • 1
      3

      LP
      But Biden may beat him to it the way the US economy is going.

  • 2
    1

    Advice To Economic Council: Look Through Front Windscreen & Not Rear-View Mirror
    ======
    That’s where the problem is
    The ministers drive or should I say driven around in luxury cars.
    they never look in the rear view mirror or side mirrors
    They have a luxury front windscreen
    and have luxury leather seats
    They may even have a bar inside the car

    for 70 years politicians of all colours have screwed the people

    At one time the Minority Political parties were king makers and Tamils did not benefit except for one or two ministerial posts.Now the minority vote based on ethnicity is marginalised.

    Now the majority is the illiterate/gullible rural Sinhala voters. The Rajapaksas have cleverly exploited that visually as well with paid men and women prostrating at the feet of Gota and Mahinda.

    will the 6.9 turn against the Dynasty?

    • 0
      4

      Rajash,
      “Now the majority is the illiterate/gullible rural Sinhala voters.”

      Majority in Sinhale has always been indigenous Sinhalayo who evolved in this country and developed the country from scratch. Illiterate/gullible Tamils and Muslims from Hindusthan who were accommodated by Sinhala Buddhists ruined this country by electing Gamarala as the President and Central Bank robber as the PM. These two dong keys ruined the economy and allowed Muslims to carry out terrorist attacks shattering the peace that prevailed after eliminating Tamil terrorists. Now majority Sinhala Buddhists are paying the price for what Illiterate/gullible Tamil and Muslim voters did in 2015.

  • 4
    1

    Oh this shmaless Blind Eagle is appearing on and off andee not frequently. His modakama will keep him mutter something on and off. Come back to SL and then join the queue for rose paang and lambu thel and then try to talk.

    • 4
      0

      BL
      Let Blind eagle or the like be rotten in hell for the good of the masses-, just ignore the kind of reptiles can help us all forward.
      .
      The kind of ballige puthas never allow any good steps be taken for the benefits of the masses.
      .
      Just imagine, entire island population is worred of the death of NAWANGAMUWEA atha,… but not many had brains to see it at the time, burial rights of COVID deaths of the muslim srilankens …. remember ?
      .
      No physical construtions would help, so long REBUILDING of srialnkens would not have any space in srilanken society.
      :
      Giant media fraudsters should be imprisoned – should be the frist step we have to take next. Derana Delete Jayaweera and Reno the silva must be BEAHDEADED for their false spread misleading the masses in this country. People s perception is based on blatant lies being spread by Pachwahinis….
      .
      So how can you ever hope a better future ? In the same, they keep all the fans under them, through their DAILY telecasting teledramas, superstar programs and the like ones that pour millions to them, but sucking the last cent of the poor man.

  • 11
    3

    Economic common sense written to educate a very basic society.

    Writers like Dr. Wijewardena are very good to remind the policy makers of certain fundamentals.

    Dr. Wijewardena is independent. During Yahapalanaya government he criticized Ranil policies.( ranil is a lawyer for whom little learning in economic matters has become dangerous. He thinks Mahendran, Paski, Pakiasorthy etc are wisdom overloaded) Ranil’s ghost writers retaliated resorting to personal attacks on Dr. Wijewardena.

    • 7
      3

      DS/

      Ranils tax policies were hopeful but Rajapakshes did not allow it to outreach the masses/ if not taxes how can states earn their revenues/ .

      There was no bond scam that initiated by Ranil/ its architect was medamulana meeharaka and his wandibattaya cabal/.
      If any expert would oppose/ please come with substantial proofs/.
      .
      It is high time to clear the doubts 🤥🐃✌🐕

    • 1
      0

      Deepthi,
      “Economic common sense written to educate a very basic society”.
      Are you suggesting by any chance, that, ‘Powers that be’ are not able to understand the issues, which is causing the delay to rectify???!!!

  • 3
    2

    Dinuk

    “Almost since independence in 1948 the sinhalas have prevented INDUSTRIALIZATION of the tamil areas and only given tamil entrepreneurs licences to industrialize sinhala areas and then the sinhalas periodically LOOT AND BURN these tamils enterprises!!! FOREVER WANNA BE BEGGARS WITH THE BEGGING BOWL LIKE THE SINHAL BUDDHA DHARMA!!!

    • 4
      1

      The first three major industrial projects post-independence were in the North at KKS, Paranthan & Valaichchenai

      • 4
        0

        I thought Mahaweli reservoirs built by Gamini Disanayak ?

      • 2
        0

        Factories at KKS, Paranthan and Valaichenai were built on logical basis.
        There is plenty of limestone, necessary raw material for cement around KKS. Subsequently cement factory was built in Galle, where clinkers from KKS factory were transported and ground. Later one was built in Puttalam which gets raw material transported from area adjoining Mannar. KKS factory which was running at a profit had to subsidize others,
        Paranthan chemical factory is based on salt which is found in plenty. Prior to the war salt was exported from Elephant Pass saltern.
        Valachenai paper factory is based on rice straw. Rice bowl of Stilanka are Polonnaruwa and Amparai districts the center of which is Valaichenai. Later another factory was opened in Embilipitiya, which ran at a loss from the start.

    • 0
      3

      Gus,
      “…tamil areas and only given tamil entrepreneurs licences to industrialize sinhala areas…”

      There are no Tamil areas in Sinhale, the Land of Sinhalayo and Vedda Eththo.
      May be you are unaware that there was a bank called ‘Loganathan’s Bank’ that gave loans only to Tamils.

      • 3
        0

        Eagle
        “May be you are unaware that there was a bank called ‘Loganathan’s Bank’ that gave loans only to Tamils”
        That’s because Tamils always pay back loans.
        You haven’t heard of “Gamarala’s Bank”, because it gave loans only to Sinhalayo, and is now bankrupt.

  • 5
    1

    Dinuk

    “Almost since independence in 1948 the sinhalas have prevented INDUSTRIALIZATION of the tamil areas and only given tamil entrepreneurs licences to industrialize sinhala areas and then the sinhalas periodically LOOT AND BURN these tamils enterprises!!! FOREVER WANNA BE BEGGARS WITH THE BEGGING BOWL!!!

  • 1
    0

    Part One:
    I respect the author’s genuineness in identifying what should be from not be. As a layman I get the impression that Sri Lanka seems to be struggling in water like an amateur who does not know how to swim, before getting drowned. The danger of an imminent drowning is mass agitation and possibly the presence of an International Peace Keeping Force (IPKF). I have stated before, based on information received, the then IPKF required women folk be properly attired for a quick rape in a corner of the street if ever the women came out their houses. This time, teenagers won’t be spared. Our valuables too may be plundered. If ever there is a mass agitation or protests, it shouldn’t be to say “You rotten nincompoops and kleptocrats! Go Home!” but to say, “Get rid of the court-jesters and heed to the advice of the wise, say like the author of this article”. We talk of prosperity and bright future. The state, which is constitutionally bound to protect Buddhism, does not heed the basic formula for prosperity as stipulated. That is “Dissociate the knaves, associate the wise and revere the revered”. Successive governments did just the opposite.

  • 1
    0

    Part Two:
    Although there are mass protests organized and certain web media channels promoting mass agitation for an immediate change of government, it is interesting to note that the former PM, Ranil, calling upon a national consensus and not a national government. It implies that even he knows that even if a different group (of the same blood sucking kind) takes over, the difficulties that people undergo today will remain for quite some time. This is further evident when a prominent JVPer saying that people in Sri Lanka curse while being in queues while the Cubans willingly stay in queues to receive the pittance of supplies, implying that even if they take over now, they expect to be in lines with pleasure until the era of queues are gone. So, in the absence of a quick relief, what is required is concerted effort from a united front based on a national consensus. That consensus must be derived from the advice of the knowledgeable, say the likes of the author. I believe that basic premise of ay consensus should be the promotion of Meritocracy, Pragmatism and Honesty. (Acknowledgements: Prof. Kishore Mahubani, former Dean LKY school of policy)

  • 7
    7

    leelagamli how many aliases can a man have !

    Was Easmond a honest man ?

    Will a honest man do what ranil is doing ? So many defeats yet hanging on to UNP leader ship?

    The fact that Rajapakse is dishonest, makes Ranil honest ?

    I dont know where Ranil has his money. You dont know where Rajapkse has his money !

    • 1
      1

      DS,
      “So many defeats yet hanging on to UNP leader ship?”
      That is the leadership that members of the UNP want to have!!
      Outsiders cannot decide what members of the UNP wants as their leader and was elected by UNP membership according to UNP rules!!!
      As much as None else than Gota is elected as leader of the country Sri Lanka according to the constitution of SL by 6.9 million!!
      Everyone gets the leader they deserve. Good or bad is debatable.
      May be in the future, UNP may get a different leader as much as SL will get a leader like Namal or even Basil!!! Ranil has no one to follow!!!
      Who knows???

  • 7
    7

    People like Old Codger, Leegamali, Gamini keep saying Ranil is better than Nandasena ( in any field).

    Can you compare two failures and two different sets of circumstances like this ?

    Was Ranil better than Lalith in any field? Was Lalith better than JR in any field? Was JR better than DS in any field? Was DS better than Parakrambahu in any field?

    This is idle talk.

    Rani was devious non performer not fit to be a leader.

    Nandasena is a outsider on whom power got thrust due to Ranil failures

    • 0
      0

      DS,
      “Can you compare TWO failures and two different sets of circumstances like this?”
      My apologies, I feel either you have lost count or we are not focused on the same material question.
      1. Organic fertiliser programme initialised improperly leading to Rice Imports
      2. Premature banning – chemical fertiliser, depriving maximised Tea & agricultural output
      3. Farmers deprived earnings and livelihood
      4. Failure, implement sustainable burial of dead according to various religious beliefs
      5. Failure – science based vaccination, instead of dumping pots and honey!
      6. Vaccine monopoly high cost and profiteering by corrupt
      7. Crop failure due to unavailability of fertiliser in time for Rice growing season
      8. Gas explosions not timely investigated and remedied – loss of life and limb!
      9. Dollar rate mess; Pegging unrealistic rate causing inward remittances to dry up
      10. Export income dollars by service companies arbitrarily allocated (20%) to CBSL, causing lack of dollars to timely import Raw materials for export industry – Loss of export orders/revenue
      Many more in just 2 years.
      Certainly 6.9 million voted in favour in 2019!! Doubt, if they endure mismanagement 3 more years.
      We need course correction at least, now to save this country!!!!
      Gota has been Mislead!

    • 1
      0

      DS,
      “Nandasena is a outsider on whom power got thrust due to Ranil failures”.
      Disagree with you. There were many other eligible opposition candidates.
      For your information, their unique disqualification was that, unfortunately they were not in the Rajapakse family!!!
      Because the R Bros Inc., primary requirement is that leadership and helm of Government should be in the family! So the choice, had to be Nandasena.
      We can Crow (literally translated to “Kakka”) about Ranil dictator and being selfish; But this is not??!!
      Very convenient thinking!!
      Decimate and sabotage the opposition, whilst do not apply the same to one self!!

    • 1
      0

      DS,
      Apologies for forgetting to include in conclusion – “Its called MR doctrine of evolutionary politics”

    • 3
      0

      DS,
      “Nandasena is a outsider on whom power got thrust due to Ranil failures”
      Nandasena is an incompetent nincompoop. Why don’t you say that?
      Ranil didn’t have failures. They were created by your Pohottuwa paymasters. The Pohottuwa crowd are good at creating fake dramas.
      Bond scam. Easter bomb. 52 day fake government. Even when they are in power, they created a “cancer scare” to stop milk powder, fertiliser, and palm oil imports. Then there were the “exploding gas cylinders ” to reduce gas usage. You keep parroting on about Ranil, but conveniently ignore the current government. I don’t think we need to be told why that is.

  • 4
    0

    Raj k.
    .
    😎😎Mahendran is guilty of insider trading but Cabraal is guilty of more, possibly, even treason, for gross mismanagement of public funds (remember Greek bonds?) There should be an end to incompetence.😎😎
    .
    If AM would have been more guilty/ medamulana animals would have worked on extradition at the be6of current brutal regime.
    .
    The very same is case with Easter Sunday disaster/ no doubt Medamulana criminals should be behind that pre calculated killings..
    .
    Colombo s soil is still soaked by the blood shed by those innocent worshippers/ people s torments tremor the city yet today/ we the srilanken s can never be proud as a nation/.
    😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎

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