LankaWeb Editorial

July28th 2009

The previous editorial was captioned “Message To All Harbingers Of Doom And Ill Wishers Of Sri Lanka~ BACK OFF!” While reiterating this suggestion it has to be noted with much enthusiasm that on an even note all the calls for a waiving of the IMF Loan to Sri Lanka have been politely overlooked by the US and the IMF in granting the loan which is indicative of the realities upon which the loan was approved for which much gratitude and appreciation are in order. Incentive enough to direct the Government on the right path regardless of the negative prophets and their doomsday calls!

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ There are many entities and individuals in dismay as a result of the IMF decision which has shattered their self opinionated judgements on Sri Lanka as “human rights violators” and therefore in their opinion undeserving of the huge loan, who need to even at this late stage clam up and let Sri Lanka get on with her affairs as it is such interferences that in truth prolongated the end to the demise of the LTTE and gave false hope to the Tamil Diaspora in favour of secession which of course was a burst bubble in the end and now it is time for rebuilding, reconciliation and a superhuman effort to set things right in Sri Lanka rather than throwing spanners in the works as devised by the Administration on the part of its adversaries.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ And to those still rumbling about the demerits of the IMF loan it must once again be said “back off!”

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ To the great joy of the Sri Lankan Administration and her people the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved the $ 2.6 billion loan to Sri Lanka amid opposition from several countries including those from certain misguided sources from the US, EU, Canada and Britain et al voicing concerns over human rights abuses.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Britain consequently and unsurprisingly abstained from voting on the loan. British financial secretary to the treasury Stephen Timms said it was ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-not the right time for the program.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ A day before the loan was approved the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) criticised the IMF for readying to hand it out.” quoting from a recent press release but who in heaven’s name are these sources to pass judgement and attempt to block the very essence of what Sri Lanka needs towards posterity as though they control the destiny of Sri Lanka?

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ To this motley bunch one might also add the turncoat Canadian Liberal MP who cannot seem to stay away from Sri Lankan matters as though it is his birthright~ Mr Bob Rae who also joined the fray calling for a discontinuance of the IMF loan and to him in particular it best needs to be said “Phooey Mr Rae! just stick to matters in your own backyard and make sure they do not constitute further dabbling in Pro LTTE sympathies which the Canadian Liberals seem to have a partiality for in order to assert their electoral strength in a possible forthcoming election whether Provincial or Federal!

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ For the IMF with US sanctions to have approved a loan in the region of some $600 million in excess of what the Sri Lankan Government had asked for speaks volumes for the manner in which the assesment and approval have been made and the criteria thereto which despite the clarion calls using the IDP in refugee camps as the main excuse have not really been an issue as it signifies the confidence the US as well as the IMF have in the capabilities of the Rajapaksha Adminstration to carry out equitably the task of re-settling the people involved where a greater emphasis perhaps has been paid to how best the loan would facilitate the Government’s effort in the best interests of the IDP. Prudence by the wise ! one might add as opposed to a few voices in the wilderness!

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Indeed there are hundreds of thousands of people penned up in these camps through necessity rather than choice albeit a far cry from being “a reward for bad behaviour,ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ as the HRW has had the nerve to suggest as it is the attrocities of the Tamil Tigers that created a need for these camps in the first place in case the likes of the HRW, Bob Rae and the British Parliamentarians have forgotten and it is now upto the Sri Lankan Administration to attend to their outstanding needs without further hindrance or impediments and the task made that much easier thanks to the US and the IMF for their astute wisdom of judgement! It also needs emphasis that the Global Tamil diaspora too carried out an online campaign to stop the loan which is a perceivable attempt to strike back in embitterment at the defeat of their champions the LTTE surely to which the US and the IMF appear to have paid scant attention!

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In obvious jubilation the Rajapaksha Administration has acclaimed that the IMF loan regardless of all the opposition to it was approved saying that ” no outsider should dictate terms about human rights abuses” which are more speculative and conjecturial than bearing any real semblance to the truth where there are undeniably many difficulties and hardships faced by such a tumultuous number of displaced people but their needs are being met to the best capabilities of the authorities and aid workers concerned relative to the resources available where the approval of the IMF loan has becomes imperative towards hastening the restitutions of the IDPs to the fullest measure!