By Hema Senanayake –
Hema Senanayake
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Inauguration of the First Session of the Tenth Parliament delivering a speech, said that the NPP government must go with the IMF framework and the previous administration’s debt restructuring agreements as they have been endorsed by the IMF. It is true. Renegotiating for a new Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) is now dead. That is good, because we must end this process as early as possible to enter a new beginning. If the Net Present Value analysis proves beneficial for us to ensure debt sustainability even under the macro-linked bond mechanism we must finish this process. The NPP government is going to do it possibly by the end of December this year. It is a great consolation.
So, the president very correctly insisted that there is no chance even for a simple mistake. But the government is heading to make a serious mistake unintentionally in another area by lifting the ban on vehicle imports from February 01, 2025. The objective is clear – import vehicles, collect import tariffs to pay the increased salaries and other financial concessions promised. This was Ranil’s formula and now the same is sold to NPP government openly by the governor of the central bank. The possible negative outcome is the outflow of massive amounts of foreign exchange by this single act, destabilizing the domestic currency. As far as I know, the central bank will not intervene in the forex market to stabilize the rupee, because the IMF’s prescription is to allow the rupee to find its natural exchange value based on demand and supply. This natural exchange value of rupee could easily touch Rs. 400 for one U.S. dollar. I am not arguing to keep the vehicle import restrictions for a long time, instead I argue that lifting the ban should not be linked to find essential revenue for the government to pay for increased salaries and provide other financial incentives promised to various people.
The central bank might be pointing out to the government that there is a mild deflation which could be temporary, but also shows slow-down economic activity. Such a situation requires the system to inflate as the central bank’s target rate of inflation is 3 to 5%. In this kind of situation, a recently popular policy tool is to use Quantitative Easing to push the demand up. This option is not available to Sri Lanka under the new Central Bank Act as the central bank cannot expand its balance sheet to support government’s Quantitative Easing plans. So, the central bank can let the currency depreciate to inflate the system, and removing the ban on vehicle imports is one mechanism to do it. The silliest strategy ever.
However, a few alterative strategic measures can be sorted out if Deputy Finance Minister Dr. Harshana Sooriyapperuma brainstorms a few questions with Dr. Nandalal and Mahinda Siriwardena and other economists. I will list them as follows.
1. Can the country build up part of reserves without increasing market liquidity? Usually, the central bank purchases dollars to build up reserves from the market by increasing rupee liquidity in the market.
2. Can the country employ Quantitative Easing by creating new money subject to a monetary rule (e.g.1% of GDP) under the watch of the IMF?
3. Can the money created under 2 above support to maintain the inflation target of 3 to 5%?
4. will the new money created under 2 above is sufficient to pay reasonable salary increase and provide other financial concessions promised by the government?
5. Will the increased salary in turn bring additional PAYE tax revenue?
6. As per the above 4, can the government allow import of vehicles as a stand-alone decision meaning that the imports can be restricted via macroprudential tools without jeopardizing government revenue targets ?
7. Will the new money created by Quantitative Easing reduce borrowing and reduce interest payments?
I was happy about the NPP government’s decision to keep Dr. Nandalal and Mahinda Siriwardena as they are capable of bringing in new strategies if the NPP government asks right questions. Can the Deputy Minister of Finance get answers to the above seven questions from the central bank and from the Treasury.
Nathan / November 27, 2024
… the government is heading to make a serious mistake unintentionally in another area by lifting the ban on vehicle imports.
Hema Senanayake, Even to a layman like me your fear rings true. Is the governor of the central bank for real.
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LankaScot / November 27, 2024
Hello Nathan,
I have seen some explaining that careful management of Car Imports can be a substantial source of Revenue. As for macro-linked Bonds – “Some investors may be skeptical of MLBs because of the history of attempts to link payouts to volatile economic factors”.
There are arguments for and against many Economic propositions, most Economists were “surprised” by the 2008 Crash. Many Countries worry about their Debt to GDP Ratios – does the US? Or how about Japan?
Since I came to live in Sri Lanka I have tried to fathom out why the people in the Country have been kept in isolation economically and culturally from the West. For 11 years in Qatar I watched in disbelief as Sri Lankans filled Crates with Consumer Goods to send home. I just didn’t realise how much second rate products were being sold here, the Import Duties didn’t help either. Three year old refurbished Cars are sold here as new. I still see old CRT TV sets in people’s houses and in Repair Shops. Spare parts for anything Electronic are almost impossible to obtain. I wanted to use Copper Pipe for my Plumbing and was laughed at. I understand now.
TBC
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LankaScot / November 27, 2024
Continued
The amount of old Cars and Trucks (still running) and the plethora of Spare Parts/Repair Shops and Garages reminds me of Cuba (or Scotland in the 1950s).
But Sri Lanka hasn’t been under Sanction like Cuba. You may blame the Civil War for some of this, but WW2 in Europe devastated Cities and Millions died, leaving Countries like the UK to suffer a decade of Austerity – “Austerity Britain, 1945-1951: Kynaston, David”. “Make and Mend” was one of the Mantras we heard very often back in the 50s. It still continues here in Central Province (if not everywhere else). My brother in Law (ex-Military pensioned) makes Paper Bags from old School Test Sheets. He also repairs the seats of Dining Chairs. One of my Nieces seals Seeds in small Plastic Bags. Enough said, it is a continual struggle to survive for many in Sri Lanka.
Best regards
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Jit / November 28, 2024
LS, what you discussed is a topic that I have been quite passionate about for a long while. I am religiously a waste minimalist and unconditionally endorse any step towards the three ‘R’s: repair, reuse, recycle. I believe that not only people in struggling economies but also those in so-called first-world countries should follow the three ‘R’s to make this planet a better place. Although you seem surprised by the way Sri Lankans repair and reuse things similarly to Cubans, it has been the practice for centuries for all Sri Lankan families, including the upper middle class, to reuse liquor bottles, jam jars, biscuit tins, oil barrels, wrapping papers, etc., for the next purpose. This is a common practice not only in the central province but also anywhere, including the western regions. I am sure people did and still do it purely for economic reasons, reflecting the austerity mindset you mentioned. However, why this practice is more important today is because it creates fewer emissions and fewer landfills, allowing the ‘would be consumed’ resources to remain in the earth for many more years to come! Cntd…
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chiv / November 29, 2024
Jit, agree. I’m still impressed by years of re-cycling we had in Lanka ( a very old system from from 50 and 60 ‘s) .Different people came throughout year to collect and pay a small fee for 1) old news papers, books , note pad 2) bottles colored and transparent fetched different prices
3) metals aluminium, copper, tins, jars 4) old clothes , sarees . 5) any kitchen / wet waste, was recycled to manure . Whereas many years after people in the U.S were mandated by law to recycle their waste in different colored bins and cans
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LankaScot / November 29, 2024
Hello Chiv and Jit,
I fully agree with re-cycling, however there are a few problems here in Central Province. If you haven’t noticed the collections here have all but disappeared. Most people burn their Rubbish, including Plastics. I have continual arguments telling relatives that many of the Plastics they burn are toxic, but they win when they explain that no-one will take them even free. A local man comes round with his Truck and collects scrap metal and broken Electrical Items – he even gives cash for some items, however he won’t take tin cans. The problem in the UK began in the 70s when it became cheaper to buy a new Electronic/Electrical Item than to repair it. Disposal of BER (Beyond Economical Repair) Fridges and TVs etc. became almost impossible until local Council Waste Sites were mandated to take them (many for a fee). Is this possible in Sri Lanka.
Best regards
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Jit / November 30, 2024
LS, the main products that came out of old tins were kerosene lamps, oil funnels etc., of which today’s demand must be near zero I guess, the main reason why they may not collect used tins anymore. Even in those days plastics were never recycled so they never collected them. There was a a belief that burnt plastic and tyre fumes helped killing mosquitos so they all ended up in backyard toxic burning sites unfortunately :(
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Jit / November 30, 2024
Yes Chiv, remember the ‘bothaaal…..paththaraiiii….” man who roamed the villages as well as the city streets collecting used bottles and old newspapers? Old newspapers were the grocery fish/meat wrapping material by default until the ‘sili sili’ bags invaded every nook n corner. And we always had to return the old bottles to buy new ‘orange barley’ or ‘Necto’ bottles. Cement bags were never rip open like today, they’d open them by carefully untying the threat that sealed the bags so all outer layers of the bag goes to make ‘brown paper’ grocery bags. It was quite a sustainable way most packages ended up in those days, although the new generation would listen to these stories with a ‘wow’ response :)
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Jit / November 30, 2024
*thread
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old codger / November 30, 2024
Chiv,
The old “bottle-men” have all but disappeared, at least the ones who used to operate on foot. Now they use small trucks complete with loudspeakers, and it isn’t worth their while collecting bottles as before. Progress has a price, I suppose.
https://youtu.be/7FSB6b0RBBA?si=zhQXUHTna0lG-3dA
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SJ / November 30, 2024
c
The recycling of then had a different purpose. It was mostly reuse.
Now it is recycling of the main ingredient.
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nimal fernando / November 28, 2024
“The amount of old Cars and Trucks (still running) and the plethora of Spare Parts/Repair Shops and Garages reminds me of Cuba (or Scotland in the 1950s).”
–
–
Ah! That’s the average citizens ……… have you ever seen any pol travelling in an old vehicle?
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That’s human-nature in a nutshell. ……… Lankans are a little more human than the rest ……. the pols more so.
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There’s a shameless bold honesty that always seeps to the top ……. in the variant of Buddhism practiced in Lanka.
–
–
DTG is a Buddhist ……. who has discovered a god.
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LankaScot / November 28, 2024
Hello Nimal,
“DTG is a Buddhist ……. who has discovered a god”.
Watch your Capitalisation and use of the “indefinite article” please, it should have been “DTG is a Buddhist ……. who has discovered God” Remember that famous phrase from the “Highlander” Film – “There can be only One”.
Best regards
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nimal fernando / November 30, 2024
LS,
–
Many Lankans worship more than one god …… Kataragama, Nullur, Tirupathi, ……
–
Thanks to the internet …… OC has discovered a god in Pittsburgh …… to worship.
–
Lankans are a little stranger than the Scots.
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old codger / December 1, 2024
Nimal,
What about the other god scratching herself in London?
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davidthegood / November 28, 2024
nimal fernando, why are you bothered about DTG religion. Looks like you too want the same path.
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Nathan / November 28, 2024
Hello LankaScot,
Thank you. You have inundated me with facts.
If not for tuk-tuks many families would be starving.
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old codger / November 27, 2024
LS,
“Spare parts for anything Electronic are almost impossible to obtain. “
Maybe because you live up in the hills. If you want stuff, you have to come down to Colombo. For electronic spares, it is First Cross Street in Pettah. Even flyback transformers are still available in this 21st century.
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LankaScot / November 28, 2024
Hello OC,
You are showing your Valved TV History now. My friend in Aberdeen owned a TV Shop and together we installed one of the first Satellite TV Dishes (2 metre) in NE Scotland. It was around 1981 or 1982 and I think we connected to Intelsat V.
Thanks for the Spares tip, I will try them. Flyback Transformers and Delay lines, I had completely forgotten them😎
Best regards
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old codger / November 29, 2024
LS,
Central Colombo is a very well-zoned place for shopping. Each cross street has its own specialty. Front street for luggage, 1st cross St for electronics and mobiles, 2nd cross St for textiles, Bankshall St for chemicals etc.
There are online suppliers, though slightly pricier than Pettah. A search with “electronic components sri lanka” throws up a dozen or so. Yes, I was into TV back in the day. At the the time, not only cars but even used TVs were imported in bulk.😳
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Lester / November 30, 2024
“Even flyback transformers are still available in this 21st century.”
I’m sure you can get that for free as well, if you stand in line long enough. 🤣
/
Lester / November 28, 2024
Hello Scot,
“Since I came to live in Sri Lanka I have tried to fathom out why the people in the Country have been kept in isolation economically and culturally from the West.”
Economically, the structures can be built, they just require FDI: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m_zRMINRP8&pp=ygUXU3JpIExhbmthIGF3ZXNvbWUgaG90ZWw%3D. There are a small handful of hotels like that in Sri Lanka.
Chinese cities like Shanghai went from fishing village to supercities within a few decades. In Sri Lanka, decades of terrorism drained the coffers of the government. Institutions declined while a brain drain was also underway. GDP in developed countries is largely a function of the output of higher skilled workers. Silicon Valley contributes ~15% to the US GDP.
Culturally, Sri Lanka is ahead of China, India, Pakistan, etc. I urge you to never visit India, as you may have recurring nightmares. At a personal level, Chinese are quite nationalistic and materialistic. They have the means to pursue their agenda of global domination and will do so at the expense of quality control. Sri Lankans (majority), while nationalistic, do not make any pretense to global domination.
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old codger / November 28, 2024
LS,
Some genuine history for you:
“Chinese cities like Shanghai went from fishing village to supercities within a few decades.”
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😛😛😛😛😛😛
Does the guy actually live on this planet? What else can we expect from one who claims there are 300 psi pumps still running in Sigiriya?
https://www.alamy.com/late-19th-century-photograph-the-bund-shanghai-china-c-1890-image402056849.html
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old codger / November 28, 2024
“Culturally, Sri Lanka is ahead of China, India, Pakistan, etc. “
“Why would a Western male prefer to live in a hellhole like Sri Lanka? “
– sayings of the Sage of Sigiriya.
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LankaScot / November 28, 2024
Hello Lester,
Shanghai is where my Gt Gt Uncle William died in February 1873. He was an Engineer in the Woolwich Arsenal, recruited by Sir John Anderson. Prior to this he worked for Alexander Hall & Sons (Shipyard) in Aberdeen. He left the Arsenal to work for Jardine & Mathieson in the early 1870s possibly at the Shanghai Port. His cause of Death is a Mystery that I haven’t been able to solve. Many Scots worked in Shanghai hence their nickname “Shanghailanders”.
By the way I spent nearly a month in Pakistan (2008) mostly in the Embassy Compound with occasional trips to Rawalpindi. The food was very like Sri Lankan, nothing like the Indian Kormas and Vindaloos that I ate in the UK.
Best regards
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Lester / November 29, 2024
Hello Scot,
I met a Chinese professor once. He was more pro-Western than MAGA Trump supporters. He told me corruption is beyond endemic in China. Western companies like Apple & Tesla are paying bribes under the table to CCP officials to do business there. There is a class of Chinese who strongly despise the CCP. They understand that Marxism is a dead end and that it is suffocating the future prospects for China. Chinese overall are terrific people, naturally gifted in many arenas. Marxism, unfortunately, is exhaustive (ask Jack Ma) and not conducive for technological growth or personal human creativity. Virtually every Chinese company I invested in was killed by some silly regulation.
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leelagemalli / November 30, 2024
Hello LS,
“The food is very Sri Lankan, I’ve had Indian Kormas and Vindaloos in the UK.”
–
A lot of what you get from those countries in Europe is not made according to their traditional fine cooking. For example, I love Italian food in Germany, but whenever I visit my clients in Milan and Rome, I find that there is a big difference in the quality of the food. In general, Italians give a higher priority to their food than most other European nations.
The same is true of the Chinese, Tamil, Pakistani, Indian, Thai, Mexican and Indonesian food corners in Germany, many of whom start out as “amateur cooks”. So how does the quality measure up?
I once had a good “Indian meal” in Cambridge. It was a much better comparing to what we have in Germany, no matter where you are (Dusseldorf, Berlin, Frankfurt etc).
I rarely find good Asian restaurants in Germany. They are expensive, but the quality is not as good as in the UK :-
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LankaScot / November 30, 2024
Hello Leelagemalli,
So where can we get Curriewurst and Kartoffelsalat in Sri Lanka? I had some in the Market Place in Paderborn. Don’t tell DTG, but at the time that was my idea of “Heaven”.
Best regards
/
leelagemalli / December 1, 2024
LS, I think there are some German restaurants in Bentota and Colombo. A german colleague who travelled lately to SL had visited the place. You can try them there. Maybe next time I come to Sri Lanka, I will come and meet you and we can have a meal in Bentota. I usually stay in Bentota hotels when I go home. Whisper, don’t let SM know this, because he is after my ID as a trapper appointed by the JVP. I am afraid of ending up in his soup.
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leelagemalli / December 2, 2024
LS and OC,
.
Our duo (DDS and Lester) are clearly experts at twisting the “thumb-up and down” meter.
–
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUbUU8wtkP0
–
Study the fact that their “own comments” consistently get the highest scores while all other comments are seen as “thumb-downs”. Mine are being rejected by more reviewers today than before the Thambuttegama Joker was elected, and he is now in a mode of deleting his “pre-election videos”. I feel like our “Bandarawela so-called English master” is unusually busy in that endeavour.
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a14455 / November 29, 2024
There are so many things wrong with your comment Mr Lester but “Culturally, Sri Lanka is ahead of China, India, Pakistan, etc” but this is really a shocker.
So two countries that are the basis of human civilization are ahead of Sri Lanka culturally?
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old codger / November 29, 2024
“So two countries that are the basis of human civilization are ahead of Sri Lanka culturally?”
You mean behind, I think?
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a14455 / November 30, 2024
no I mean ahead. countries that invented human civilization such as India and China are certainly ahead of us.
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Nathan / November 30, 2024
Obviously.
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Lester / November 29, 2024
a14455,
I am criticizing the culture, not the people. I have worked with Indians for more than 30 years. In addition to visiting their country. I have also invested in Chinese companies, visited their country, negotiated with Chinese companies, and understand their economy well. What about you? Your argument about “civilization” is rather trivial. Are you another government school prodigy, standing in line at the temple for food, like Old Beggar here?
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a14455 / November 30, 2024
It seems you are actually criticizing a few people who you worked with, not the culture. And you are equating those few you have some experience with to a country’s culture? This is the problem with our so called educated. they are actually frogs in a well.
imagine the massive head this man has to assume I know nothing after having lived and worked overseas for more than almost 40 years.
I see nothing wrong in being a government school prodigy even though I am not.
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old codger / November 30, 2024
A14455,
Only Lester knows where to find a culture without people. Government school prodigies, janitors, and three wheeler drivers are the least of his hang-ups.
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Lester / November 30, 2024
a14455,
No, I am criticizing the cultures of China and India. Both of these countries are far more corrupt than Sri Lanka. You say India is ahead of Sri Lanka? India is one of the most unpopular countries in the world. Check any survey. It is not safe for women travelers. Whereas Sri Lanka is ranked higher for tourism. If you think India is ahead, you should explain how. As I said, I actually went there. People defecate openly in public (doesn’t happen in SL). Pollution is out of control (air quality much better in SL). In India, you have to hold your nose and wear a mask. Just because a bunch of religions came out of India doesn’t make it a superstar. For example, writing was created in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq). So was the ISIS.
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old codger / November 30, 2024
“Both of these countries are far more corrupt than Sri Lanka”
Yes, but even Tamilnadu has a higher PCI than Sri Lanka.
“Whereas Sri Lanka is ranked higher for tourism.”
Kerala alone got 22 million visitors:
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2024/Mar/05/with-2-18-crore-visitors-kerala-sets-new-record-in-domestic-tourist-arrivals-in-2023#:~:text=THIRUVANANTHAPURAM%3A%20Kerala%20has%20set%20a,88%2C67%2C414%20domestic%20tourist%20footfalls
Go home Lester. The more lies you tell, the more stuck you get.
Anyhow, weren’t you asking Scot the other day why he lives in a sh1thole like Sri Lanka?
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a14455 / November 30, 2024
You said culture, not what some people do. India is all the things you said but also many things you ignored. Yes, there is pollution, defecting on the streets, and a difficult place for solo women. But when you say culture (possibly meaning something else), you should know that the culture of most Asian countries is derived from India and China, including ours. And it is not just the religions. India and China are superstars in the old world and the new while we are insignificant.and not realizing that is what makes us frogs in a well.
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Jit / December 1, 2024
a14455, actually the most ancient civilizations were Mesopotamian and Babylonian. Mesopotamia was on the area between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, in modern Iraq. The city of Babylon was a region covering the area now called Syria, Turkey, and Iraq. Soon came the Mohenjo-Daro And Harappa civilization in the Indus valley which actually were parts of both India and Pakistan in today’s political map. Both those civilizations happened almost the same time around 2500 BCE. The Chinese Yellow River civilization occurred after 400-600 years later, and yes the third major civilization of the ancient world.
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Lester / December 1, 2024
a14455,
“India is all the things you said but also many things you ignored.”
You keep talking in ambiguities. Why don’t you give specific examples of the “superiority” of India and China relative to Sri Lanka? This “culture” you speak of doesn’t exist anymore. No one in India speaks “Sinhala” (although Vijaya came from Kalinga/Sinhapura), while Buddhism in India nearly disappeared in the 12th century. The evolution of the Sinhala language and Theravada Buddhism occurred entirely in Sri Lanka. These two are foundational to Sri Lankan culture. The cuisine of Sri Lanka is entirely different from India. Things like “sambol”, “dhal”, “chapati”, }papadam” etc. are totally different in India. The “saree” is worn differently in India. Indians largely identify themselves by caste and regional dialect. Who does that in the South of Sri Lanka? I get the impression that you don’t know much about India. Indians don’t see themselves as one cohesive unit, they identify much more with their ancestral region. That’s why they elected a full-blooded Italian to be PM. No other Asian country would dream of doing that.
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old codger / December 1, 2024
Lester the blind,
“Indians largely identify themselves by caste and regional dialect. Who does that in the South of Sri Lanka? “
Let me help you. Why don’t you read all 1300 of these marriage ads?
https://www.hitad.lk/en/ads/sri-lanka/matrimonial
What are all those strange words? Bodu-Govi? Karawe Catholic? Navandanna? Ɓodu Deva? Bodu Salagama?
They must be all Indian immigrants for sure, wearing their sarees backwards.
“No one in India speaks “Sinhala”
There is a population of Sinhalese people in India, numbering about 3,500 and mostly located in Delhi and Chennai.
I get the impression that you don’t know much about Sri Lanka OR India.
You lost again
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old codger / December 1, 2024
Lester,
“That’s why they elected a full-blooded Italian to be PM. “
Really? When was that? Date please?
Now the autistic genius claims Jawaharlal Nehru was an Italian . 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
/
SJ / December 1, 2024
Let me add few more differences:
The sun rises in mid sky in India.
The rain pours from earth to sky in India.
People walk backwards in India.
People sleep standing on their heads in India.
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leelagemalli / December 1, 2024
This self-proclaimed alien engineer compares 1300 million (India) to 23 million (a bankrupted Sri Lanka). How narrow-minded does one have to be to behave like that?
–
You don’t need to learn rocket science to see that right away.
This idiot has the audacity to further argue that India is not that popular. Pharmaceutical companies like Norvatis and Ratiopharma and many others have migrated to the Indian subcontinent for their work sites in the last 10 years.
–
Almost anyone with a little knowledge would know the few countries including India developed vaccines against COVID 19. Today, the entire Middle Eastern countries are ruled by Indian entrepenurs. Above all, any research field is filled with Indians rather than Europeans. Every corner of the European Union today deals with Indians.
.:
Even advanced students in the economics stream know it, s o-called engineers don’t see the basics…. Oh my god, what happened to Sri Lankans?
. How is that? Either his high IQ belies his cognitive progress or this guy is deliberately making every effort to deceive CT reviewers and readers.
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old codger / November 30, 2024
“have also invested in Chinese companies, visited their country, negotiated with Chinese companies,…” says the guy who thinks Shanghai suddenly sprouted a few decades go.
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old codger / November 30, 2024
What’s more this fake doesn’t even know that Turkey is not an Arab country:
“there is no such thing as an Arab “democracy.” Turkey might be the closest thing”
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Lester / November 30, 2024
A senile old fool who can’t read properly. The sentence does not imply Turkey is an Arab country. The sentence is saying Turkey is the closest thing to a democracy in that region.
Regarding Shanghai, “In the 1980s, Houtouwan was a prosperous fishing village with a population of over 3,000 people. It was located on Shengshan Island, part of the Shengsi archipelago, which is about 65 kilometers east of Shanghai, China.”
Now Houtouwan doesn’t exist. The old beggar can’t do math. Fishing village in 1980, ghost town in 2024. A fool who doesn’t understand the meaning of “transition.”
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old codger / November 30, 2024
Here is the full quote:
“Even when you take “Jews” out of the picture, there is no such thing as an Arab “democracy.” Turkey might be the closest thing, but Turkey did not have free elections ……”
So, what does that mean, except that Turkey is the closest thing to an Arab democracy ?
What is the relevance of this : ““Chinese cities like Shanghai went from fishing village to supercities within a few decades.” to this ?
” (Houtouwan) which is about 65 kilometers east of Shanghai, China.”
Quite obviously, it was Houtouwan, not Shanghai, which was a fishing village.
I rest my case.
It is better to be suspected of being a senile old fool than to be an actual example.
So, you called Turkey an Arab country, and Shanghai a fishing village.
You lost again, as you did so many times before. My deepest condolences.
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Lester / December 1, 2024
Turks and Arabs share the same religion. Turkey is surrounded by Arab countries. Turkey is the closet thing to an Islamic “democracy” in the region. You can’t understand this because of your lack of education. Thanks for proving my point about government school buggers. An old senile pervert who misreads and misinterprets.
“What is the relevance of this”
You wouldn’t understand, 60 IQ, so don’t try to.
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Lester / December 1, 2024
*Correction. Turkey shares borders with two Arab countries, not surrounded by them
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Jit / December 1, 2024
OC, 🤣🤣🤣
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old codger / December 1, 2024
You are such a multifaceted character, Lester. One day you are a Bishop in Birmingham with a doctorate in AI.. The next day you are an investor in China. Then you are a mathematician with planetary interests. Still later, an engineer in Sigiriya specialising in 300 psi pumps. Then, an expert in Dutch time machines in Kandy.
But all these alter egos are liars.
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LankaScot / November 30, 2024
Hello Lester,
For once you have confused me, you said “Chinese cities like Shanghai went from fishing village to supercities within a few decades”.
Now I pointed out that My Gt Gt Uncle William worked on the Shanghai Port in the 1870s, not the 1970s, where he died in 1873. Now at that time Shanghai was a thriving City, the Port was expanding and new Railways were being built. It must have been lucrative to attract Scottish Companies and Workers.
So when did the remarkable transformation of Shanghai happen?
Best regards
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Lester / December 1, 2024
Hello Scott,
Having a port does not equate to a supercity. A port city is not the same a megacity or supercity.
Here are some statistics for you: “Land Use: In 1980, About 55% to 60% of Shanghai’s total land area was used for agriculture, particularly for growing rice, vegetables, and other crops to supply its population. The outskirts of the city were largely rural.”
Are you going to claim 50% of London or Edinburgh are rural?
The transformation of Shanghai into a supercity did not begin until Deng Xiaoping’s market reforms.
” An agricultural district of rice paddies, farm houses, and scattered state-owned factories largely cut off from the rest of Shanghai through the early 1980s, present-day Pudong boasts the world’s fastest train and is dotted with modern factories including semiconductor plants in the booming Zhangjiang High-Tech Park and commercial skyscrapers”
https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/23/edited_volume/chapter/1265033
Shanghai had agricultural districts in the 1980’s that no longer exist. Read that bit a few times before replying.
/
old codger / December 1, 2024
“present-day Pudong boasts the world’s fastest train and is dotted……”
Make up your mind, Lester dear. Are you talking about the fishing village formerly known as Shanghai, the one known as Houtouwan, or the one known as Pudong?Are you sure you don’t prefer Singapore?
“Are you going to claim 50% of London or Edinburgh are rural?”
Let me help you. Singapore is full of Chinese too. Therefore it must be part of Shanghai. Please go away and take another two-month rest.
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amrit / December 1, 2024
I am posting for the first time on CT, but I am already doubting. I came to read this article by a renowned economist, but there are discussions not on economics but about Chinese culture, Shanghai, old cars, old bottles, Indians crapping in public etc. There are several people attacking someone called Lester, who seems irrational. Maybe he is old
It seems very chaotic to an orderly person like me.
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LankaScot / December 1, 2024
Hello Lester,
Try to read your ChatGPT results before you use them; you might not repeat the things that it gets wrong. Try to think logically and follow the substance and train of previous comments. It is also worthwhile trying to remember what you have said previously, maybe even keep a record? The world is not a mathematical formula that remains unchanged over the Centuries. Try to put yourself in the mindset of other people and check if what you say might be questioned and prepare your responses in advance.
Apart from that see if some Company can sell you a Sense of Humor.
Best regards
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Lester / December 1, 2024
Scot,
My original point was that agricultural land in Shanghai was converted into a supercity over a few decades and that is a fact.
“Shanghai has changed greatly over the years since 1993 when I first arrived as a visitor.
The Eastern half of Shanghai, Pudong, was transformed from rice paddies and a largely rural/agricultural area into the most vibrant financial district in China, sprawling suburbia and vast industrial and warehouse districts.”
https://www.quora.com/How-has-Shanghai-changed-over-the-years-that-you-have-lived-there
That’s the exact same point I made. Put down the liquor and try to read carefully. If your agenda is confirmation bias, then you are wasting my time.
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old codger / December 1, 2024
LS,
“Apart from that see if some Company can sell you a Sense of Humor.”
Apart from that see if some Company can sell you a Sense of Humor.🤣🤣🤣🤣
The poor thing has a six-year-old’s sense of humour. I picture him cackling at his own “jokes” while upvoting himself in the middle of the night.
/
old codger / December 1, 2024
“My original point was that agricultural land in Shanghai was converted into a supercity over a few decades and that is a fact”
If I say ” Lester suffers from senile dementia “, that is exactly what it means.
When Lester says “”“Chinese cities like Shanghai went from fishing village to supercities within a few decades.”, he means that Pudong, or Singapore, or Bangkok, became supercities within a few decades.
When Lester says the Indian Prime Minister is an Italian, he means Italians are Brahmins.
/
old codger / December 1, 2024
“My original point was that agricultural land in Shanghai was converted into a supercity over a few decades and that is a fact”
-Lester
Q.Is a fishing village agricultural land?
A, (by six year old) No, a fishing village uses boats to catch fish.
/
a14455 / November 30, 2024
lol
/
Lester / December 2, 2024
Lester / December 1, 2024
Again, the government school prodigy cannot read properly. This is what I said to Scott:
“Land Use: In 1980, About 55% to 60% of Shanghai’s total land area was used for agriculture, particularly for growing rice, vegetables, and other crops to supply its population. The outskirts of the city were largely rural.”
So that was the original point in my argument with Scot which Scot unfortunately failed to grasp. Now his companion the Old Fool is going in circles after claiming that Shanghai did not transition to a supercity within a few decades, which is 100% inaccurate. Even demented people have more brain functionality than this individual.
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leelagemalli / December 1, 2024
OC,
He may be wearing a sarong and sitting on his head. Fully naked. Almost everyone knows that Turkey is part of both Asia and Europe.
The majority of Turkey’s land mass is located in Asia, with only a small portion in Europe. The larger Asian part is called Anatolia or Asia Minor, while the smaller European part is located in Thrace, in the southeastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. Here, part of Turkey’s largest city, Istanbul, is located.
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old codger / December 1, 2024
LM,
Turkey is 60 Km from Panama in Lester’s nutty universe.
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leelagemalli / December 1, 2024
OC,
Whataboutism must have inhibited his “thinking gene”. Facts and truths are set aside, but the boy may be locked down in his own world. Let the poor man enjoy it. Oh my God, I have not worked with Sri Lankans until now, I left for Europe eascaping my life when I could not bear the JVP harassment.
–
See now JVPrs have started dismissing the real good profs out of their mgt. Ironically, Dr Harini Amarasooriya is the incumbent minister of Higher education.
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HSwSDwW_X4
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leelagemalli / November 30, 2024
a14455 / November 29, 2024
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My grandmothers did not travel the world but once in Singapore they had the same opinion (similar to that of Lester) about others. It was like Lester glorifying our Sinhalese:
*
I really don’t know what kind of culture they were talking about. Sinhalese culture is much more mixed with colonialism than Tamil or other Indian and African nations.
*
This frog-well mentality must be completely removed from our mentality, only then can we as a nation lift our heads. Our Sinhalese compare our lowly qualities with those of today’s powerful nations without thinking twice. I really don’t know why they should go ahead like that when they know the facts about us with their own hands.
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a14455 / November 30, 2024
I did see that even with my parents and their attitudes to various people they have never seen when they would visit us overseas. Some of their attitudes were shocking but may be this is a simple matter of the time they grew up in and their exposure to the rest of the world.
I see the same thing with many Americans too who have barely travelled out of their little villages.
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leelagemalli / December 1, 2024
a14455 / November 30, 2024
–
I see the same thing with many Americans too who have barely travelled out of their little villages.
–
I completely agree with you, people who have traveled a lot are becoming more tolerant, except for people like Lester. … I know some srilanken medical graduates, they always spoke highly of their education. I knew some engineers in Pera and Moratuwa, they thought that anyone who studied in Sri Lanka must be the best. I also met Ethiopians and they spoke in the same way about their degrees from the University of Addis Ababa. I now feel that people in our countries (the developing world), as a whole, overestimate our education and other values for good reason. Like the Swiss, many of our people suffer from inferiority complex.
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However, the truth is that there are significant numbers in every population, and they will never change like the spots on a leopard’s skin. The best example you have on the CT forum is Deepti de Silva and Lester. For reasons unknown to them, they overvalue the Sri Lankan-Sinhala race. They overvalue Sinhala culture and the high values that we never had.
/
Lester / December 1, 2024
Leela the Slow,
It’s not just my opinion. Everyone who visits Sri Lanka prefers it to India.
“I watch videos, read experiences and Sri Lanka seems to be a very welcoming to foreigners and its cities are very clean. All south Asian nations were colonized and have history of exploitation, but how is it that Pakistan, India and Bangladesh is on average, not to be rude, more underdeveloped and dirty compared to you guys? “
That is from a female Brazilian tourist on Reddit. She is saying the same thing as me. Now what? You hate Sri Lanka, great, why don’t you move to India permanently. Take a1123 and Old Vegetable with you.
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a14455 / December 1, 2024
lester pumpkin
no need to get so angry and get your panties in a bunch. I am not saying Sri Labka is not a much nicer experience to a tourist or even to live in . but to compare it to a world power is a joke.
now take your meds and go to sleep
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Lester / December 1, 2024
The only reason China is a “world power” is because the Western “world powers” took advantage of a billion plus people as a source of cheap labor. The supercities, Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou, did not emerge till after 1980, which coincided with outsourcing and rapid urbanization.
If Sri Lanka also had a billion people plus outsourcing, it would be a world power. Outsourcing on that scale = massive boost to FDI. It’s simple math, 500,000 people working in state-of-the-art factories built by foreigners can easily generate a combined $200M in GDP daily. That translates to $73,000,000,000 USD/year. This is just one or two industries. The actual GDP of China in 2005 was $2.3 trillion USD. For comparison purposes, Sri Lank’s GDP in 2011 with 8% GDP growth was $59.2 billion USD.
India has a billion people but the government is too corrupt to make substantial investments that boost FDI.
You think you are smart throwing around clever phrases like “civilization” and “world power”, but your arguments lack substance. I can discredit them in seconds.
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old codger / December 1, 2024
“but your arguments lack substance. I can discredit them in seconds.”
Yes, by writing “Narendra Modi is a full-blooded Italian. “
What you really need is to take yourself less seriously. Even Deepthi Silva has better lines than you with all your “education “. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I’m sure you’ll have something to say when comments close.
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old codger / December 1, 2024
LM,
“Everyone who visits Sri Lanka prefers it to India.”
Lester has interviewed every tourist who came here, by remote from UK.
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leelagemalli / December 1, 2024
OC,
it should be
“Some people who travel to Sri Lanka prefer Sri Lanka to India”
.
As usual our high IQ wearing man has got lost somewhere without being able to interpret it. Even after getting the prefixes of their education, some examples make me think that we are a nation full of grass-eaters: unlike him, I have been used to returning home at least once a year (last mid Oct to 7th Nov) since I went to Europe. So my analyses are almost up to date.
–
There are more negative reviews than positive reviews from tourists visiting Sri Lanka. Correct me if I am wrong. Some of them choose it as a one-time destination. Some white tourists escape from disgusting guides and harrasers on the beaches around in Kaluthara and Kandy lake. A young white woman was looking for some help in front of me, trying her best to escape from the abusive people who hang around the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy during my last visit. If I were the Minister of Tourism, I would take every actions to hang those who harass tourists. There I have no regrets thinking about “Panathipatha Veeramanee Sikka Padam Samadhimai”. We should immediately implement strict laws. If the JVP is unwilling to do so, the youth should come forward to awaken the pre-election promises of the JVP/NPP.
–
Tbd
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old codger / December 1, 2024
““Everyone who visits Sri Lanka prefers it to India.”
Well, here is a Sinhalese Youtube backpacker, no less, who says Tamilnadu is more advanced than Sri Lanka. A look at the railway station, airport, and Metro should convince any but the most jaundiced:
https://youtu.be/n6jDTfUgi0E?si=4HgRQ9tHtBeMtXv9
BTW, he isn’t holding his nose, and there aren’t any beggars in the clean train or bus.
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leelagemalli / December 1, 2024
“Yes, by writing “Narendra Modi is a full-blooded Italian. “
What you really need is to take yourself less seriously. Even Deepthi Silva has better lines than you with all your “education “. 🤣🤣🤣🤣”
–
I thought Deepthi Silva was a doctor in her dreams (Ayurveda Veda Hami) – having studied her CT comments so far, it seems that she has written her thesis titled “Tribalism and Rajapaksa’s Rude Politics and a Slave to Hegemony”.
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Lester / December 2, 2024
“Narendra Modi is a full-blooded Italian.”
The reference isn’t to Narendra Modi. You people have the intellectual reasoning capacity of moldy cheese. I am laughing hard here. Keep going!
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leelagemalli / December 1, 2024
a14455 / November 30, 2024
further to this,
When I first started my stay in Europe in the mid-90s, I was a student in my early 20s, and I was a bit shocked by the African students in our dormitory. And the Anglican pastors who tried to preach to me were treated like thrash. That changed drastically by 2000, as my best friend was an African professor.
.
The reason behind this was that I had heard from my elders that Africans in general could be cannibals. I was even afraid to shake hands with them. As time went on, I got to know them better. This is a huge racist statement that is spreading in Sri Lanka and India. This is again a myth that our elders in Sri Lanka have not properly studied. My father used to tell us stories that Africans were brought to Sri Lanka wearing masks and that they happened to see them in Colombo in the 50s or so. Look, lies will lead you astray forever. Similarly, how many myths are still prevalent in our poor society today, today’s generations (Z-genzies) are further misled.
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a14455 / December 1, 2024
yes.. I remember when I was at pera efac if the teachers’ training college in Panideniya there was a lot of African ladies who were treated like zoo animals by most who took the buses with them. I am sure they felt very awkward.
I also remember my mother talking about kapiri men who the British brought. and also on similar lines marati men.
these were not very racist encounters but what shocked me was when my parents visited me in Adelaide how they reacted to arborgines who rode around with us in buses etc. and by no means were my parents average village folk . they both had master degrees and were the same people who inculcated the values in us to treat all people fairly. but old prejudices die hard.
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chiv / December 1, 2024
A 14455 , 🙏.
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leelagemalli / December 1, 2024
Chiv,
.
My Kenyan colleagues in Europe have recently informed me about racist activities against African students in some parts of India.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBBd6UJYtZg (This is not up-to-date news but it is said to still be happening)
–
You must have heard about it. South Asians are also racist in a way. Indians have intra- and inter-racial lifestyles, regardless of their blindness to their religiously dominant cultures.
:
Those relatives of those Afro students living in Europe are very wary of their students studying in some universities in India.
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old codger / November 29, 2024
” I urge you to never visit India, as you may have recurring nightmares. “
I suppose anyone as attractive as our friend shouldn’t be blamed for having nightmares, after running into a Punjabi or two. Man, those Punjabis have seriously big you-know-whats.
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leelagemalli / November 27, 2024
Dear Readers,
.
Wadabari tarzons make efforts to hide their tail behind their rear legs today. That WASANTHA SAMARASINGHE is made speechless by the decisions made to import NADU lately.
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sp8EZO9R6ZY
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chiv / December 2, 2024
LM, racism is seen or felt, all over world, Some have more and some have less, some have stringent laws to curtail such discrimination, whereas some, the government itself lives on it. Many progress without it, many regress full of it. Sad but true.
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old codger / November 27, 2024
“instead I argue that lifting the ban should not be linked to find essential revenue for the government to pay for increased salaries and provide other financial incentives promised to various people.”
The government is caught between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, people expect a lot, due to extravagant promises made before the elections. These have to be even partly satisfied. But on the other hand, the inexperienced idealists of the NPP have found that running a country is more difficult than they thought.
That said, I do agree that car imports should not be allowed for the time being. Perhaps it would be a good move to increase the price of petrol too, but make sure that the three-wheelers aren’t affected by deploying some sort of QR code quota for them.
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Jit / November 28, 2024
Cntd…. Regarding the import of used cars from Japan, I have always believed that the three and five-year limits are ridiculously crazy! Extending the limit to eight or ten years would definitely make imports far cheaper for people because in Japan, a seven-year-old car costs only a fourth of a three-year-old car. If 50-year-old vehicles, which are not even compatible with E1 standards, are still allowed to run in the country, then why isn’t an eight-year-old car good enough? If that happens, people will happily discard 50-year-old vehicles that cost the economy billions of rupees annually. My personal belief, with some knowledge about car engines, is that any vehicle over 30 years old should not be running on roads for economic and environmental reasons. For the argument that cheaper cars will flood the country and throttle already clogged roads, yes, that can happen. The best solution is to introduce the Singaporean-style Certificate of Entitlement (CoE) for a period of 10 years. Of course, when the demand is high, the cost of a CoE can exceed the price of the vehicle, but then again, Sri Lanka is much bigger than Singapore, so a feasible way for all is not that difficult to formulate, I believe.
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old codger / November 28, 2024
Jit,
” I have always believed that the three and five-year limits are ridiculously crazy! “
But there are wheels within wheels, as usual in this country. The vehicle importers aren’t a monolithic group. There are the new vehicle importers (NVI) and the used vehicle importers (UVI). If decent 10 year old used cars are sold for half the price of a new one, the NVI ‘s will howl. The NVIs cannot in any case import and sell even larger Indian models like Skodas or VWs , let alone bigger Marutis, because they would cost more than a used Japanese car. That segment is left to the UVIs. Then the government has to consider the vehicle assemblers, who find it difficult to compete with imports.
I remember that Mrs B’s solution (partly) was to allow assembly of basic vehicles like the Fiat 128, International pickups and the Renault 4. That wouldn’t satisfy our people’s urge to show off, but would provide personal transport to those who want it.
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Jit / December 1, 2024
OC, yes, I know NVIs were always behind this. I remember every time Lalith A, as the commerce minister wanted to push 3 year limit to 5 years, NVIs went to town with their version of ‘SL becoming a Japanese old vehicle junkyard’! Even as a teenager it was so amusing to me then how come those 30 – 40 year junks billowing huge plumes of all that toxic fumes are allowed to run on our roads!! Well, I never knew Sirima was ever thinking of assembling Renault or Fiats in SL but of course knew JRJ allowed his nephew to assemble ‘Upali Fiat’ in the late 70s.
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old codger / December 1, 2024
Jit,
You are right, the Upali Fiat appeared in 1978. Upali made his Mazda in Mrs B’s time. The Renault 4 was assembled at the Government Factory into a Jeep-like vehicle with a local body, complete with its quirky dashboard gear lever.
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Jit / December 1, 2024
OC, as I learnt in one of my researches, Upali made Mazdas during Dudley’s time – 65/70? And Sirima in her 1970 government stopped him importing parts so he had to close down the shop, thanks to NM the double doctor’s economic policies?? Just check, I may be wrong.
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SJ / November 28, 2024
“If 50-year-old vehicles, which are not even compatible with E1 standards, are still allowed to run in the country”
The 50 year old cars were designed to last a hundred years. Every spare part could be imported foo a long time and where not available locally turned out.
They are not the most fuel efficient, but will pass emission tests. They cannot run at 100 km/h, but fast enough for most roads. The sturdy, simple vehicles are also user friendly.
For some new models, it is a nightmare finding a crucial spare part after 10 years. I had to spend hours in junkyards to find a replacement for a burnt-out distributor for a Suzuki Swift. Electronic components are another headache.
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old codger / November 29, 2024
SJ,
“The sturdy, simple vehicles are also user friendly.”
Yes, but bad for business. On principle, I avoid cars which have anything but the most basic electronics in them.
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LankaScot / November 29, 2024
Hello SJ,
Back in 1975, I had a Ford Escort Mk 1. I started working in the Offshore Oil Industry and upgraded to a new Datsun 160. It was like Chalk and Cheese. I predicted the demise of the British Car Industry on this one example.
Speaking about speed, the only way you can go over 100 km/h here in Central Province is if you fall off the road on the way to Nuwara Eliya.
Best regards
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Jit / November 30, 2024
“…The 50 year old cars were designed to last a hundred years….”
That is not true SJ!
It was very common Morris Minors collapsed right in the centre of the road due to suspension pin snap. Brake master cylinder always seizes up and rust around the headlights, boot lid and the floor board were very common. Austin A30 always had carburetor issues. Peugeots were famous for costly gasket leaks. My uncle’s 1970 Datsun 120Y started corroding and wiper arm grooves became bold like a bearing ball within five years!
At least the cars made after 1990s run much longer, much less corrosion issues and more importantly they don’t suddenly break down in the middle of the road because the computer system gives warnings before any major fault happens!
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LankaScot / December 1, 2024
Hello Jit,
An Austin Allegro driving behind me lost one of its Wheels as we were driving down a hill. The first I knew was when the wheel passed me, apparently it was a known problem. British Cars of the 70s were generally prone to rust and mechanical problems.
My Father had a small Garage and saw most of the problems you mentioned. Head Gaskets were also a common replacement. However the early incorporation of Electronics also gave him a lot of work opening car doors locked with the keys inside.
Best regards
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Jit / December 1, 2024
LS, I don’t remember having seen any Allegro on our roads but Austin Maxima was somewhat similar to Allegro model I guess and one of my Profs who did his PhD in Scotland brought one down to Peradeniya in the 80s. My father had a 1961 Austin Cambridge A55 and while it was a comfortable runner, he spent fair amount of time and money on radiator issues particularly the melting rubber tubes, engine mounts, oil leaks etc., What was most annoying was the synchronizing issue with the second gear. He would stop the car to a standstill right in the middle of the road before engaging the second gear!! How funny and ridiculous would it look when compared to modern cars with sleek CVT gears!! 😂😂
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a14455 / November 30, 2024
lol prof
My fathers morris minor had 9 or 11 horsepower . ran for about 35 years till my mom refused to get in it . and every one had to get down and push it up a the hill at my uncles place . at far cry from the toyotas and lexusus of these days with 200 to 300 hp.
Thank goodness for the automotive technology of today. and actually the real leaders of the new technology are the Chinese and they are sending the Japanese auto industry to the scrap heap just like the Japanese did to the brit auto industry in the 80s and 90s. (look at what is happening to the Japanese auto giants they are saying Nissan may not survive another 12 months)
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amrit / December 2, 2024
Come on, Mr.Lester, tell us about yr father’s Rolls-Royce.
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ramona therese fernando / November 29, 2024
HS,
–
As you say, the forex going out of the country for new vehicles will not justify the taxation collected from them. I thought that the NPP would have gone with greater taxation towards the higher income earners as its first step.
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Government from the onset, needs to bravely implement a consistent set of monetary rules. Money and assets of each and every individual should be investigated, declared, and taxed accordingly. That should be their main job now.
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Then, and only then would we be able to build up the modern transportation system the people of our country direly need, …one that will enhance our mobility and network our economic potential in a very short time.
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a14455 / November 29, 2024
” Renegotiating for a new Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) is now dead”
is this true? if so why is the press still supporting these liars ?
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leelagemalli / November 30, 2024
a14455 / November 29, 2024
–
Now AKD seems to be reborn. His U-turn return is a huge betrayal. Don’t believe the Lankan media, the biggest mafia in hell.
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We told everyone that a real big fall is ahead of us if the IMF recommendations are not implemented continuously, however, they wanted to get a real “legitimate people’s power” to allow the presidency. However, AKD is not as good as RW. He is like a deaf before the interntinality community. Nor is clear before nation today. It is not even 3 months since AKD was elected that our fate is ahead of us today.
:
All the provocative-pre-election rhetoric that bullied the nation is now fading away. API EHEMA KIWWE NAETHILU…. Please watch the video below. It will jog your memories.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eP-hpke6bq4
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JM6e7DuxgaU
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a14455 / November 30, 2024
unfortunately, this is par for the course for our politicos of every color. I am sure the way things are going there will be another “Organic Agriculture” moment in the near future.
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leelagemalli / December 1, 2024
a14455,
I think the way Rajapaksa-politics had then been promoting GMOA and Dr. Paddeniya as its chairman was beyond all ethics and morality.
If law and order is to do justice to the people, Paddeniya or the like should be treated with most possible punishment in public. How many of the population have faced unprecedented hardships due to evil man’s abusive recommendations? would JVP-led govt act on getting him behind the bars soon ?
https://www.sundaytimes.lk/210117/news/i-have-not-been-in-hiding-i-am-very-much-here-says-dr-padeniya-429101.html
Dr. Paddeniya (GONBAYYEK), who served as one of the powerful advisers to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, is not heard of today.The other that should be hanged is Jayasumana, who became a Prof. being close to Rajapkshe family.
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How can the key person be a specialist doctor who relies on critical agricultural issues where there are a plenty of powerful agronomists to do that job?
/