Sri Lanka – Improvements in the Country are Remarkable
Posted on May 29th, 2012
By Kingsley Ediriweera ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Melbourne, Australia
I have been away from Sri Lanka for nearly Forty Years and I am not qualified or is it fair for me to get involved in the political debate in the country of my birth.
But, as an impartial observer travelling through the Country, I must confess I was quite amazed and impressed with the infra structure development. Most of the main roads have been upgraded and the others are in the process of being upgraded.
It so happened that we travelled during the main Vesak Days. It was touching and informative to stop at the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Dan SalasƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ where volunteers give food and drink to travellers. Although I politely refused to partake in their offerings, it gave me the opportunity to talk to the people at the grass root level.
Everyone I spoke to express their relief at the war being over and appeared appreciative of the Development and thankful that meagre necessities such as Electricity have been provided to majority of the areas.
I generally enjoy stopping on the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-way sideƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ and having the odd ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-VadaiƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-boiled GramƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Boiled CornƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, little pots of Curd & Treacle and many other goodies from the street vendors. On these occasions I always take the opportunity to talk to the people who serve us.
I must categorically say, I did not hear one complain about the economy, living conditions or any other local issues in my travels from Mt. Lavinia to Hambantota, to Kataragama, Yala, Ella, Bandarwela, NuwaraƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Eliya, Kandy, Pollonnaruwa, Anuradhapura and Trincomalle.
One ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-way sideƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ vendor, described the common sentiment which I heard right through out. He said ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- Mahattaya ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- ( Sir ) we now get our rice from the fields and we keep enough for a year and sell the rest. We grow our own fruit and vegetables. We pluck a coconut and make a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- Pol SambolƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. And when we catch a fish from the river (Or tank or reservoir) we have a good meal. What we are happy about is that the war is over because we can now live in peace. We have plenty of tourists coming which helps sell our produceƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.
Being a City Dweller, being naive and not understanding how the grass root feels I asked a stupid question. ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- DonƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t the price of Gas & Petrol and the Cost of Living bother you?ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ He almost had a look of sympathy in his eyes for me, but was polite enough to say ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- Sir, we cook on a wood fired hearth. We get the firewood from the forest and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ we donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t need Gas for cooking. Our transport, is my good legs God gave me, or the odd bicycle. We have been provided with electricity by the Government quite recently; we even consider it a luxury. We have been allocated Land . We feed ourselves well and live in relative comfort; what more do we need?.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
That sentiment brought tears to my eyes and made me ask what the Hell we were doing in this Rat Race.
To give a fairer picture of the pros and cons, let me tell you that when we arrived in Colombo I heard nothing but complains. This extended from the Shop Assistants, to Taxi Drivers, to Restaurant owners and almost every one we encountered. They complained about the price of Gas, Petrol, the weather and everything they can think of. One even complained about the increased price of Scotch, and my wife had to hold my hand down to stop me giving him the Royal Salute.
All in all the Country has developed and progressed at a remarkable pace. Majority appear to be happy and contended. The rural folk ( which I am sure form the majority of the population ) are getting on with their lives, working hard and in relative comfort. May be the City Dwellers need some sort of relief to overcome the effects of inflation ( which every other country faces ).
Is it a priority? Should they be left behind? I donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t know. All I can do is to refer you to the old adage that ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- You cannot make an Omelette without breaking a few Eggs ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-.
May 29th, 2012 at 6:56 pm
Inflation is less of a problem (actually a benefit) to rural net producers which is good. However, it also benefits anti-national business elements of Colombo. Resources are limited. Government fiscal and monetary policy should change in such a way to redistribute wealth to those who love the nation at the expense of those who don’t.
May 30th, 2012 at 1:54 am
AnuD, you are quite correct.
It seems to be part of the qualifications required to be a politician, minister or an MP that they should be one or more or in all those catagories mentioned by you. Even if somebody wants to go for an overseas employment he should have to submit a police report that he is not a criminal but a ‘clean’ person. Politician does not need any of it. Besides, what is the standard scholastic achievement(s) to enter the Parliament as a minister or an MP? This is the weakest area in democracy to turn it into the-more-crazy with a lot of criminals who enter politics and go to parliament to make the law of the country. How can you expect the law breakers to act as law makers?
Scan them, kick the culprits out of parliament and prosecute them.
May 30th, 2012 at 2:35 am
Thanks Kingsley, you have given a straight forward commentary of your first hand experience and I must say this is the same experience I had during my travels across the country. To the list of places you visited, I may add the Northern and Eastern provinces which too I visited extensively and made a point to mix with the common man, who openly displayed their joy to be able to live their lives without fearing terrorist threats.
As for colombo, it is a mixed bag. Just like some of the commentators in this website, there were people who were not able to get out from the doom and gloom holes they have created for themselves and delved in negatives, enjoying government and Rajapakse bashing, whilst enjoying the peace dividends without any gratitude to this same Government and armed forces. No doubt there is corruption, which had always been there like the “Karawala Kumaraya” deals in the past, but the country I live in overseas is not second to or even worse than SriLanka, if one takes into consideration the value of corrupt transactions, sex scandles, and massive drug smuggling syndicates. In this context, what the country’s immediate needs are, leaders who develop the nation and maintain democratic traditions for people to enjoy.
May 30th, 2012 at 9:39 pm
Direct fom Horse’s mouth (THIS FROM THE SRI LANKA TRUTH. A STATEMENT BY HON. MINISTER MAITHRIPLA SIRISENA)
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May 31st, 2012 at 12:25 am
World is not that simple Mr Ediriweera. People are struggling and we have heard people have died of starvation. Old and sick people have left out without any care
June 1st, 2012 at 5:33 am
Kingsley you are damn correct because you saw from your own eyes and heard from your own ears. This is what you should do. After seeing and heard you tell the story to the whole world. Some are not like that they never visit my homeland but cursing and barking like stray dogs for our enemies to hear and for that they get a heros medal or a certificate. If you love your Motherland how much long you were living outside the country still it’s your homeland isnt it? Best thing is to do is to visit and see for yourself and judge without joining our enemies and singing their chorus.
Every Government was corrupt and this one is not different. In America,Britin,France,Germany has corrupt politicians and some in jails too. We too should bring as Minister Sirisena says all those currupt politicians to books and show the world how we get rid of corruptions in our country. The President must act and clean up his party before others to show that he is Mr.Clean. This Govt cannot alone do everything to satisfy everyone but they have done better than all previous Goverments. We need a clean Government with educated leaders not politicians who acts like gangsters in the underworld.