By Jehan Perera –
The situation in the country, particularly with regard to the economy and politics, can be described as stable but stagnant. The economy is stable in that it has not experienced further economic collapse in comparison to the kind witnessed last year when international bankruptcy was admitted. But the economy still continues to contract, with a contraction of over 11 percent taking place in the beginning part of the year. The shortages of goods and power sources that brought the people on to the streets in angry protest have not recurred. This has come as a relief as in other parts of the world international bankruptcy has been accompanied by successive rounds of economic collapse. The government’s ability to bring down the rate of inflation and eliminate shortages is recognized, though the shrinking demand due to price increases is continuing to debilitate living standards.
Accompanying this economic stability has been stagnancy. The much appreciated economic stability has taken place at a much reduced standard of living. A year after the worst of the crisis, the salaries of wide swathes of the population have not increased anywhere near the cumulative impact of the inflation in the economy. Wide swathes of the population are therefore much worse off after the economic crisis. Even though the inflation rate has fallen, prices continue to rise without salaries being increased. In these circumstances, the standard of living of the vast majority of people continues to decline. According to a recent UNICEF study, 85 percent of grade 3 children in Sri Lanka are not achieving minimum proficiency in literacy and numeracy. UNICEF said also noting that the country ranks the lowest in South Asia in education spending at a mere 2 percent and well below the international benchmark of 4-6 percent of GDP.
When the country went bankrupt last year, it had reached upper middle income status. The economic crisis that accompanied the declaration of bankruptcy caused prices to double and treble. The government estimated the inflation rate to have reached over 70 percent. But the prices of basic foodstuffs and fuels doubled and tripled. With the exception of a few notable sectors, such as the finance and banking sectors, salaries remained stagnant for the most part, and even declined in some cases. The country is still sliding down with the politicians making mega plans for recovery, while basic agriculture, fisheries and small and medium enterprises are still a long way from recovery. In these straitened circumstances, departures for foreign employment recorded a shocking growth of 154 per cent last year, according to the 2022 Annual Report of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
Gloomy Situation
The hope of change for the better is not proving to be adequate to stem the flight abroad of the country’s most capable and professional workers. This continues without any sign of abating. The absence of skilled personnel is going to make the country’s upward climb back to where it was before the economic collapse a more difficult one. The loss of medical personnel, in particular specialist doctors, has received much publicity in the media. Their depletion is making some medical services difficult for people to access. The loss of Information Technology (IT) specialists is restricting the expansion of this high income sector as companies cannot take on jobs that they obtain from the international market. Teachers of English, Mathematics, and Information Technology are among those who are migrating in large numbers with around 5,000 teachers leaving the country during the past nine months alone.
A similar gloomy situation prevails in the political arena. There is an appearance of stability but with stagnancy. A year ago, when President Ranil Wickremesinghe took over the helm of government there was chaos with street protests and the prospects of strikes by trade unions motivated by economic hardships and the desire to effect regime change. The government had lost control and there was uncertainty about the future. But with the coming to power of President Wickremesinghe, government control was speedily re-established and the likelihood of a further descent into chaos and un-governability came to an end. The problem is that the use of security forces to bottle up the pent up frustrations of the people is not going to be viable in the longer term.
The restoration of political stability has taken place through the use of national security laws to arrest large numbers of protest leaders and by breaking up public protests through police baton charges, tear gassing and water cannons. These were justified as necessary due to the possibility of the protests escalating to the point of anarchy even as the main state buildings, including the parliament, were threatened. However, strong arm methods have continued to be used to quell any public protest. Even middle aged social and civic activists were set upon and run to the ground by contingents of heavily armed riot police when they attempted to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the anti-Tamil riots in front of the general cemetery in Colombo. This is an indication of the apprehension within the government that permitting small protests will pave the way for a second round of mass protests like occurred last year.
The protest movement of last year that attracted people from every walk of life and cut across ethnic and religious divides had the demand for a change of government. But apart from the president, the rest of the government continues to be much the same. Reports of corrupt practices continue to flood the media and the anti-corruption measures do not seem to be taking effect. The practices of lack of transparency, lack of accountability and unbridled impunity continue to remain the same today as it was under the previous president. Examples range from the purchase of emergency power without calling for bids, flouting of citizenship rules and to gold smuggling involving members of the government. The scandal in the purchase of medicines that have caused deaths of patients indicate that little has changed for the better. Putting an end to these corrupt practices and holding some perpetrators to account would instill more trust in the promises of government leaders.
Way Forward
In a democracy, the way to change a government is through elections. The government has switched off this engine of change. Where people have been united in their opposition to force a government to resign, there should be early elections held as soon as possible. This did not happen. On the contrary, the local government elections have been postponed even after they fell due to “lack of funds” according to the government. This has given time and space to those whom the people wanted out of government to come back to the centre stage. The stability in the polity has come at the cost of democratic elections, with the local government elections being postponed outside of the law. If the present stability and stagnancy in the country is not to become the calm before the storm, there is a need for the government to begin to deliver change to the people.
In recent days, President Wickremesinghe has been emphasizing the need for national integration and reconciliation. He has proposed implementing the 13th Amendment and setting up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to this end. But these are still far from being implemented. The implementation plans appear to be a year or two in the future. In the meantime, they generate controversy and exacerbate the differences among the people who are cynical that this is all eyewash for elections. The president recently went to the Catholic shrine in Madhu in the north and announced his desire to launch several development projects. However, the Catholic newspaper Gnanarthapradeepaya in an editorial said that “The first citizen of the country should know that political speeches full of electoral promises are not suitable for religious places.” Trust between the government and people is necessary for recovery to take place.
Rather than making promises for the future, the government needs to implement changes in the present. Where reconciliation is concerned, it need not go as far as the provinces to make a start. It needs to start at the centre, to de-ethnicise the centralized state apparatus so that it serves all ethnicities and religions with equal commitment. A study being conducted on the attitudes of schoolchildren and their teachers at the community level has revealed that there is a live and let live attitude among them with regard to those of other communities. Significantly, the research also showed the lack of trust in the political order with those surveyed indicating their belief that those in politics used the differences in ethnicity and religion for their own political purposes rather to create national integration and reconciliation. There needs to be actions on the ground by the government, even small ones such as ensuring that translations of official documents are readily available to those accessing government services, to build trust that the government is sincere in doing what it says.
RBH59 / August 22, 2023
The economy is STABLE in that it has not experienced a further economic collapse in comparison to the kind witnessed LAST year when international bankruptcy was admitted
The people are collapsing, Two inmates detained at the Galle Prison were reported dead while five others were hospitalized due to an ‘unknown’ illness. The health sector incident is happening that has not happened before. Until the two inmates suffered before their demise, what was treatment or health care done to them? How can they tell about an unknown illness? Signs and symptoms – Treatment and prevention plans were taken on time. Flowing water gathers no moss, but stagnant water does.( Stagnant in Stability)
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nimal fernando / August 22, 2023
Finally Native Vedda has plucked up enough courage to ask questions from his beloved Ranil …… through his alter ego …. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2YZ-Qnh2Kg
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nimal fernando / August 24, 2023
In praise of Mr Clean Ranil’s, salient attribute – bulwark against corruption …….. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJw23T2jDEo
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Native Vedda / August 24, 2023
nimal fernando
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A few days ago Singapore raided several apartments and arrested about 10 money launderers. Here is the details:
Singapore Police Seizes $1 Billion Haul after Massive Raid| Vantage with Palki Sharma
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGsf-P6Q_Fc
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How many of the Sri Lankan politicians have bank accounts, investments, luxury flats, … in Singapore?
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Will Govintham raise this issue in the parliament?
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nimal fernando / August 25, 2023
Native,
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Thanks for the link; pretty interesting. …… Ol’ Palki is beginning to show her age; too much lusting from 153 bus-rote and Bandarawela! ……. Wonder who’ll end up with the prize.
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Gunduvindu is just a halmassa ……. when is the biggest fish Ranil going to get tough on crooks?
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I know a Lankan who did subcontracting for Jap construction outfits in Lanka and few other places ……… who had a few million dollars stashed away in Singapore. I don’t know if it was illegal according to SL laws for a citizen to have a foreign bank account ……. but all his dosh was legitimately earned through hard work.
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Mahila / August 27, 2023
Fantastic News!! Why not in ‘Dahrmistaland’!!??
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Mallaiyuran / August 23, 2023
Langkang owes $85B, locally & internationally. There is a big deal going around in the country, after 5 deferments, $50M payment made towards Bangladesh’s loan of $200. In Tamils they say: “the mountain stomach pain only to deliver a mouse “. That payment is only 25% on Bangladesh’s loan; Less than 0.05% of the entire loan owed by the Wonder of Asia! The Media Freedom of Langkang is only for a few Nova Cyril Mathews like Ganapathipillai, Modaya Mervyn, Rear Admirable……..and the Evil Emperor. Rear Admirable, to demonstrate his oratory, misunderstanding the parliament privilege, pulling the pants down and showing the black beauty, but keeps the mouth hole covered up with zip on the defaulted loans. The dirty violent criminals are spewing all kinds of venom, but the International Community is so concerned of having “the looted and deposited the $20B money in their banks, hidden and protected, but not a word about the violence and terrorism unleashed by this specific group. The EU sounds like, even if President Putin captures the entire Ukraine, never mind, but if Langkang wants more arms to wipe more Tamils, ever ready to deliver on express delivery with additional discount.
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Mallaiyuran / August 23, 2023
After World War II, the Soviet Union was the first country in the world to fire a rocket into space. Last Sunday, the day before yesterday, an ambitious dream project of its scientists evaporated in the dark zone of the moon. The moon was hiding the disaster from the earthly observers of the Russian scientists, with its rear. Thank God, they could not witness the tragedy with their eyes or shed tears. Putin was, in the Kremlin palace, busy with twisting the war information for Russians, who have limited access to social media, which bring the world governments’ lies to the light. India is a country yet to win a war in its history, with outsiders. Famously referred to in CT as toilet less country. Its shuttle Chandrayan -3 is still lurking in the back of the moon looking for an opportunity to break the world record on the land of the moon. If ISRO, does it, then the biggest loser is going to be the best winner. The Racist bastards of Our Asian Wonder spent $400B in wiping the Tamils, are not in a mood to know about the moon landing or wonders happening in the world and join with them to celebrate with Kiri Bath and firecrackers the achievements of the Human race.
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Mallaiyuran / August 23, 2023
“ Change Flight From Lies to Reality”
https://www.pressreader.com/sri-lanka/daily-mirror-sri-lanka/20121121/282540130621406
If these guys ever go to the moon, Thajudeen’s ghost, which went to the moon ahead of these murders, will be waiting for revenge in the dark shadow of the moon!
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Native Vedda / August 23, 2023
nimal fernando
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Gevindu Kumaratunga was a b***s carrier to Mahinda and Gota. As a result he is appointed by Gota as an MP. He has no friends inside or outside of the parliament.
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leelagemalli / August 24, 2023
NV,
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Gewindu Kumarsinghe is Like a cobra. Marvin is just a garandia (not poisonous).
:
Sinhala-racist of Gewindu nature will never see it right. Neither of them lived outside the country. So their behaviours are similar to that of a dangerous dog. Dr. Nalin de Silva, who served as Myanmar’s ambassador during Gota’s short-lived tyrannical government, can well be blood-related to Gewindu.
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Native Vedda / August 24, 2023
leelagemalli
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How about Gewindu’s grandfather Kumaratunga Munidasa, was he a racist?
I think he was not but a firm believer in Hela language, pure Sinhala.
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leelagemalli / August 27, 2023
I think KM was also a racist.
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https://storage.googleapis.com/jnl-sljo-j-sljer-files/journals/1/articles/45/submission/proof/45-1-83-1-10-20200522.pdf
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Native Vedda / August 24, 2023
nimal fernando
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Come to think of him, his original name must have been Govinthan Kumararatnam.
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Captain Morgan / August 23, 2023
If our people are to see a better tomorrow, the situation in the country needs to improve drastically on multiple fronts. For this to happen, a number of distinct and separate changes of a profound nature must take place, such as in the social, economic, political and various other domains. There is no need to list them here as most people will be smart enough to figure this out on their own and identify many of the things that need to be done urgently to address the pressing issues.
Unfortunately, real progress is not being made in any area at all, as the government only adopts ad hoc measures to deal with every problem as and when it arises. No proactive measures are taken to anticipate and solve problems while the persons responsible for governing the country are seemingly reduced to applying plaster and bandages to keep the ship afloat.
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whywhy / August 23, 2023
Captain Morgan ,
” If our people are to see a better tomorrow , the situation in the country
needs to improve drastically on multiple fronts ” . One thing is , none of
present leaders can make it any better , and the other thing is , there’s
no younger or older generation that is genuinely desiring a better
tomorrow in this country , they want to live in a ‘ Ready Made Better
Country ‘ Never Mind Even If It Is Bangladesh ! It is now like Covid ,
epidemic . People who are with ulterior motives , try to put the blame
on recent leaderships for the Foreign Mania but that is grossly
misleading . The trend is minimum fifty years old . Doctors started
migrating to UK and Australia in 60s and before . Personally I do
not believe in Ranil but at the time of the crisis , no one else was
qualified to sit on that chair as far as Seniority and work experience
is concerned . He is a born loser , a different issue but anyone else
would have put the country into anarchy , a situation we are slowly
being made to expect sooner or later in case the situation gets out of
their hands .
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Ajith / August 23, 2023
“There needs to be actions on the ground by the government”
It should start from the President who heads the government. Unfortunately, President Ranil is a coward to take actions against those who are responsible for the crimes. Instead, he only take actions against who ask for good changes to the country and people. He should have immediately arrested the people who destroyed the huts of Poor up country Tamils. He should have arrested Weerasekara who said that a Tamil judge is mentally ill for his judgement. But he only hunting for Aragalaya youths and Tamil MPs.
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Mahila / August 23, 2023
JP,
“In these circumstances, the standard of living of the vast majority of people continues to decline. According to a recent UNICEF study, 85 percent of grade 3 children in Sri Lanka are not achieving minimum proficiency in literacy and numeracy. UNICEF said also noting that the country ranks the lowest in South Asia in education spending at a mere 2 percent and well below the international benchmark of 4-6 percent of GDP.”
How could Government, if continued to enjoy same level of revenue as obtained in good times, would be able to apportion in excess of 2% of GDP for education!!????
NO WAR or TERRORISM as prior to 2009!!?
The State is HAMSTRUNG, PARANOID – ILLUSION – RESURGENCE OF TERRORISM, to ‘FEED 600,000 Defence personnel Families’ and that at average of 4 in family, 2,400,000 mouths (Salary and emoluments and facilities)!!
This amounts conservative estimate to approximately Rs. 2.5 Billion per month and Rs. 30 Billion annually, excluding Operational Cost and Consumables, which could have been channelled for past 14 years (if not at best last 10 years) towards education (Primary and Secondary) to enhance the quality and resources thereto. Sadly None!!!
Whither Sri Lankan Education, ‘STUCK IN THE MUD’!!!????
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Sinhala_Man / August 26, 2023
Listen:
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n48pFe3_Ok4
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I have made this comment below the YouTube:
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@Panini_Edirisinhe
0 seconds ago
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“Thanks, Mr Chameera Perera. There are some who have commented below expressing skepticism that Estate Workers will come on to the road on Monday. I share those doubts. Language is a huge problem, much greater than we are usually willing to concede.
The NPP just doesn’t have sufficient speakers of Tamil. We need dozens more. However, I have no misgivings that you’re insincere in what you say here. I myself live in Bandarawela, in the heart of the plantation area, but don’t know any Tamil.
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tbc
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Sinhala_Man / August 26, 2023
Continuing:
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At the end of this 22 minutes’ oration, Chameera uses 2 minutes of English. I’m going to place this video in a place frequented by Tamils who speak English. But how do we reach out to the monolingual “slaves” who live on estates? I will not come up with some facile “solution”. I hope that it doesn’t take another 75 years. We’ll then be at the year 2098. Will I be still active? Pushing up the daisies? I’m a little older than Ranil.
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leelagemalli / August 27, 2023
Tell us SM, do you really like to eat and be entertained at a funeral home? Are you standing on your little head?
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I understand that Wimal Weerawanse or such uneducated bastards would behave like that, but as someone who went to prestigious schools in our motherland, do you too behave like that?
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Like Wimal Weerawansa, Chamira Perera slanders the everyone. Really don’t like the rowdy type.
At the moment, anyone who attacks RW in public is being praised by naive Sinhala man. I really do not know how this man could become a teacher in a school in Sri Lanka? Or, it is his senility makes him like that of a imbecile.
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Such public statements should be banned. There is no room for public outrage in a civilized society.
Society is like a garbage dump. People have no choice. The environment is polluted not only by economic difficulties, but also by the cancerous words that more and more Sinhalese use.
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Alas, The 75 year old Sinhala_man today has become a puppet regulated by JVP cry babies, he does not know the real danger of the current situation. It is very sad that this man fell down.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmjGF9Jdtws
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