8 December, 2024

Blog

Ranil: A SWOT Appraisal

By Kumar David

Prof. Kumar David

“Men make their own history, but they do not make it just as they please; they do not make it under circumstances chosen by themselves, but under circumstances directly encountered, given and transmitted from the past. The tradition of dead generations weighs like a nightmare on the brains of the living”. Likewise Prime Minister RW is not a slave to the past, nor is he a free agent. What he can do is restrained by economic and political inheritances. By far the weightiest are economic conditions, the most important of these stretch back 70 years. But there is also a different genre of follies – abuse of power, mismanagement and plunder – pertaining mainly to the Mahinda and Gotabaya presidencies. The predicament now is that we as a nation are consuming more than we produce and have for decades survived on borrowed money and foreign debt. I say this not as moral sentiment but plain unadorned fact. To rescue the nation from this wretched economic inheritance is above the capacity and beyond the remit of RW’s Interim Administration (IA) – a weakness, a “W”. Nevertheless there are things that can be done within the parameters of a ‘merely’ interim administration. (SWOT = Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats)

Unexpectedly, consumption has been slashed by steep inflation embodying increases in fuel and food prices. Future consumption too has been hacked by the loss in value, if measured in dollar terms, of private savings in funds, trusts, equities and banks, the future value of fixed pension payments, and probably by a decline in property and fixed asset values when measured in dollars. VAT has been increased and taxes on the affluent will rise for sure. LKR has fallen to less than 40% in value measured in gold in the last three years. Some losses will be recouped by the salaried classes (workers) by trade union action, and mass agitation will force future governments to provide a degree of relief; but real wages have fallen (this is one item in “labour market restructuring”, the other item easy-firing, won’t be so easy to do). The non-salaried classes (rural folk, urban and semi-urban petty bourgeoisie) are up the gum tree. The four day working week amounts to a big cut in government jobs since recruitment will soon fall. Overall, consumption has been lowered for a long time to come. Hence one of the IMF’s pound-of-flesh demands has come to pass without help from RW.

RW in a perverse sense is a lucky bugger; the crisis has played into his hands by getting some “economic restructuring” done; public consumption has been slashed and RW spared the opprobrium of having to do it. This can perhaps be counted as an “S” or strength. To what extent it will translate to a smaller deficit in the primary fiscal-deficit (revenue minus expenditure, leaving aside debt servicing) cannot yet be figured out but there will be a degree of relaxation in the deficit. Will RW be able to sell this scenario to the public? That will depend on the answers to other questions I discuss anon.

There is the second crisis in the economic domain; deficits in the trade account and in balance of payments. So much has been written on the nitty-gritty details that no explication is needed here. The bottom line is that to survive we have to import less, export more and to export more we have to make more. And we have to make things more efficiently (high-browed economists call it total factor productivity, but such terms are not for yokels like you and me). This is a huge challenge beyond the remit of RW’s IA. Whatever medium-term programme, good or bad, he attempts will be challenged, fairly or unfairly, as having no electoral mandate.

Gota (GR) had a mandate which he buggered in incredible style, the devil himself couldn’t have done worse, but this is no argument for RW to govern long-term without a mandate. If 21A is pushed through without excessive emasculation, if RW and his IA, despite 1/3 of his Cabinet being dunces and another 1/3 crooks, gets some relief from shortages, and given that Sajith and his SJB have their tails tucked deep between their legs, a liberal-democratic alliance led by RW (Sajith has lost his shine) has a moderate chance at an election in the absence of anything else. The Left has to await its time and Rajapaksa-side MPs will hightail it to Timbuctoo before they are hanged from post-election lampposts. This has to be counted as an “O” for opportunity, but not as a Strength since uncertainties are large and many.

The biggest “O” or opportunity that RW has is if he can sweet-talk the IMF, World Bank (can he get that fossilised old fool GL to shut up), India and even China to be ever more generous. It seems this is happening, but slowly. We are told that the IMF wanted RW appointed because he could sweet-talk this side and that. Of the twin challenges, shortages and prices, it is not possible for RW do much about prices for the reasons stated in my second paragraph, but if he can kiss feet, lick bums and ease shortage of fuel, medicines and parripu, even at a price, for say three months, the economy may get past imminent shipwreck. Overcoming gridlock on shortages, especially fuel (petrol, diesel and cooking-gas) is RW’s best short-term bet, but petrol queues are still long and sullen

The threat “T” to a liberal-democratic option is political. SJB leaders are immature in judgment and Sajith, Ranjith Madum’b, Eran, Harsha and Fonny cannot think out of personalised (RW vs. Sajith) sectarian boxes. They are unable to reason around a bigger liberal-democratic agenda; their minds need to ripen beyond personalities since the pettiness of these leaders is a threat to their class. (Champika has fled to seclusion and self-immolation). As a leftist I should be happy you may say. Well yes and no; it exposes how effete that class is, but I don’t want its bungling to land us all in chaos. An analogy: I am an opponent of neo-imperialist USA-hooked NATO and abhor brutal Orthodox Christian non-Marxist Putin, but I don’t want their mutual bungling to precipitate hunger, prolong dependence on environmentally dirty energy and aggravate fears of nuclear conflict. Macron is right, we have live with these flesh-eaters for now.

These threats could precipitate the fall of RW’s IA. There is disarray in state and government. There is confusion and conflict between different branches of state as evidenced by the Aeroflot affair, the inability of the CID to “locate” Johnston Fernando for ages and much more. All factions of government are pulling in different directions and Mahinda is stirring the pot. Holy Mackerel! An oligarch-bookie with a controversial past is now Investment Minister; whose plant, MR’s or GR’s, and for what purpose? It is not certain whether the Central Bank and the Finance Minister-PM are on the same page; pity because the new Governor Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe, I am told, is an able person. The President has morphed into an idle nobody, sitting on his haunches while the practical tasks of governance devolve on this most unlikely of prime ministers. The immediate threat to RW’s premiership therefore comes from political disarray in governance. Meanwhile it is creditable that he is attempting to build bridges to Aragalaya, but what if all goes belly-up? Basil and the military – unlikely. An explosion in the country at large – possible. Draft-21A permits dissolution of parliament two and a half years after its election; if adopted the current parliament can be dissolved forthwith and fresh elections called. I can think of nothing better.

This succinctly sums it all; what more can verbal diarrhoea elucidate? You will find many good-reads, even if a bit long, to entertain, exasperate and to leak who-done-it info, which faction, which knave and tit-bits. A longish but entertaining one is Austin Fernando’s “The senseless killing of 19A by 21A” in Colombo Telegraph, 6th June. Another useful summary of why 21A as drafted is not good enough (allows too much power to remain in the hands of the president) is Jehan Perera’s “Real Change not only Constitutional Fixing” in Colombo Telegraph on 7th June. Bedlam and muddling in the nation’s higher places leaves one more confused than enlightened. Do any MPs and Ministers matter? No, they will only be dredged up for mockery as they fade into of collective oblivion.

I will digress for a paragraph to deplore the quality of political “analyses” currently offered by nearly all commentators. Since RW’s appointment it’s the same hackneyed theme, without pause, to measure trends, gauge conflicts and explore dynamics. The universal storyline is “GR made RW prime minister to stooge for him, forestall prosecution and cover up the rackets of the Paksas. Now RW is dutifully fulfilling his assignment”. Commentators who report day-before-yesterday’s news as today’s analysis cannot see an inch ahead of their noses! Dialectics has never been the strong point of media ‘analysts’. The dynamic right now is utterly different; it is superficial collaboration but mostly rivalry between GR and RW and it seems RW is scoring more points. Basil has been driven out, in horse-trading over 21A RW is to get more powers, GR concedes he is a sloppy fail-case and declares as he limps out that he will not run again. And the knock-out blow is this: the IMF, India and global finance-capital have made it clear they prefer RW.

Let me sum up and conclude with the usual simple formula: Gota Go; Improve on 21A; Dissolve parliament; Hold elections soon; Abolish the executive presidency. Surely an adequate short-term wish-list for now and all but the final item are short-term doable. My economic programme? Oh come on, be patient, some other time.

Latest comments

  • 10
    2

    I don’t know how far SWOT analysis will help to get back the economy which cannot be achieved by someone donating billions of dollars free of charge or without any conditions. No one is prepared to donate any dollars unless the country and government is in peace, stable and accountable. We are already in debt and unable to pay back any of these loans but now we have increased our debt while economy is shrinking and export sector is shrinking and productivity is shrinking. Based on the situation people are almost in the streets and possibly result in bloodshed that means disaster.

  • 7
    10

    “Gota Go; Improve on 21A; Dissolve parliament; Hold elections soon; Abolish the executive presidency. “
    I think that this wish list should be sent to the White House, for it is the US agenda that is being excecuted here.
    *
    BTW
    Putin is not non-Marxist, but anti-Marxist. The problem in Ukraine is not about socialism.
    The US launched a coup in 2014 and wanted to move NATO’s border to coincide with the Russian border. That is the issue. Had Ukraine offered to abandon its NATO agenda, even as late as February, Russia would have no case to attack.
    Also spend some time reading on fascism in Europe, and its key strongholds.
    It is not a matter of liking or disliking NATO, but demanding its dissolution after the collapse of the USSR.
    The encirclement of Russia and China by the US should be plain to any sensible Marxist.

  • 12
    1

    Why go to theorize on “SWOT”? Why can’t you make it simple for the ordinary “YOKOS” to understand? If any “Leaders” running the Governing functions (President, Prime Minister, Cabinet of Minister, and MPs) have lost “Public Support” and “Credibility”, ALL of them MUST leave and allow space and room for a “NEW LEADERSHIP” and a “COMPETENT TEAM” of the PEOPLE to take over? Isn’t that very SIMPLE to say and explain without writing volumes on “Governing”?

    The “MESSAGE” is very CLEAR and LOUD. “Gota Go Home”. All 225 Must Go. Recover the STOLEN. Send the LOOTERS to Jail. Do a system CHANGE, Heed the CRY. Simple as that.

    • 10
      0

      Simon

      “ALL of them MUST leave and allow space and room for a “NEW LEADERSHIP”

      Are you being serious?
      Mahinda believes the country has no alternative leader.
      He was so confident “if he ruled long enough, from here to eternity, he could move the capital down there,(Hambantota).” – Quote from Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu (LA Times 30 March 2015).

      When leaders are obsessed with their own abilities, deluded, and destructive, stupid people can’t do much about it except to go along with the leader. Gota and Mahinda enjoyed support among voters not because their proven abilities (note war was won by VP for Mahinda with the support of Hindia and USA) but because they taught a lesson Demelas would not forget.

      As long as you have stupid voters in this island Gota/Mahinda can rely on them for support.

    • 5
      1

      “The immediate threat to RW’s premiership therefore comes from political disarray in governance. Meanwhile it is creditable that he is attempting to build bridges to Aragalaya, “
      I think the biggest threat comes from the entrance into government of the oligarch Dhammika Perera. This man, with his history in the casino industry and predatory tactics in various industries from mini- hydro to ceramics, is the epitome of what was known as a “robber baron”. He and his former partner Nimal Perera were deeply involved in Rajapaksa money laundering. I wonder if the majority community is incapable of producing genuine entrepreneurs who don’t need to display their wealth as vulgarly as he does?
      I must add that Ranil has an odd way of “building bridges to Aragalaya “. He doesn’t object to the CID hounding it’s prime movers, and made a nasty attack on MP Shanakyan the other day.

      • 0
        0

        OC
        Shanakyan is not quite the Aragalaya.
        There could be more than meets the eye in the attack.
        Perhaps, RW sees him as SP’s man.

    • 2
      3

      Simon
      How one seas each aspect of SWOT is subjective.
      What is an S to one is a W to another , and vice versa. (One may even see a brutal dictator as strong)
      The same applies to O and T. (Take IMF-led relief for example.)
      So it will make sense to identify our needs and check ones credibility to deliver the goods.
      Ranil is possibly the most preferred US candidate, even ahead of the retired General. But he failed to deliver during the last three (really two) terms.
      *
      The writer is still doing electoral sums.
      At least by now he should return to the stand that parliament cannot deliver the goods for the oppressed. But his concerns may be those of another class.

  • 18
    1

    For all purposes Gotabhaya Rajapaksa should step down gracefully.

    • 11
      1

      AR:
      The time to step down gracefully has long passed. Gota will go down in history as the worst loser.
      He knows that he is a loser that is why he said that he dint want to leave as a loser but since that day have done nothing to change that.
      He is playing the same game he played during the war. Others fought the war made huge sacrifices including life and limb. When it was over he took the credit.

    • 9
      0

      Ayathuray Rajasingam: ” For all purposes, Gotabhaya Rajapakse should step down gracefully”. What a way to say it?

      A man who started life in politics in such a “DISGRACEFUL” manner and continues even in the worst way and lifestyle, you want him to step down gracefully. Are you kidding?

    • 1
      1

      “should step down gracefully”
      *
      Perhaps a little to late in the day for that.

  • 3
    0

    Promoting Industrialization should follow a Cost Based Port Tariff at commercial ports of Sri Lanka for port services attended by SLPA on Domestic Trade. Products locally produce for export, will not be competitive in the world market, in a situation where Port Tariff rates for Domestic Trade is well adjusted with an unbelievable mark up, to subsidize the Port Tariff rates for International Trade at the ports of an Island Nation.

  • 5
    1

    If a crazy fox had gone through the dobby’s blue sack, had it become a lion? We know the fatal end of the blue fox, in the Panchatantra story. The suspected jungle animals bore the tyranny of the cunning fox until there was a rain fall. Once his blue color was washed off in the rain, the jungle animals tipped off him to the lion to kill him. Ranil is completely rejected by Ceylonese. In 2015, the world engineered a regime change and seated a fox on one of the highest seats of Langkang. Sadly, as Robert Knox said, the cunning fox had no real intelligence. He could not do anything to save the country, so he kept begging Rowdy Mahinda to take back his job, until later he lost his election, weighted zero. By the 2019 elections, Ranil was not just rejected by Ceylonese, but even by the international community. That is how the Hitler King got away with the citizenship requirement. In that situation it is only jobless journalism doing SWOT or SWORD analysis for the Evil Emperor. Here a man has inserted him forcefully into a job of saving the World’ s worst Rowdy Mahinda from UNHRC & ICC. It is a real joke somebody doing a serious SWOT analysis, to cover the Evil nude Emperor with Hero cloth.

    • 0
      1

      ” If a crazy fox had gone through the dobby’s blue sack, had it become a lion?”
      Hilarious!
      Good old Aesop should borrow a page or two from our friend’s mallung of old fables.

      • 0
        0

        Maram Paluththaal Vowvallai Va Enru Iranthalaipaar Yarumillai. Savam, you are bound to follow the fruit smell and before you leave, drop a heap from your naked butt. Thanks for coming!

        • 1
          0

          Are you a yellowing tree? Sad.
          Where do you want me to drop the heap? Your head or your tongue?

  • 5
    2

    Lankawe, for 75 years, is a country where all opportunities were killed by those who stole the higher seats by one or other method like Ranil, the Evil Emperor did this time. The Hitler coming to power was not in any way different from Ranil the Evil did this time. It’s all mere cheating of ignorant people. The difference in these methods is just similar to the Covid-19 mutations, that is the latter one is more dangerous than the earlier mutations. Ranil did not come to save the country, but to save the Old Rowdy Mahinda from ICC. Ceylonese, as well as international communities know this. Only the Demulo Pariah Dr. Jaishankar and his boss Gopal Bag Lay pretend to be new for all these Gilmarts and pretends they are not aware of the kind of politics going in Lankawe but promising to resurrect the politicians from the anger of the famine-stroke poor people. It seems China and America have some clue on this. That is why they had a meeting on the Ceylon problem, but India had not participated in that, though currently India is the biggest donor to Lankawe. India seems to be not aware of Japan’s history of being the biggest donor to Lankawe, but now taking a back bencher position. Mr Akashi one time played the role of Demulo Dr, Jaishankar, hand in hand with Shivashankar Menon.

  • 4
    2

    These diplomats are only political coolies of their leaders’ political parties, afterall securing a long experience with higher educations. The only way to restore the lost pride of Ceylon is to throw the UNP-SLFP crooks, lifetime, in Siberia dungeons, but not by any pompous SWOT. UNP – SLFP leaders starved Tamils to make Sinhalese happy, but not to make Ceylon prosperous. To rob the country more and more, all what did/do oppress the Tamils by their racial venoms. For their failures, they have invented that the Colonial Rulers misguided the Sinhala Buddhist Intellectuals, this invented by their local education. Look at Bangladesh. I am not asking to look at Singapore or Hong Kong, who too were ruled by Colonialists, have become No 1 & No 2 models for the world in economic prosperity. They too have the Chinese pressure but resisted to fall into that pitfall. When Colonialists were leaving, unlike that time well doing Ceylon, Bangladesh was one of the poorest countries in the world. That is not all what the pathetic starting story of Bangladesh. From 1947 to until 1972, Pakistan robbed, raped, killed, murdered, and enforced a humiliating war on the poor Bangladesh. Who was the Communist Electrical Executive who did the fake SWOT analysis for them to come up to the current status?

  • 4
    3

    Now they are the fastest growing South Asian Country. If one wants to look at a real example and set their path, like Lee Kwan Yew did in the end of the 1960s, the reality of the abundance of examples is an example of information overload. After selling the Hangbangtota to China, Ranil went to Oxford University to teach the Western students about the colonial rulers and came like a Maha Maho Pundit, carrying in back a Western Country’s honorary PhD. Earlier he went to New York and asked UNSG the (as he calls) the Dharusman report to bring back to Diyawanna Lake Parliament and set fire. (UNPers are masters in setting fire publicly to Educational-Documentary materials) But the UNSG told him that not to dream the report was going to vanish into thin air, in UN. That is what still bothering the Evil Emperor and he sneaked into the parliament by the back door, not elected by peoples nor after being receiving the people mandate. Emperor is saying the real hardship for Lankans is wating until October 1st, the time he look for to dodge UNHRC on his earlier reloution. It is really amazing to note that there are people who spend time doing SWOT analysis for this type of Racial Buggers’ racial manipulation, but not any economic activity

  • 4
    1

    Kumar David,
    It would have been far better if SWOT analysis is carried out to Sri Lanka itself.

    Gota has failed and has no clue how to rescue the country.

    From all available evidence and from this Author’s article itself Ranil also doesn’t has a clue.

    Who else among the existing politicians or political parties could offer a road map to rescue the country if not immediately at least in the near future.

    Capable management consultants/any professionals could carry out a SWOT analysis realistically for the country and map a way out!

    But who is the leader who had the charisma to sell such a road map to the country and also who could mobilize a team to lead the country towards that worthy goal?- a philosopher politician or better a technocrat politician with charisma ?

    Will an election make a difference? Unlikely!

    Or as historically happened in a critical period in many parts of the world, leaders/prophets emerge out of the chaotic situation and accomplish the task?

    What will happen in the meantime?

    • 2
      0

      Yes, I agree with Srikrish, “It would have been far better if SWOT analysis is carried out to Sri Lanka itself.”

      If we take the present situation (SW), the weaknesses (W) far exceed the Strengths. Just to make few points. Only tangible ‘strength’ I can see is democracy, and even that is not so strong. Media in general (not all) is another strength, exposing rulers’ many weaknesses, and detailing day-to-day events for the critics to use.

      Weaknesses are multitude. Economy is in shambles. As Kumar has also said, ‘Sri Lanka consumes than it produces.’ No necessary foreign exchange. Budget remains a great deficit. Economic mismanagement (fraud and corruption) is at the heart of the weaknesses. Rajapaksa heritage is at the heart of the mismanagement. Crisis is accepted as ‘man- made.’ But the responsible Man (Gota) still remains at the helm.

      In terms of the future (OT), the opposition has some opportunities. Not only the parliamentary opposition (SJB, JVP, TNA etc.) but also Aragalaya, trade unions and student movements with their own weaknesses. There are opportunities of foreign assistance from the IMF, WB, Western countries, China, and India. However, there are ‘threats’ involved. Sri Lanka might become a dependent country. Some countries might use the situation to their advantage. It is going to be a difficult future.

      • 0
        0

        Apart from a SWOT analysis, one can use the methodology of Four Noble Truths. “They are the truth of suffering, the truth of the cause of suffering, the truth of the end of suffering, and the truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering.” Assuming that we know the first three truths, we have to find and investigate the fourth truth, the path and road map to find a solution.

      • 1
        0

        Thanks Laksiri for value addition!

        SWOT is a strategic planning technique used mainly in organizational context.

        It is carried out by planners and if carried out by outsiders’, bias could be greatly eliminated.

        The results could be tabulated in a 2×2 matrix and further discussed among top management.

        Strengths and weaknesses are internal and if possible strengths could be further strengthened and weaknesses converted into strengths.

        Opportunities and threats are external.

        Laksiri, IMF could be either under “opportunity” or under “ threat”, it could not be categorized under both “opportunity” as well as “threat” simultaneously.

        SWOT analysis is only one of the managerial tools and an in depth study by a professional independent – politically or ideologically without preconceived bias is a precondition.

        Finally alternate strategies could be developed professionally taking into consideration the socio- economic cultural context of the country as a whole..

  • 10
    0

    The last paragraph which Kumar David calls a summary/conclusion is really about his recommendations. I fully welcome and endorse them.

    I teach SWOT under ethics. I would welcome a proper SWOT analysis with a table to highlight visually the strengths, weaknesses etc.

  • 5
    1

    To use EE’s logic, per RW comments to media – the 5 million (possibly underestimated) sri lankans facing starvation (possibly majority EX fans./voters of the Rajapakses are merely being forced to fast for their own health benefits !!! NOT starvation!

  • 0
    0

    Ranil is PM without people’s vote, if any default he will escape These Sri lanka cannot punish him.
    If the president questions he will tell, you are the one who gave me job the undertaking of promissory he took to do PM Job the promise to do confidential job does not say about the say severity of punishment if any default from him side happens Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice for choose the head of country. The president say I have the mandate then what will the PM say. The validity of democracy fall into Avoidance by the appointment PM & P

  • 2
    20

    “Gota Go; Improve on 21A; Dissolve parliament; Hold elections soon; Abolish the executive presidency.”

    None of this will happen. As I said before, these protests are a waste of time unless GR can be removed in some sort of military coup. Better to wait for the next election and use the Executive Presidency to enact sweeping reforms. The protestors should not demand the abolishment of EP. Even if you are a Gotha detractor, the man is paralyzed at the moment, due to crises which he did not create. The country has hit rock-bottom, short of hyperinflation and anarchy.

    “The bottom line is that to survive we have to import less, export more and to export more we have to make more.”

    As I said before, a strong manufacturing base is necessary. How do you shift an economy from fighting suicide terrorism to mass manufacturing.

  • 1
    0

    Doing a SWOT is a sign of a dying business entity and you have done it appropriately.
    Strengths and weaknesses are internal factors while opportunities and threats are external factors. RW’s proven (internal)strength is his capability to work with any leader and hang on to power without clear mandate from the voters. At the same time his weakness is the inability to produce good outcome. His S is more powerful than his W; and therefore he will stay in power without delivering any good results.

    • 1
      0

      Dear Mnparanagama
      .
      What you say looks likely. My health is not bad for my age, but I have to take a number of pills daily. Without them, I’ll die.
      .
      I have grandchildren; I’m not going to reduce them to poverty by spending on
      .
      https://www.healthline.com/health/elderly-end-of-life-symptoms#takeaway
      .
      So, whilst I can still protest, I will. Gota can kill me only once. Before that, let me get rid of both Ranil and him. If I perish at their hands – never mind, but I will go down telling younger people that it’s best to vote for the NPP.
      .
      I will say more in a comment at the bottom of this page.

  • 5
    2

    There is nothing else to cure this terminal malaise of the Srilankans except subjecting the Srilankan voters to brain surgery for them to think clearly and rationally. If an election is to be held today I am 100% sure that the same 225 crooks will be returning to the House of Thieves.

  • 3
    2

    Ah, of that elevated logic of Boomi putras who arrived here before the earth was formed.
    Their fables are better now than their kings of yore.
    Churchill weds Hitler in this grand folklore.
    Ranjan and Rasa have no such bliss, but truth meets lie and fruits we reap.
    Sweating on swot is a stuff of the west to forget it is best.

  • 10
    22

    According to Old Codgers batty in their weak state Ranil is the man for the challenge, to carry ‘Garusha’ across the river !

    I often wonder why these people think so , how the genes of Esmon and Nalini achieved this world wonder, a man who knows everything and can deal with any crisis. Perhaps the problem is not with Ranil but the unbelievable naiveté of those who want to believe.

    He is from a “good ‘family, he went to “Royal College” he has honest genes, he has super capabilities. They have made him Prime Minister so many times !
    The conman had it so easy ! We are not only a poor country but poor in the critical ability too.
    We have not tried any one else other than Chandrika, MR, Rajapaksas and the conman Wickramasinghe .

    The culture of old codgers will not permit anyone else .

    • 4
      7

      deepthi silva

      “We have not tried any one else other than Chandrika, MR, Rajapaksas and the conman Wickramasinghe .”

      Anyone else in your mind?
      Public racists, Weerawansa, Channa Jeyasumana, Udaya, Dinesh, Sunil Handunetty, ….. Elle, Gnana, Gnana Akka, ……. Chambika, HLD M, or war criminals, Shavendra, Kamala, ….. ?
      Perhaps you could give it a try as you possess the most important qualities for a Sri Lankan politician, especially racism and bigotry.
      Make sure you are also from the right caste.

      • 4
        4

        I was only reading the amusing and slavish comments of old codgers on ranil. That decrepit look and the dirty looking shawl you wear put me off from reading your comments. Today I read some and I was more disgusted .
        You accuse me of racism and bigotry. I dont know on what basis you make this allegation. From your comments it is clear you have a deep hatred of the Sinhalese and Sri Lanka. Hope you will not drown in your own hatred.
        As to bigotry, I suppose you think you are free of it ! Ha ha ha!

    • 3
      1

      Deepthi Silva,
      “We have not tried anyone else other than Chandrika, MR, Rajapaksa’s and the conman Wickremesinghe”?
      Why not? What about the balance elected by the ‘so called’ whiz kids of the electorate??
      Not saying that RW is beyond reproach!!
      What about JRJ and RP?? Before DSS, Dudley S, Sir JK, SWRDB, Sirima B??
      What happened??
      SL, living beyond means since independence, the cause for present fiasco!
      Coupled with unwarranted borrowings – commercial interest rates for projects with NO RoI, by MR during his presidency to satiate populace, into believing that they are “Kerung Karayo” and also, robbing Sri Lanka??
      Don’t blame only the leaders?!
      The reason is a society based on vast consumption with insignificant contribution to earnings (income) to compensate!!
      Free rice and then, SL Rs 0.25 cents per measure (1 kilo) of rice and subsidised essentials!! Then in 1970, a prospective PM even promised to Rice (staple food) from Moon!! She won the elections!!??
      Probably not sufficiently scientifically emancipated, as there was no evidence of life on Moon!!??
      Free boarding by many so long – one cause!!
      Free rice, was an issue resulted in island wide strike and death too and the resignation of the incumbent PM (1953)??!!

  • 7
    9

    From the over-reaction of the ranil slaves it is obvious I am right ! My comments are hitting home !Hope at least a few of them realize the stupidity of these so called elite who are really effeminate fraudsters

    • 8
      8

      DS,
      “From the over-reaction of the ranil slaves it is obvious I am right”
      Maybe it takes a slave to recognise another?

    • 6
      5

      deepthi silva

      “From the over-reaction of the ranil slaves it is obvious I am right ! My comments are hitting home !”

      Oh pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

      Are we thinking too much of our self?

      You deserve a Bonfire of the vanities.

  • 2
    4

    Come on guys, please talk about some realistic things. Prof. Kumar came with a technical solution of Single Issue CC for a political question of Lankawe stuck with Racism. The people don’t have eyes to see why the country has struck in the imaginary Dutugemunu (a Tamil king who has been regarded by Viyathmaha as a Sinhala Hero) era to this level, doing managerial SWOT is nothing but to show off their fake punditry. Protestors might have come out and guided the country in the proper direction, if in 2015 the tricky UNP’s Yahapalanaya was not installed. So we had pushed for 7 years behind the protest, on the SICC, alone. Ranil advocates that his job is “taking the innocent child beyond the water”. But the innocent child Ranil Evil refers to as he wants to save is a Maha Dangerous, war Criminal cum Common Criminal. Without defining the problem on hand if somebody does a SWOT, it cannot be worse blah blah as the one Professor Kumar did. Let’s try something different:

  • 2
    4

    Problem: Ceylon is betrayed by Viyathmaga to lose its Majesty which was built together by Tamils’ labor and Colonialist’s administration – The issue is about building a new morale in its citizens to make the lost regained.

    Strength: The world is more civilized than Hitler’s time. UN – UNHRC -ICC like are strong enough to crack the fake sovereignty walls protection and give a hand to the locals to achieve their freedom & prosperity. No longer Mao Tso Tung needed to earn fake freedom for Lankawe or Chinese veto to safeguard the criminals.

    Weakness: The $55 B money thrown on securing the Chinese veto is now backfiring. This blunder has removed the Lankawe’s border between China-India, so they are demanding for their share of flesh. The money borrowed and given to China by Royals has helped UN out Lankawe to come and rescue the citizens. IMF sees China and India as biggest obstacles for Lankawe restructure its loans. Gopal Bag Lay is openly campaigning against IMF loans.

  • 0
    4

    Opportunity: World’s cost of production is high like never before, so never mind the rabbits have gone ahead of you in your lane. You can still build your own castle with the massively unemployed local crowd, by attracting a tsunami of FDI to balance off the $55 million Chinese veto loan. Trust of investors is the name of the game for FDI; not Evil Ranil’s anti Colonialism, which is no longer anywhere in the blakck and white world, sans the Wildlife Sanctuary of strange species the Sinhala Intellectuals. A good opportunity is instead of forcing a self-motivated working crowd outside, but rather sell all the brave paper revolutionists, the destructive and distracting communists to Russia to fight in the Russian aggressive war against Ukraine.

  • 2
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    Threat: The main threat is the customarily used and fire and water tested technique, rioting and destroying the public property, of the Viyathmaga use against the peanut brained Appe Janatava, and masses’ mentality to make short cut money even by doing prostitution or drug smuggling, which are now undertaken and implemented by the parliament itself. If it can be resisted spending government resources to push the educated & lay labor out of the country using politicians’ job agencies, to avoid local protests to reform, a lot of resources are available in Lankawe to uplift it without any effort. Come on Guys, we Ceylonese were doing this 70 years ago, before Singapore did, before Bangladesh was born. The new devil in CB has to tell the government not to send out the billions spent and trained labor, who are urgently needed to rebuild the country, for the benefits of the ultra-rich, magi Playboy Minister.

  • 1
    3

    to stop bold

    • 0
      0

      I like this last comment. (The green thumb is mine)

      • 0
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        Yes we get it; your usual shallow, Badijudeen PHD, Classless, lower than Marianne drench, action & comment. Where do buy your badu these days? Still at the Illegal. Velanai Kallukottils or Licensed Diyawana Lake Palace? Pirith Chanted Pirasatham!
        BTW I like your own name Savam!

        • 0
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          If you like it take it.
          I can be very generous.

  • 2
    1

    The Rajapaksas have had a Pacemaker in the form of Ranil W.
    RW for the time being is out of danger. His Arteries are blocked, but not to the extent of the need for stenting. So, this is his Interim…………
    Srilanka reached the state of being a land like no other during the stewardship of the Rajapakse cabal and it amassed a fortune: In Debt……….
    At the same time, the amount siphoned off by their immediate family was exponential…..

    This interim period where there is no interregnum,with all eyes on Ranil, would help the Rajapaksas to rearrange the loot…..

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    KD

    “ Gota Go; Improve on 21A; Dissolve parliament; Hold elections soon; Abolish the executive presidency”
    Hopefully (wishfully) the above will happen soon

    Why are the chances of JVP -NPP winning the next election? Have they put forward their Manifesto /Plan for the Election/ future of SL?
    So far GoSL of 7 decades were shooting their feet by expatriating up country Tamils and targeting minorities.
    If they had followed Canadian model of governing We would have been in a much better situation

  • 1
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    What about a SHIT analysis.That is to forcast when the shit will hit the fan again.

  • 2
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    SWOT, as I see it.
    STRENGTHS—> Highly literate, Pluralistic citizens; Diaspora with both knowledge and money
    WEAKNESS—-> Racial & Religious discriminations since Independence;Lack of Meritocracy; High level of corruptions; Lack of Law and Order; Lack of INDEPENDENT Judiciary,Media, Election & Bribery commission.
    OPPORTUNITIES—> To make a New Constitution in order to
    eliminate the UNSUITABLE PARLIAMENTARIANS
    bring in Ethnic and Religious harmony etc etc
    THREATS—> From those in the Parliament& in the President post not willing to GO HOME

  • 1
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    Dear Kumar,
    .
    The tide is turning against Ranil Wickremasinghe; never mind what the SWOT says, we’ve got to get rid of these crooks. One reason, I have outlined in a comment above. He realises it himself:
    .
    This was Monday’s news. Protests directed at Gota:
    .
    https://apnews.com/article/ranil-wickremesinghe-sri-lanka-government-and-politics-cb949109941146dc933978b6f8499535
    .
    What Ranil had to say today was much worse probably than he realised himself:
    .
    https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/sri-lanka-pm-ranil-wickremesinghe-says-economy-has-collapsed-unable-to-buy-oil/article65552991.ece
    .
    Hitherto his prophesies of doom seemed to be strategic; he wanted to stress how perilously the country was poised, so that he could pass the blame to previous administrations, now he probably sees that it is much worse than he had anticipated. Now we sense why nobody else was keen on accepting responsibility unless the fall of the Rajapaksas was assured. Those who first handle the economic downturn will be sent into the wilderness, although when a later government handles the ruined country in the same way, most people will accept it.
    .
    Today’s protests were aimed at Ranil’s 5th Lane house:
    .
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjxtFSctrHE
    .
    Nine minutes of protests, mostly slogans chanted in Sinhala. Shades of Lysistrata in these seven minutes:
    .
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nMU7FOFKXo
    .
    Panini Edirisinhe (NIC 483111444V)

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      SM,
      “although when a later government handles the ruined country in the same way, most people will accept it.”
      I doubt that very much. Our people have got used to instant solutions, usually with borrowed money. But now, nobody wants to give us money. Many people simply don’t understand how serious the situation is, and will be quite unwilling to forgo their comfortable lifestyle for the stone age. There is a lot more pain coming.

  • 1
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    I didn’t think much of Hirunickers, but now she is emerging as a force to be reckoned with, by the Rajapaksas. Here she discusses her aims and strategy:
    .
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwMJOZQ8DSk
    .
    Twenty-nine minutes in Sinhala.
    .
    Her emergence now is not in terms of dynastic politics; she has made a name for herself. Her visit to Jaffna is significant. Just as we, Sinhalese, must get to know Shanikyan, I hope that Tamil readers will listen to her in English:
    .
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z44e5LSgo9s
    .
    A tough woman! 28 minutes in English. I’d prefer to listen to her in Sinhala. Tamils listening to her is the way we must put communalism behind us.
    .
    As for me, I must go over to Professor Hoole, and take my risks there:
    .
    https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/hamaduru-ethics-or-deontology-the-challenge-before-modern-sri-lankans/
    .
    I can, and must, try to persuade the Anglican Bishop of Colombo to show more courage and commitment. I’m in a unique position to expose cheating – by many Anglican priests. These are guys who would betray Jesus all over again!
    .
    How else do we create a society in which honesty rather than bigotry matters except by understanding what goes on in secluded pockets.

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