
By Trevor Jayetileke –
The end of 2018 was the end of 70 years of Independence from Britain in1948. Politically the last quarter of 2018 was so horrible that 2018 as a whole was dubbed as “Annus Horibilis”. The 70 years that ended in such a fashion is now behind us as the past and Sri Lanka can look to a dawn of a new era which we all hope will be the Golden Years for Sri Lanka and I say this will all sincerity that we are a Nation that deserves a period that is better than what we have gone through and our resilience has been tested to the full and we have survived to have got a second chance to put things right.
The three main Nationalities the majority Sinhalese, and the two minorities the Tamils and Muslims live in peace and harmony and I hope this can continue uninterrupted without Political interference from within and manipulation of minorities from outside to satisfy their own Agendas. Our visionless Leaders have brought our Economy and Finances to a point when lifting it from the mire will not be an easy task. Even after 150 years our Tea industry is struggling to get its act together. We have borrowed to such dizzy heights that formulating our budget becomes an annual nightmare. Our total debts are at about 80% of our GDP and our revenue just enough to service it.
Suddenly the World realises that we are today in a ‘Geographically Sweet Spot’ that is the envy of both the East and West in a good sense that both are seeking our attention and giving us presents. According to Rudyard Kipling the East ( mainly China and Japan ) and the West (mainly the US with India) are playing the “Great Game’ and at this point in time in the Indian Ocean. After WW2 this Game was played in the South China Sea when Japan was calling the shots and Singapore was Geographically placed to receive the attention that we now enjoy . China has become the No.2 economy of the World driving the Asia Pacific in the 21st century / the ‘Asian Century”. The US had its Pacific Command well positioned with Naval Fleets in South Korea and Japan., while Britain had its South East Command in Singapore and ruled the Waves and possessed the HK lease till 1997.
Today China rules the waves of the Indian Ocean with our Hambantota Port leased for 99 years through its BRI initiative. The Port City of Colombo has seen the reclamation work completed and now ready for Phase 2. The Chinese “Lotus Tower” was fully lit for the first time on the 29th of January 2019 and will be ready for business in March 2019 and will be the “Light of Asia”., for ships passing bye at night and will see the “Tear Drop” shaped Lanka for miles and miles of SEA LANE.
The US has established its “Asian Pivot” in Trincomalee in December 2018 and the US Pacific Command has changed its name as the ‘Indo Pacific Command’ to accommodate the Indian neighbourly love for us and the wider Asia Pacific that was never there before. However the APEC annual conference was held in PNG at the end of November 2018 and XI Jingping the President of China had a ‘Red Flag and Red Carpet” Welcome never seen by APEC member nations before and after 40 years of joining the Free market Economy of the World China has emerged the second largest economy of the World and has a GDP of US$14 Trillion against the US$20 Trillion of the USA.
Our ‘Economic Model’ of Tea and Sympathy has kept us in a 70 year ‘Time Trap’ and I believe if we are to shrink our Bad Debts we cannot do it only through Exports and FDI’s and must include Energy ( Crude Oil ) as a Anchor like having LNG in our “Base Load” balanced mix of the National Electricity Grid. If we say we are a predominantly a Buddhist Country we have to live by its Precepts and draw on the Wisdom from the Tooth Relic in the Pentagon of the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy.
*Trevor Jayetileke – Energy Consultant
K.Pillai / January 31, 2019
Trevor Jayetileke’s title ~ “Sri Lanka Enjoying The Best Of Both Worlds” is not quite correct.
.
Corruption was part of human society but now has become part of governance in ‘Both Worlds’.
We, layLankans, have come to accept nepotism and our ruling elites needs the culture of impunity.
So Trevor, the title should have been, “Sri Lanka Languishing The Worst Of Both Worlds”.
/
ramona therese fernando / February 1, 2019
Thank you for being so encouraging. However, doubt that the US base is going to allow any oil found in the Mannar Basin to be spread to Lanka’s 20 million inhabitants (the Ranil/CBK retribution plan). More lucrative it will be for the US, if each of the 8 provinces manages its own treasury. Sinhala provinces to be allowed China; Tamil provinces to have Oil, LNG, and the US + Indian solidarity.
/
JD / February 1, 2019
Why did you omit C from BRIC(S).
/
WalaGembaRaja / February 1, 2019
What is predominant in this country are followers of a political cult who claim to be Buddhists but idolize deities (Gods), kattadiyas (black magicians), astrology and myth that far outweigh the true teachings of the Lord Buddha. We no longer respect the triple gem (Buddha, Dharma and Sangha) to enjoy the best of any world. What have we practiced correctly? What have we bestowed to the world from Sri Lanka’s Theravada Buddhism? I don’t intend to politicize this. One instance that I could think is when our late president J R Jayawardane eloquently convinced the great powers of the world to forgive Japan, another great Buddhist nation from being decimated and trampled-on with sanctions long after WW2. I refer to JRJ’s brave remonstrance on behalf of Japan during the 1951 Japanese peace treaty in San Francisco. JRJ insisted that Japan be given a second chance by drawing Buddhist forgiveness and compassion. I don’t know if many of you know that JRJ is still respected and idolized as a hero in Japan. The Japanese still pay homage and reverence beyond him to our country that was bombed by the Japanese due to the British and allied military presence during WW2. The nation of Japan still stands by us unconditionally as the greatest friend and ally we ever have. Have we ever reciprocated to the Japanese people since JRJ with equal respect, love and gratefulness in accordance to our Buddhist values?
/
K.Pillai / February 1, 2019
WalaGembaRaja asks, “What have we bestowed to the world from Sri Lanka’s Theravada Buddhism?”.
Buddha found the multi-idol worship prevalent among the then people irrational, and superstitions like black magic and astrology to be creations to exploit the people, caste system used to oppress the less fortunate and living off our laurels hollow.
We are back to the what obtained 2500 years ago. Thondaman brings Kerala Kattadhiyas to invoke ‘success’ to our leaders!
‘Success’ in? In the culture of corruption/nepotism/impunity.
If we respect the triple gem (Buddha, Dharma and Sangha), will there be this race to free BBS monk Gnanasara?
.
Regarding the 1951 JR J stand on Japan. Preaching is easy but not practicing the sermon.
/
chiv / February 1, 2019
Trevor , sorry to put a puncture in your unrealistic euphoric bubble. . Your intentions are good but the reality is, if Lankans have not learned anything valuable in 70 years (pretending?????) it aint happening. Seventy years is a long period in History.
/