A Contradiction Of Accusations Levelled At The Administration Of Mismanagement Portrayed By Anonymous Write Ups Upended Through UN Observations.
Posted on May 11th, 2012
LankaWeb Weekly Editorial
May 11th 2012
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It seems to be the order of the day that fearless accusations ( Dutch Courage Style that isƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ steeped in anonymity)ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ are being thrown at he GovernmentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ about fraud, mismanagement and an overburdening of the Masses consequently to quote a few “conscientious objectors” depending on how one interprets conscientious ness!. This needs to be put into perspective asƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the possible doings of the enemies of the State ever seeking an opportunity to discredit the Administration through a grossƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ distortion of facts, exaggerated statements from Financial Institutions and misrepresented Foreign Reports all contributing to a dread apprehension within the nation and all to little avail beyond unmitigated paranoia.
This is hardly fair to an Administration that is doing everything possible to restore order and continue a valiant effort towards developing Sri Lanka in a post insurrectionƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ climate whereƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ her every move is targetted somewhat disgustingly although the Administration at time is prone to errors and needs a few nudges perhaps but needs alsoƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to be given fair leeway and a degree of understanding and toleranceƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to continue transforming Sri Lanka into the Resplendent country it once was andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Rajapaksa Administration isƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ surely doing exactly that which of course toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ its myopic critics is unacceptable for very obvious reasons.
To stand in the way of Sri Lanka’s present protagonists and almost on cue, the United Nations has made observations to the contrary and on a very independent and unbiased basis at that and suggested that
” No country could boast of a rapid post war recovery than Sri Lanka”.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ One of particularƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ importance made byƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ top UNƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ official of the the United Nations Development Programme’s Country Director Mr.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Douglas KayƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ who has unequivocvallyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ stated that he was fortunate to witness a positive process in social, economic and political changes during the past year in Sri Lanka.
This comes at a time when countries like the USA -ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ courtesy of its Secretary of State Ms. HillaryƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Clinton and India through PM. Manmohan Singh amongst a few noptable othersƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ continue their interfering stance into Lankan Affairs demanding a somewhat tardy restitution to Sri Lankan Tamils whose needs are admirably looked after given the circumstancesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ quite forgetting that they need to take a look at their own backyards towards many issues which need addressing as well as areas of the world with a greater felt need than Sri Lanka by any stretch of the imagination!
They seem to interpret the term “Sri Lanka Peace Process” as one which in their opinionƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Nation is responsible for as compensation for aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ villification of the Tamil Community when in fact the peace has already been restored and what remains are certain issues far removed from villification which conversely the Tamil Community orchestrated against Sovereign Democratic Sri Lanka through armed terrorist insurrection by supporting it to the hilt and paying a price for it consequently. Sri Lanka’s protagonists however fail to recognize this which of course isn’t surprising as they continue to bemoan their failed attempt to overpower the Sinhala Nation and continue to search for means to re-initiate it!
Speaking at a regional workshop entitled `Decentralization and Climate ChangeƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ in Colombo on Monday,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The UNDP Rep hasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ said that “ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ when he visited the country in 2007, at a time there was unimaginable turmoil, having a workshop of this nature was almost an impossibility. He also said that the UNDPƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s role was to assist in policies and sustainability and less on humanitarian support to Sri Lanka.
Strengthening locals to tackle vulnerabilities and adopting locals to attend to those needs would be the key, the UNDP Country Director has said and an endorsement in favour of Sri Lanka today which not only confounds her critics but also portrays the apathy of what certain powerfulƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ foreign leaders seem to envision about Sri LankaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in obvious cross eyed as well as biased vision. In this respect the Nation of Sri Lanka needs to collectively thankƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Mr. Kay for the positive remarks madeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ aboutƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the country which comes at a time of need towards restoring the Nation’s image where attempts to tarnish it towards their own agendas by mostly undesirables from opposite political factionsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and non nation friendly adversaries have been continuously rife.
The Sri Lankan Minister responsibleƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ for the area incorporating responses to Climate Change et al -The Hon. Anura Priyadarshana YapaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ hasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ said that the workshop would create necessary space for policy dialogue and effective linkages between national level action and cities, stressing the local governance dimensions to climate change responses and action in Sri Lanka as part of his response to Mr Kay and has offered thanks on behalf of Sri Lanka for his astute observation which opens a different window on the state of affairs within the Nation of Sri Lanka today which is not as disastrous or deteriorating economically as some would like to think it is!!!
He also said that experience ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…”especially on adaptation to climate changes- of countries like Nepal, Myanmar, Lao PDR, Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Pacific Islands could be used in the Sri Lankan context and to those who for a moment imagine thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ these issues could be resolved on fresh air and sunshine they are best advised to think again. The cost, to put it mildly would be burdgeoning.
If the Nation is experiencing a financial crunch, it needs to be emphasized that this isƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ related to the very issues needing resolution rather than a dipping into the taxpayers resources or the National till for wasteful purposes which seems to be the hue and cryƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ by some elements each time a program of national spending is initiated towards the Nation’s best interests and if any streamlining in this area needs to be done the Government is pretty much equipped to deal with this equitably.
Perhaps an Ombudsman is necessary towards accountability for these spending issues rather that yelpings from areas of dissent for all the wrong reasons! but for as long as these issues need resolving there would be a heavy cost which needs to be alleviated through Foreign Exchange earnings and a fortified GDPƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ towards a financial stability which only a normal order could restore!
In conclusion it needs to be reiteratedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ with gratitude that the UNDP observations of Mr Kay has served Sri Lanka very well!
May 12th, 2012 at 12:47 pm
Thank you. You have introduced us to the “Latest Dogma” of measurements of our country’s trends in developments and resulting benefits that accrue to the general public – the citizinry. Every pundith and anyalyst now freely quote from the statements that are issued by the UN agency representatives who visit our country and go about measuring the standards of our living and most eloquently declare Sri Lanka is the “emerging miracle” of the South East Asia. Very fine. The Government needs it and you too have done it.
But the fact of the matter is very different to us in Sri Lanka. If you take a walk down the village side, you will hear an ear-full of true feelings of the general citizinry. To say it in short, they are losing the interests in the so called “development” and most alarmingly the freedom won in defeating the terrorism. Why? This is what these “experts” who visit us must seek answers. They must be told in un-no certain terms that no developement is going to satisfy the people, unless and until the ruling authorities do their entrusted job of administering the country with due care with honesty and dignity. Unfortunately, we do not see it happening. The level of corruption, mismanagement of state resources, the unruly behaviour of Politicians (both Parliament and Local) and the state officials, inteference with the Justice System, rapid deterioration of the social behavioural patterns of the clergy, the spread of crimes such as murder, rape, extortions, abductions, even at village levels, have all lead to the frustrations of the general public. The people are now truning a blind eye to the development activities and have started to cry for “peaceful” living deviod of all of the socail evils. Unfortunatlely the Government has not felt the pulse of the people and they try to live a life of abundance with the slogan of “winning a war” and “development”.
Please read the COPE report and the debate that followed. Did you see the report given on the uncollected “loans” vertually doled out by the Govt. Banks?. Did you read the “Supplememtary Vote” submitted to Parliament by the Govt. Whip for seeking finances to “import” a further consignment of vehicles to the Ministries? Did you read the latest observations made by the Judges in regard to the GCE (A) Level results that were “ordered” to be released in a hurry in order to meet the demands of some influential people whose children were to apply for foreign educational institutions? Did you read the “Presidential Pardon” given to a local politician who was charged by the Bribary Commission and convicted to a jail term and whose appeal was rejected by the Appeal Courts ? The list is too long to be published.
No wonder the people are losing their trust and confidence on the Government. The irony is that the authorities are not feeling the pulse and are deaf and blind to what is going on in the country at large. So don’t you think that these issues have to be addressed and solved sooner than later to lead the country to its prosperity?
Thank you and Good Bye.
May 12th, 2012 at 1:15 pm
Douglas, Brilliant! One could have have not expressed it any better
May 13th, 2012 at 8:58 am
Regardless of the sensitivities of the issues highlighted by Douglas and seconded by Marco there is a degree of paranoia involved here.
If the progress Sri Lanka is making is acknowledged even marginally, the Government has scored big towards winning the hearts of the masses which at the present time seems skeptical and the acknowledgements sadly come from all the wrong areas and least of all from the man on the street whose hardships have always been there and unabated through generations of political dynasties. Has there been a single administration that attended to the needs of the masses at any given stage in the political history of Sri Lanka is the question that needs asking here to which the obvious answer is No!!
Their concerns are not national development, getting the nation’s stock market on a par with world standards, automation or the introduction of cutting edge technology to the industries that keep Sri Lanka competitive in the region but the simple appeasing of the people’s needs and those of their families towards a comfortable existence. This however is not an easy task for the GOSL and efforts are being made admirably towards this although perhaps it must be conceded that there has been no real effort towards prioritising this as basking in the glory of ridding the land of the LTTE and opening up the Islands roads netrwork with freedom of access to all parts for all citizens as well as granting many concessions for the once displaced Tamils seem to be cause for exuberance where the opportunists then take over enjoying their personal domains or the acess ti the nation’s coffers without a care for the suffering masses whose sufferings it must be acknowledged are now on the decline.The end result of a completely contented nation however seems Utopian at this stage as there are huge socio-economic problems which are beyond even a supremely adept administration for very apparent reasons and if discontent becomes a major factor as opposed to unity and throwing their lot behind the administration the anticipated expectation will take even longer to materialise even in some small measure. The equation of a 19+ million and increasing populace against 25 thousand square miles of land will perhaps be one that no permutation or combination would ever solve and if the GOSL attempts to prioritise the needs of the people over Nation development without a balance Sri Lanka could easily slip back into a chasm of greater misfortunes which it might never overcome! Take pride in what the Nation is today while conscientiously objecting to errors which the GOSL just like any other are prone to. as there may be restitution towards all the Nation’s woes through national unity! Something the leadership always reminds the citizens about where the president on his part needs to revamp some of his policies towards the tolerance of undesirables within his camp which is a slur to all the good he has accomplished and then there are some!!
May 13th, 2012 at 2:37 pm
Sunil Mahattaya – Thank you for your input. I welcome the expressions made.
What I really wanted to higlight was that what these experts assess the devlopement in terms of qunatities of money or other material wealth is not what we in the Asian regions are much concerned with. We have our own values assessed in terms of moral and etheical paradigms akin to our cultures and that is what combined with material benefits termed as “development”. This is not so with the western cultures, in that, every thing is measured in terms of material benefits and assessed in monetary values.
Permit me to tell this in terms of my village folk’s language. This is what they say – ” Uge sally hondai ballage puke bandinna”. (If a man with money is misbehaving and do not live according to moral vallues, they say, all that money is of no value and good enough to be tied to a dog’s back). It was in keeping with this thinking that I said, however much the development in material benefits accrue to us, we do not assess it as “real development” unless and until it is associated with moral values. This is the fact that is being ignored or neglected by the authorities governing the country. The material development has to go hand in hand with the development of our value systems, as otherwise, the people will not appreciate it in it’s real terms relevant to their lives.
The danger in the neglect of this development assessment devoid of culltural values was seen by us as far back as 1970. This was the year when a wolf in sheep’s clothes apppeared before us and proclaimed to establish a “Dharmishta Society” (A Just Society) and received a mandate of governing the country unprecedented in the history of the country. You and I have seen and experienced the results that followed this experiment. I do not like and expect any thing of that nature to happen again. But never know. When people are neglected and frustrated to a very high level, they react very irrationally and who knows another wolf in sheep’s clothes could emerge once again that would destablize the whole country. This is the danger that we have to aviod.
Thank you.
May 13th, 2012 at 9:48 pm
Douglas.
We can debate many issues on what was, is and will be in Sri Lanka from many perspectives..While your input is not only valuable but also very relevant to the crux of the issues you’ve presented , this item” A Contradiction Of Accusations Levelled At The Administration Of Mismanagement Portrayed By Anonymous Write Ups Upended Through UN Observations” has to be viewed objectively as what’s under review here towards acceptance as the truism portrayed !
Thank you too