By Kumar David –
The enthusiasm that yesteryear enveloped the president is much subdued, the mood at best is ‘give him more time, it has been a bad year, let’s wait and see’. On the other side detractors who feared repression, racism and family banditry seem mollified that events have hurled such heavy blows that he is unable to raise his head and cow down the masses, who in any case are so passive and need no cowing down. The sullen Sinhala-Buddhist mass broods but is resigned to its self-inflicted fate. Is this stillness before a storm? I don’t know. And who knows what’s going on in the President’s head? He must see that right now its point, set and game against him, and maybe it will be match-point in a year as there is no visible road to recovery. Does he want to run for a second term or will he cut and run – I don’t think even Gota knows the answer yet.
Here’s the reasoning for this pessimistic prognosis. Three factors which will decide the regime’s fate in the public mind: the unfolding pandemic, whether the government can turn the economy round and third how long is the arm China will extend to help if/when the Double-Paksa regime sinks. The gloomiest covid scenarios painted by some medical-professional and lay commentators are I reckon exaggerated. Nearly one million cases and many tens of thousands dead by years end! No there isn’t reason to fear such a catastrophe now that vaccination is in progress and lockdowns are tightening. The point however is the damage that has been done so far; culpability, fairly or otherwise laid on the presidency. That things will get somewhat worse in the next few months do not augur well for the boss. Taking everything past and probable future into account the pandemic experience will count badly against Gota. It will be an eagerly exploited propaganda tool in the hands of opponents and will leave the voter sullen and angry.
The economy is what I would be most concerned about if I were the government. Does anyone see a turn around, does anyone see light at the end of the tunnel? I have kept an eye on the utterances of Ministers and regime mouthpieces and can no longer find mention of vistas of prosperity and splendour. The government is with its back to the wall. The economy will shrink in 2021 (and maybe 2022), increase in prices off consumer essentials is inexorable. What improvement in productivity and output in agricultural and manufacture can one see that will reverse this trend? Where are trade deficit and balance of payments heading? I do not conceal my political inclinations but these rebukes are intended to be objective. If wrong I ask to be corrected.
This pessimistic reading of the economy is compounded by stupidities that are hard to forgive. I mention just two; the regime’s hara-kiri on fertilisers and the delusion of 70% renewable electric energy by 2030! Everyone with a modicum of knowledge about agriculture has shrieked that the president’s order to go 100% organic in fertiliser at once will entail huge falls in output. Therefore his instructions will thankfully be ignored. Though some scoundrel pseudo-experts serenaded from the rooftops pledging 70% renewable electrical energy by 2030 (a few donkeys even said 80%) the charade has been quietly dropped. Once again I confidently predict that electrical energy from renewable sources will, with luck, rise to 30% by 2030. The laws of physics are more immutable than the edicts of Gota. The general point is this: Yes we are facing hard times because of covid and the global economic downturn, but my god isn’t that bad enough! Must we compound it by making idiots of ourselves, must we grind food production into the ground? The economic adversity facing the country is more than half manmade; actually the manmade part is regime made.
Corruption is endemic, so no one will be surprised that two appointees to the Port City Commission have shady reputations. Colombo Telegraph says Priyath Bandu Wickrema was implicated by a Presidential Commission in large scale corruption and accused of a multi-million dollar tax scam in connection with Yoshitha Rajapaksa’s Carlton Sports Club. He is also facing charges for loaning Port Authority workers to Mahinda’s re-election campaign. Saliya Wickremasuriya was arrested and investigated in connection with the Tiran Alles led Rs.169 million RADA tsunami fraud, but the case was dismissed in 2020. What such people do in the coming year will fester Gota fatigue into wrath. Hasn’t he got enough crap on his plate as it is? Why, oh why, amass more dung? Such crappy names obviously were not forced on Gota by Beijing so the reason for their inclusion to be arranging for more larceny or recompense to cronies who helped with previous mischief.
In the period ahead, every decision of the PC Commission must be scrutinised with suspicion by public and Opposition in Parliament. Ambiguities are built into the Act such as, what land comes under the Commission’s mandate, provisions allowing PC investors to extend their reach into other parts of the country while still enjoying PC privileges, ambiguous concessions that are difficult challenge in courts, and other infringements. These are not drafting blunders but deliberately inserted to give leeway for mischief. The threat of scrutiny has to be publicised so that bona fide investors are forewarned that corrupt, illegitimate or undemocratic actions will be challenged or reversed. A consultative process needs to set up to fashion amendments to the PC Act or in the alternative how best it can be repealed altogether. This requires a fine and filigreed effort to work round potential contradictions with contracts that may have been awarded in good faith.
The Biden stimulus package is creating a boom in consumer spending. The Economist magazine says US disposal income per person has risen by 27% since February 2020, admittedly a low bar. It is visible everywhere; malls are crowded and queues at checkouts are long, beauticians and on-line orders are at a swell. This doesn’t auger well because inflation is surging (annualised at 4.2% in April from 2.6% in March) far above the Fed’s target of 2% to 2.5%. If the trend continues as seems likely the Federal Reserve (US central bank) will have to raise interest rates which will cut the ground under a surging stock market and property prices will escalate. Stocks slid in the US and around the world amid concerns that higher inflation would lead to higher interest rates. But that’s looking some months down the road, right now there’s a surge in demand, in capital investment, supply-chain bottle-necks and merrymaking among materials suppliers. But Sri Lanka seems to be missing out and its balance of trade hasn’t brightened. The deficit in April 2021 was $ 830 billion and the forecast for the next twelve months is downward (https://tradingeconomics.com/sri-lanka/balance-of-trade). Unless these forecasts are revised upwards they foreshadow more gloom for the government.
The storyline therefore moves to debt and rising debt, the desperation for a lifeline for a drowning man, and China to the rescue. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t blame the Chinese any more than I would blame any other customer of wares that a whore persists in offering. If Lanka is getting deeper into debt to China, it only shows that gentlemen from Beijing are more frequent flyers into the whore’s arms. Bluntly said, Lanka’s self-inflicted economic woes make it a global debt-harlot and her venal leaders cash in like pimps. It is unlikely that Beijing dictated the text of the Port City Act but China is promoting the project because it is in its own interest. Sri Lanka is becoming a client state of the Middle Kingdom and it is good for the master if the vassal prospers. Hence for its own good name Beijing would like to see Lanka do well, but does that mean China will back an authoritarian regime even if/when it is drawn into conflict with the people themselves? It is possible that Beijing has learnt from its mistakes in Burma, Pol Pot Cambodia and some African Dictatorships where it was the ally and stabiliser of ghastly dictators.
I hope the answer to this question is yes it has learnt; that Beijing will not repeat the mistake. We can help ourselves by invigorating ourselves as nonaligned and not as a threat to Beijing even as we rid ourselves of authoritarianism. By “we” I am referring to a hopefully unified, opposition that must be fused to prevent Gota and his clique from rescinding or subverting the next presidential election. If Washington, Delhi or Beijing can help us keep afloat, let alone become prosperous, that’s welcome so long as democracy is not subverted. True, beggars can’t be choosers but a little extra breathing space is not a lot to ask for. If the people of Sri Lanka and an authoritarian regime come to blows, Beijing must stand aside if not morally help the people. (Beijing’s declared principle of physical non-intervention need not preclude a moral stance).
One final point that we in Sri Lanka need to grasp is that our fate from time immemorial has been linked to the outside world because we are small. From our genes, to the arrival of the Buddha’s message, to 450 years of colonialism, to independence therefrom in 1948, we have been a footnote in subcontinental history. Likewise a dictatorship in Sri Lanka is impossible in modern times, though that won’t stop the Paksas from trying. People and to a degree governments in the liberal democratic West will sanction a Lankan dictator, India will strangle him since a democratic Lanka is safer for India. Why not China too while giving us lots of money (sic!), decide that there’s a red line it won’t cross? Paksas come and Paksas go but stable democracy should last.
Nathan / June 6, 2021
Mind reading is a gamble politicians take; Not suitable political writers.
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Gota has no heavy investment in a second Term. He would not overly worry over it.
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Beggars can’t be choosers. Agreed. But, it is the ‘beggars’ who have been subverting our democracy.
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Burt / June 6, 2021
Goat has no real investment in the county . He has been riding the gravy train for himself, his family and extended family. Do you think if he had any confidence in Sri Lanka he would have let his son settle in USA ?
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soma / June 7, 2021
Nathan
How many times I hàve to remind these imbeciles thàt Gota is already a military ruler.
Our democracy provides more opportunities for autocratic decision making, nepotism, favoritism and embezzlement.
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Soma
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Nathan / June 7, 2021
Soma,
One of these days, you are going to be my chum!
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soma / June 8, 2021
Nathan
You need time to consider?
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Soma
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Sinhala_Man / June 9, 2021
Of course, depends on your being more open.
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Panini
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eeakdavi / June 6, 2021
Sorry I said in the article that if interest rates in the US go up property prices will escalate. Sorry RS (‘rong speech’). I meant to say; if interest rates rise, property prices will plunge. Age is playing havoc with my brain.
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sanipa / June 6, 2021
You cannot input a traditional economic theory at this time. Prof is not far off.
The american economy last year may have suffered its deepest downturn since the Depression, but you would not know it from house prices. The Case-Shiller national house-price index is rising at an annual rate of 13%, its fastest for more than 15 years (see chart). Lower interest rates have encouraged people to take out bigger mortgages, and trillions of dollars of fiscal stimulus have let people spend more on . Economist March 2021 .
SYDNEY, Feb 11 (Reuters) – Australia’s housing market is pulling the A$2 trillion ($1.6 trillion) economy out of its first recession in three decades with prices hitting record highs, home loans surging and building approvals at 19-year peaks.
Among the key beneficiaries of this boom are Australia’s biggest banks, which have seen stocks rally on expectations of a return to profits and dividends in 2021.
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Noel / June 6, 2021
Dictatorship of the right kind is good for the country but the dictator from the island is bound to be corrupt one just as in many African countries. We are still to see a honest and a strong politician in the country who could be like Lee Kuang of Singapore.
UK is a good example of a good country to live in but the locals are getting non-productive and even lazy, sadly the politicians are scared to catch the bull by the horns.
You might laugh if I say Ranil is a decent person with no ambition to make money.I had the previlage to meet him and he said that he is a member of the Carlton club in UK,only the people with high integrity are accepted. As usual he is surrounded by the usual bad lot giving him a bad name.If he could join up with the JVP lads,SF and even Ranjan Ramanayake then we could have a good dictatorship to pull the country up to the standards of Singapore or even UK. I am not sure GR had been enlightened with experiences in living in a Western country like US.He could too join the coalition. We have to recognize the facts that since 1948 our values in life have gone down,politicans venerating before prel\ates is a big con to fool the foolish people.
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Native Vedda / June 6, 2021
Noel
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“Dictatorship of the right kind is good for the country”
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Could you give us some examples.
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“You might laugh if I say Ranil is a decent person with no ambition to make money.”
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Aren’t Clan’s former b***s carrier?
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“If he could join up with the JVP lads,SF and even Ranjan Ramanayake then we could have a good dictatorship to pull the country up to the standards of Singapore or even UK.”
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Has JVP changed its position on upcountry Tamils? For Rohana they were supposed to be 5th columns.
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Fonseka told National Post
“I strongly believe that this country belongs to the Sinhalese but there are minority communities and we treat them like our people,” he says.
“We being the majority of the country, 75%, we will never give in and we have the right to protect this country.
“We are also a strong nation … They can live in this country with us. But they must not try to, under the pretext of being a minority, demand undue things.”
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/world/story.html?id=832374
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Do you think these racists change everything by waving their hands?
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It appears you are fond of dictatorship are you regretting VP run dictatorship is no more?
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Sinhala_Man / June 9, 2021
Irrational, Noel, even if well meant.
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Has Carlton Club got some magic way of looking at Ranil’s mind.
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In any case, Ranil must remove himself from politics owing to age.
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Dilshan / June 6, 2021
Professuri
Why are flocking a dead horse. Nsndasena came with a big bang yes big bang of Easter bombing master minding the carnage through loyal state intelligence service.
A man who kills 250 people and injuring twice thrice that or more numbers to come to power by hoodwinking 6.9 million idiots. What better you can expect. This apart from the 40,000 civilians raped tortured and killed 10 years before that.
His ministers are undressing the Actress. Others are dead silence.
Nowadays people are not worried about white Van’s and are talking things openly. Poor Dilith is helpless with his Ada drama and Moring. Social Media cannot be matched by TV stations.
Question is when passes will run
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Dilshan / June 6, 2021
Sorry pukses will run
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sitrep24 / June 6, 2021
Hahahahaha so where are those champions who called for a lockdown ?? Where are the “experts” who proposed lockdown as a miracle solution ?? Where are those fools who went so far as to try and chastise me when I criticised a fake “expert”s recommendation ?? My question you all is, has the lockdown done anything ?? The daily reported cases are increasing !! Last I checked it was 3200 daily !!
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Moving on to the subject of the country, it’s simple. It’s finished. Thanks to the moda 69 lakh 🐃’s and the racist extremist buddhist monk-eys, this country’s fate is sealed. Let me put it this way; to bring the country to the situation it was in pre-🐐a (2018-19) is a bigger challenge than to have tried to make 2018 Ceylon into the next Singapore. Eventually when chinese citizens enter the parliament, I’d like to see the reaction of the extremist sinhala buddhist monk-eys and 69 lakh 🐃.
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Raj-UK / June 6, 2021
sitrep24
Until now, I thought I was the only person to be critical of the 5 weeks of continuous curfew in SL. My affluent friends in SL were happy with the decisive & swift action of the President & even an old friend fell out with me for being unsupportive & even unpatriotic.
Obviously the curfew was imposed without considering the repercussions & the plight of poor people but I was told the poor were given Rs5000 & food was delivered to the door, therefore, no body was left behind, despite the reality of such a logistical nightmare. Many of my rich friends were able to get curfew passes & travel outside the restricted zone in search of food but the poor who were caught defying the curfew were banged up in overcrowded remand cells. There was no social distancing in military camps either but these were obviously considered insignificant. The govt was so confident to the extent of boasting, didn’t have a strategy for a worst case scenario or even procuring vaccines, probably, because it was considered unnecessary & promoted unscientific remedies, even endorsing snake oil merchants & expecting divine intervention.
The govt. is still in the dark & unable to cope with the mess it has created.
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sitrep24 / June 7, 2021
Very true. This whole mess has come about because these shameless brainless extremist buddhist government even their army of +2 million state fed monk-eys could vaccinate the population in order to avoid a fourth wave and avoid a lockdown all together. No one other than a heartless extremist sinhala buddhist government would be able to impose a lockdown for such a long period of time to inflict such suffering on their own country people. Utter disgrace.
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Svenson / June 7, 2021
sitrep24, Let me put it this way. Gloating at the misfortune of others, mocking the sick and dying, racist comments about the sangha, all this says a lot about you. It says a great deal about the sort of person you are. Others make very critical comments but they are not happy about the situation, they do not laugh at misfortune. Unfortunately abortion is a sin for the Tambi and you were spared.
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sitrep24 / June 7, 2021
Listen here mr.
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You should understand that lowlife bottom feeder extremist sinhala buddhists have no right to address me. You made several false accusation against me which should be cleared up; I’m not an extremist sinhala buddhist to laugh at the missery of others (remember how you people were laughing when the Muslims were asking to permit burial and you extremist sinhala buddhists along with your racist monk-eys were hell bent on not allowing it ?). I was laughing at the few individuals who supported a lockdown even though historical evidence at that time showed it wouldn’t be effective, which it has shown to be ineffective.
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This whole mess has come about because these shameless brainless extremist buddhist government even their army of +2 million state fed monk-eys could vaccinate the population.
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sitrep24 / June 7, 2021
*couldn’t vaccinate
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Svenson / June 7, 2021
sitrep24.5 Hahahahaha a sensitive spot isn’t it? I admire how you cleverly twist your comments to give them a different meaning. Tambi’s thoppi is spinning. The Pakses are a curse on the country but you still don’t understand.
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SJ / June 7, 2021
S
“Gloating at the misfortune of others, mocking the sick and dying, racist comments …”
You cannot single out one for that.
There are a few too many here who wish the worst for the country in the hope that it will help to be rid of the GR-MR rule.
Their response to anything bad is that the 6.9 million deserve it.
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That is a negative way of looking at problems. But they seem not to know any better.
Just do not waste your breath to get angry. Laugh if you can.
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chiv / June 8, 2021
Yes, I agree , how can we forget the gloating at the misfortune of others, mocking the sick and dying ,making racist comments at the U.S and other western countries when scores of people succumbed to this deadly pandemic .There response to anything bad is that that those citizens deserve it. I agree that is very negative way of looking at problems.
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SJ / June 9, 2021
C
Thanks, very true.
But I will add to it the frequent occurrence of ‘they deserve it’ comments about the people of this country for electing someone.
I will also add to it curses on certain countries targetted by imperialism.
I assume that you will agree.
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chiv / June 10, 2021
I will leave that for other’s to decide. But yes I agree in Lanka if any one points out the reality it is considered gloating but to enable is very positive and patriotic. US imperialism is too bad because of their interference on others but of it is within country ignoring our own is
very good. So not just 7 million but the majority decided to have family dynasties since independence. They fully deserve it. Are Lankans ((patients) considering bad prognosis when told by treating doctor’s as curse ?? Too bad. I guess that may be a reason the health ministry is blamming delaying treatment as cause of death.
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Sinhala_Man / June 8, 2021
Dear Svenson,
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Very true. I’ve said this before, about this guy and another.
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That 6.9 million idiots got us into this mess by voting for the Double-Paksas is true, but there were at least two who were gloating over the sufferings of people is true. I can’t remember who the other was, but siterp24 was the worse fellow.
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It is wrong.
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Another consideration has to be how to get out of this. The only way is by persuading them to, at least now, stop supporting these horrible politicians.
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leelagemalli / June 7, 2021
Harin held a speech in the parliament today, had they allowed to implement digital classrooms, things would have been much nicer for the school children today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKHgTECBJdU
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Culprits in today srilanka are more… that is relatively more than any other like minded countries. 🐃.🐃.🐃.🐃.🐃.🐃.🐃.🐃.🐃.🐃.🐃.🐃.🐃.🐃.🐃.🐃.🐃.🐃.🐃.🐃.🐃.🐃.🐃.🐃.🐃.🐃.🐃.🐃.🐃.🐃.🐃.🐃.🐃.🐃.🐃.🐃.
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Whimpy Kid / June 6, 2021
People will judge GR next year so please don’t jump the gun now………
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nimal fernando / June 6, 2021
Prof KD has raised some very valid points …… the only thing of interest to me is the inflation/interest-rates ………….
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In all these, fortunately/unfortunately, the first thing I always notice is the elephant in the room.
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If SL is a company I would asses to invest in …….. the first thing I will look at is ……… are the people running it, the Rajapakses, have come into politics to improve the country/people or to improve themselves?
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Has anything they have done in the past improved/benefitted the country/people?
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Those two will very accurately predict how the future is going to pan out.
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All else is just dross …… worthless if/what qualifications ………
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Anyone wanna bet against this assessment?
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chiv / June 6, 2021
I read the srticle and all the comments which is un usual , except on a Sunday before my 2 year old is up from sleep. I find the author and people who comment are valud in their own way. Leaving the padt the discussion is now about future or recovery ( prognosis is medical terms ) . Nimal F who is the last to comment
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chiv / June 6, 2021
(Continue ) explained in economical terms. I tend to see this as in a patient admitted in ICU with end stage diseases. The damage is done over years and now is the question of stabilizing,, getting out of ICU , and after month’s of stay if lucky returning home ( in some it’s nursing home ) but with limited function and over months in some years gradually regaining their functional levels which rarely gets to their previous baseline , provided there are no new issues and complications. Limiting factors of a fair prognosis are many including age, care givers, socio economic status, extent of organ damage, treating doctors knowledge and commitment, services available, medication, nutrition —. But regardless patient and family expect not just a quick recovery but fully regaining function and in few unrealistic functioning far and above their previous baseline.
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sanipa / June 6, 2021
As Nimal stated the assessment is PEST . Political Economical Social and Technological. If we expect investment where to we find the PES.
Political changes with every change of regime.
Economy: a not so prudent fiscal system of lower rates and not in keeping with the required t of the society .
Social: we have a society who are prone to seek state jobs and encouraged to run a three wheel economy.
Technology: a lot of talk of a theory based education system .
Look at what US UK Europe and Australia did to help economic stimulus.
It is not raising its head above the baseline but to keep a pragmatic economic policy . The not so far thinking agriculture fertilizer thoughts which will create shortages and social unrest.
Fertile ground for taking over at low asset value . Who will benefit.China . India May not watch and wait .
Enter geopolitics . The future is not so bright.
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Eagle Eye / June 6, 2021
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.
For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2
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a14455 / June 6, 2021
David hopes so. but in Colombo Telegraph that fatigue was there even before Gota was elected . so writing about it does not mean the country thinks so. We should be able to see with the provincial councils.
But it is a fact that David fatigue is setting in just like the DJ fatigue..lol
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leelagemalli / June 7, 2021
a14455
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No doubt u should be an idiot. Even school going children question who is governing this country today. To them and many it seems there is president in today s govt. Press shy Gotler stays nail biting not taking any actions. His capabilities are not it s all cracked up to be , former petrol shed assistant is fallen shortly before a suicide 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎
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Plato / June 6, 2021
Its a marvel how Prof: Kumar David navigates through the realms of Optimism and Pessimism; Like Alternating current. Equally at home with Power Systems both Electrical and Political.
I wish to formulate a simple but still a difficult question to quantify.
What percentage of those 6.9 M. Voters realise that they have placed their bets on the
[W] Rong Horse in Nov: 2019?
True the Hard-core will say, the Covid-19 has dashed their hopes. Cant blame Gota etc.
These elements are found mostly in Urban centers where there is a substantial Muslim presence in Trade.
The Rural voter ,as usual, was swayed more by Religion than Economy. Never mind the corruption! . The Saffron Brigade had their say.
There is also a still more hardened voter base, Pro Gota, who opine; Whats [ W ] Rong?
Let the Chinese come in[ Let the Robber Barons come said JRJ IN THE 80s with the market economy].
But the minorities should be under the Jack-Boot!
A statistical survey is of-course out of the question.
My Guesstimate is > 50%
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Sugandh / June 6, 2021
Dear Plato, >50% is a good bet. We wouldn’t have been through what we’ve been over the course of SL history and still be at where we are today without this diehard hardcore conditioned Sinhala Buddhist fundamentalist segment.
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What’s more important to assess though is the age divide or generational differences in political stances, particularly where the diehard Sinhala Buddhist fundamentalists are concentrated. I think that has to be a very important indicator of the country’s future.
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The continued military recruitment of young Sinhala Buddhists and the recent endeavour to assembling large community policing force across the country, authoritarian mindset will get further ingrained and Sinhala Buddhist fundamentalism will continue to be a trap.
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leelagemalli / June 7, 2021
Plato@
“What percentage of those 6.9 M. Voters realise that they have placed their bets on the
[W] Rong Horse in Nov: 2019?”
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A good question, no doubt.
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I think those voters incl 10% of the educated in that position belong to the memory losers category which is common to your sinhala genetics. See how the decorations animals aka Tattamamala of MR political parades stay mum today? What happened to that bad mouth BBS head and other fake monks who led ultra patriotic SB campaigns ?☹☹☹😎😎😎😎😎😎
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SarathP / June 6, 2021
A danger that I see is that, Gobbasena is alone now, without his only confidant, his wife. She left for the USA when their grandchild was born. She is the only person he trusts completely.
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Gobbasena must be in turmoil, especially at night, alone with his thoughts, battling demons, with no one to confide in, share his thoughts, and give unbiased advice. Not Mahinda, not Shavendra, not PBJ, nor Lalith W.
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Expect more irrational, even violent behavior in the days to come.
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davidthegood / June 6, 2021
Sarath P, I agree that Prez. does not trust even bo trees and viharas, and much less priests.. Over soul personalities’ natural environment, need infused spiritual energy of the good kind not evil. Otherwise our spirits don’t awaken to the leading of realistic identity and substitutes with evil yiolent behavior. Love, joy, peace is replaced by anger, fear and unbelief and runs after the obvious satisfaction of money which we cant take to the grave. Hoping for intuition.
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Muhandiram / June 6, 2021
Prof. Kumar David
“The deficit in April 2021 was $ 830 billion and the forecast for the next twelve months is downward.”
Please note that it is NOT $830 billion but $830 Million.
Also, the figure is NOT for the month of April 2021, but the cumulative deficit at the end of April 2021,
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Noel / June 6, 2021
Yes it’s more like $830 million. Government should not spend endlessly on useless projects but have a big foreign reserve as the RS had lost it’s value.
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Native Vedda / June 10, 2021
Noel
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“Government should not spend endlessly on useless projects but have a big foreign reserve as the RS had lost it’s value.”
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If the government does not spend how could the clan and cronies accumulate wealth that they don’t earn nor do they need?
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justice / June 6, 2021
President Nandasena is totally ignoring the unfortunate plight of so-called Political Prisoners who were jailed by him long ago in his previous “incarnation” of Enforcer of the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
If he orders immediate trial/release of these unfortunate citizens, he will be hailed as a just President.
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Good Sense / June 6, 2021
I considered the article as well as the admission by Prof Kum in his comment “Age is playing havoc with my brain.” Indeed, vomiting knowledge, the past practice of deciding in awarding good marks at an examination, the trait perhaps Prof Kum is used to, as opposed to the present-day practice of answering to the point is playing havoc on Prof. Kum’s articles, ultimately not being able fathom the point he is driving. It is correct to reflect the general mood that the Government machinery is going haywire, and it is in the control of “racketeers” as was the previous “Yahapalana” government and perhaps the government of “Bright future (Suba Anagathayak)” before. Individuals can have their own opinion but what matters is the voting at an election. With this pandemic on, the conduct of any election is next to impossible, but that is the acid test.
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dulan / June 6, 2021
The writer does not appear to be aware of 20A. That everyone from EC to SC to AC to Forces commanders to Police Chiefs to senior govt servants are appointed by one Man. That the govt has also appointed an Army Major General to each equal to District Sec who are themselves in the pocket of the govt for survival. They are recruiting 25000 community Police men at GS level with intelligence as a key task! Samurdhi workers and majority of the 1.5 m govt servants are slaves. If anyone thinks they did not learn from 2015 defeat they are clueless. Just stop talking of about the next election. They have a superb bonus of a weak opposition with a leader whose tone makes one puke. They have the money. So please be take these into account when having false hopes of getting rid of Pakshas by even 2030 . A system change not change of people or parties is what Sri Lanka need and it cannot come about in a hurry. Need lots of planning and time and youth in the leadership 2035 , 2040? What is important is a carefully planned method as 3 sloppy efforts 2 JVP one LTTE in North failed .Violence may not be the answer
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sanipa / June 6, 2021
We do not polls or rating . Check google trending . As you say still a little over 50% and more in non urban provinces trend on GR. Probably religion and race is over economy. And still R’ s are their hope is how I interpret the trending .
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Humble / June 7, 2021
Kumar David
The gloomiest covid scenarios painted by some medical-professional and lay commentators are I reckon exaggerated
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Not exaggerated but totally fabricated! There is no covid pandemic. The whole thing is a massive hoax that was staged to get people injected with the medical experiment.
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Humble / June 7, 2021
Inviting the chinese to take over the island was done for two reasons:
a) Develop the nation because the locals cant do it themselves (despite being members of a ‘superior aryan race’)
b) Enable the racist leaders to continue erasing tamil from the island with impunity as they believe china is the chess piece that will stop the west and india from pressuring the island to stop its anti-tamil behaviour.
Ironically while they continue land grabbing from tamils in the NE of the island, the chinese are coming from the back door and taking sinhala lands in the south.
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chiv / June 8, 2021
Come what may Rajapaksas are here to stay, not even the 7 million who voted can do anything about it.
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a14455 / June 8, 2021
No one is here to stay Chiv. The Sri Lankan electroate will ensure that as it always has. but the key is to do something worthwhile while you are there. Very few have achieved that. Mahinda for one can claim the end of the war. JR begginning , most of the others achieved nothing. let us see what Gota does , the people will judge rightly or wrongly(as the armchair QBs will say) soon.
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chiv / June 9, 2021
a 14455, I hope you are right. My concerns are, with or without elections, Rajapaksas will still be in control and the consequence ( it is not just me, many have such apprehensions, but do not voice) of which will see Lanka on death bed needing permanent life support. I am sure , you are aware of the limited options left in such situation. As Nimal . F said we already are at a point of no return. (Soon our debt will hit $ 1000 million).
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