Good Governance
Posted on December 27th, 2014
By Charles.S.Perera
There was colonialism under which many countries, poor from Western standard, were conquered subjugated and brought under the control of the respective Western Countries that colonised them. The Colonisation was an immense enterprise that brought into the countries of the Colonial rulers an immense wealth from which they have created a strong economic foundation which has while assuring their prosperity, given them power over the subjugated nations, and allowed them to claim wholly or in partnership with other Western countries the leadership of the World-the leadership of the Whites.
Then with the Russian revolution the patriotic nationals of the Colonised countries demanded a breakaway from the colonial rule to be liberated as Independent Nations. It was not to the liking of the Colonial rulers. Some nations like Sri Lanka were given Independence on Constitutions written by accredited Englishmen such as – Donomore and Soulbury, keeping them as members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Some Nationalist Leaders such as, Lumumba of Congo, Jacobe of Nicaragua, Aillande of Chilli , Mossadeq of Iran were physically disposed of with the employment of the notorious CIA ( the presence of which cannot be ruled out in Sri Lanka for a possible political or a physical disposal of Mahinda Rajapakse)
With the independence of the colonies the Colonial rulers faced an insoluble social and economic crisis which they have still not been able to surmount, Therefore, they are finding every possible means to stop the emancipation of the now independent former colonies from their former colonial ties, which are alien to their culture based on their religion, creed and customs, to traverse a different path for development.
One such alien tie is democracy inculcated into us specially through the English educated class- still attached to the alien dress and language, who are still the guardians of that alien culture.
Democracy or at least the concept of it existed in Sri Lanka before the advent of the colonial adventurers. One example of it is the Order of the Buddhist Sangha. It was established by the great Saint the compassionate Buddha. It is organised in to a community participating as a whole functioning according to an accepted system where each one takes the responsibility for the application of the rules of administration of the Order , following an established and accepted rules of discipline.
But Democracy” as introduced by the Colonial Rulers-the British is perhaps good for their system which they had established with the priviledges they had gained becoming rich with the plundered treasures of great value from the colonies, in addition to misappropriated mineral and agricultural resources of these colonies. Their Democracy” is a political and an administrative facility with the resources they have acquired and stockpiled for their future.
The Political Parties in these countries have very little difference be they Republican or Democratic, Conservative or Labour. It may be a question of how they manage the finances in effective measures for a successful administration with high or low income tax and maintaining a workable gap between employment and unemployment etc.
There are no large scale development projects as the Western countries are already industrially and agriculturally developed, the infrastructures are in place with highly developed education facilities and health services, Hence whether a Democratic or Labour Government is replaced by a Republican or Conservative Government or vice versa makes no great difference and their type of democracy” is workable in that manner, with a change of government every four or five years and limiting the term of office of a President for two terms.
But Democracy ” cannot work similarly in developing countries like Sri Lanka. Because the underdeveloped countries or developing countries unlike their colonial counterparts who dictate terms and give lessons on democracy, are deficient in all aspects of development such as the capital and skilled manpower.
Therefore a four year change of government and a two term President cannot do much to bring a developing country in par with a developed country or at least bring development half way towards it.
In a developing country like Sri Lanka for example, with a change of a government or the change of a President the whole system of governance changes. As Sri Lanka is basically poor, it cannot in reality have a Conservative Capitalist Government, as the rich are a minority.
Nevertheless, there could be a government of a pseudo Conservative Capitalist party as it is in Sri Lanka, depending on Conservative or Labour, or Republican or Democratic former foreign Colonial countries for development, respecting their democracy, their judicial system and accepting their recommendations of how to develop the country and with whom Sri Lanka should have diplomatic relations.
In fact it is what is being proposed to day by a pro Western pseudo capitalist opposition in Sri Lanka presenting a common Presidential candidate, against President Mahinda Rajapakse presenting himself for a third term with the genuine intention to complete the tremendous development of Sri Lanka he undertook since 2005 when Sri Lank was reeling on its heels under the threat of being territorially separated by a ruthless group of terrorists.
Does the absence of good Governance means this departure from Western dictates, taking a people consisting of all communities-Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, from poverty to prosperity based on a democracy suitably adopted to benefit the people ?
Does the absence of good governance” means not depending solely on the former Western Colonialists, but also on unconditional support and aid of the developed and developing Nations of Asia, the Middle East and Russia, without completely breaking away from the West ?
The former colonies now Independent came under the influence of left wing politics and their allegiance to the former Colonial rulers and the Commonwealth was affected and found Sri Lanka for instance turning towards other Nations such as China, Japan, and Russia and countries outside the Commonwealth and the West for its security and development. Setting up the UNO did not faciligtate matters for the developing countries. The West set up the World Bank and IMF.
These Banks were to help the developing nations get loans from them for development without turning to countries out side the West for aid and assistance.
But the loans from these Banks came with conditions which deprived the developing countries to help the poor with welfare assistance. These conditions which were not people friendly irked the governments and aroused the ire of the people of the developing Countries, making them turn away from the capitalist West to Socialism. The West therefore formed a block against Russia and Socialism. They failed to counter the influence of Socialist Russia amoung the developing countries with aid and generous loans accessible to the developing countries.
The West gradually lost its hold on the developing countries, but were able to hold on to them through its influence on the local political groups favourable to the West and Capitalism. Sri Lanka has its own Conservative Capitalist political party the UNP as against the leftwing Political parties such s the SLFP, LSSP,CP. The West used the Conservative Parties like the UNP in Sri Lanka to keep its influence alive despite the fact that the left wing politics were gaining ground in Sri Lanka along with its alignment with Russia and China.
This was unexpected and the West hastened to find other means to keep the newly Independent colonies under their control by interfering into their internal affairs using the UNO. The election of the Director General of the UNO became politicised and America and West used its aid to developing countries such as those in Africa and the Middle East to win r votes for the candidate favoured by the West.
The West introduced questionable methods for intervention in Sovereign States of the developing countries through RTP- right-to-protect and introduced human rights to accuse developing nations for violation of human rights. But the Western Nations reserved the right to violate human rights with impunity.
The West has assumed an overseeing role of developing nations-specially with regard to Sri Lanka, pampering the minorities protecting them from the majority and accusing the majority for violation of human rights of the minorities etc.
America takes an active role in the Human Rights Council of the UN in Geneva with a pro- American High Commissioners for Human Rights. America is using the UN Human Rights Council passing resolutions against Sri Lanka to stop by all means its present development process with Chinese assistance.
America is determined for a regime change in Sri Lanka. USA and West have Commandeered pro-western Opposition with Chandrika taking the leading role, Ranil Wickramasinghe groomed as their puppet to take over reins of the Government of Sri Lanka replacing Mahinda Rajapakse. Maithripala Sirisena is just nobody for America and the West but he is just the catalyst for the regime change.
America has an annual country report on developing countries presented to its Congress with which it accuses developing countries for political mismanagement and internal problems which in reality are none of their business ” . Nonetheless, they use their own methods to evaluate good governance. USA and the West do not understand their lack of the knowledge of the thinking pattern of the people of Sri Lanka, their culture, and customs to determine whether Sri Lanka is being governed correctly or not. Their measuring rods of good governance is inappropriate to make a correct appraisal.
But unfortunately the pseudo capitalist political parties like the UNP allied to the West supported by pro-West Chandrika are ready to bend backwards to please the whims and fancies of the West. They have therefore taken the slogan of a lack of good governance as measured by America and the West to put people against the President Mahinda Rajapakse at the present Presidential elections.
The Common Candidate of the Opposition has stated that the President Mahinda Rajapakse does not understand the meaning of the word good governance as if he- Maitripala Sirisena understands it better. The word is a meaningless connotation as far as it concerns Sri Lanka. It comes from the West suggested by an NGO , now used by the Opposition as a clarion call to the Voters to refrain from voting for a President , who according to them is immersed in corruption lacking any knowledge of good governance.
These are mere ideas pumped into the heads of the Sri Lanka Opposition by the Western NGOs and used as words from the gospel used as a means to down grade the greatest National leader of our time the President Mahinda Rajapakse.
The opposition to the President Mahinda Rajapakse is under a delusion that they can make Good Governance together with corruption a political slogan to defeat the President Mahinda Rajapakse at the presidential election.
They (the opposition to the Preident) hope with that to come back into politics and change all that the President Mahinda Rajapakse has done, thus ushering in an era of utter political chaos as the amalgam of politicians that have got together to support the opposition Presidential candidate have nothing in common except a ferocious desire to defeat the President Mahinda Rajapakse at any cost.
Good governance is an empty slogan for the ordinary people of the country, for whom the man Mahinda Rajapakse is the only leader that can take the country forward and give them peace and happiness that they have already experienced in the elimination of the most feared and hated terrorism that controlled their lives for thirty years and took away under most atrocious circumstances their kith or kin, or persons- men, women or children, known or distantly connected. What is good governance compared to those losses and the times spent in fear of an unknown death by being blown off by a claymore or a suicide bomb ?
Of all the governments Sri Lanka had since 1948, the government of the President Mahinda Rajapakse is the last that could be accused for absence of good governance- whatever that means. In evaluating Mahinda Rajapakse’s exceptional qualities as the President and a National Leader, one has to take into account his first swearing in as the President in 2005. Some of those who jump to Criticise President Mahinda Rajapakse tend to forget that beginning when Sri Lanka was at the end of the tether so to say without a solution to a terrorism that had been going on for thirty years.
Four Presidents had going through it, one assassinated by the terrorist, one the most unworthy of all Presidents loosing her eye in a terrorist attack. No one saw a solution to the problem other than handing over part of Sri Lanka to the terrorists, which the West encouraged Sri Lanka to do. JR Signed a peace accord merging the North and East and introducing an Indian Amenment 1 in to the Constitution. Premadasa made a gift of arms, ammunition and money and got assassinated by way of a thankful gratitude. Ranil Wickramasinghe signed an agreement with the terrorist leader handing overto him land under terrorist control”. Chandrika offered North and East of Sri Lanka to the terrorist leader for ten years, to do what he wants with it. Her successor Mahinda Rajapakse was made of other mettle and would not give in so easily to terrorism, which caused him the ire of the West.
The West repeatedly demanded Sri Lanka to find a political solution as terrorism had out grown a military defeat and stood tall as Goliath and no David was within sight. When all hope had dwindled in to grey ash, Goliath found at last his match in a David from Beliatta a village in the deep south of Sri Lanka.
Mahinda Rajapakse from Beliatta who took over the reins as the President of Sri Lanka was determined, full of confidence and sure of success. He was as good as a chequer player. He knew where to place his knights and pawns on the chequer board to check mate his opponent the feared terrorist. He was fearless like David with his catapult in his hand facing Goliath. Mahinda Rajapakse who placed his entire confidence on his selected man –his own brother Gotabhaya for a military assault against the terrorists, was prepared to give him a relentless political support.
It was a perfectly well planned effort that resulted in the complete elimination of terrorism. Now after the flames have died in to ash, and the grass has gown over the battle ground, there are the phantoms of the past Colonial rulers rising from their graves to accuse the mighty forces of Sri Lanka led by Mahinda Rajapakse for violation of human rights and war crimes, for the sin of having eliminated terrorism which the west believed invincible. Whatever the enemies and the adversaries say the President Mahind Rajapakse after the elimination of terrorism did not rest on his laurels because his challenging tasks were still incomplete.
The greatest road construction project ever undertaken by a government of Sri Lanka since 1948 is again by the government of the President Mahinda Rajapkse. He completely revolutionised the road construction by introducing modern highways from Colombo to Matara, and from Katunayake to Colombo. This was accompanied with the construction of overhead bridges, Concrete and carpeted roads. The pinnacle of this road construct project was the Colombo Jaffna railway constructed with aid from India . President Mahinda Rajapase had begun a non-stop development process.
At the end of the completion of every one of these great undertakings he approached the next task before him with the same determination and confidence as it was with the elimination of terrorism, there were no shortage of critics despite the fact that no other President besides the President Rajapakse had dared launch on a series of development project with so much of ardour and hope of success. He was indeed a great patriot who dedicated every ounce of his energy in the development of his beloved country giving his people a country which they could be proud of.
The opponent of the President Mahinda Rajapakse show as example of corruption the construction of roads. This they do without understanding the tremendous engineering feat involved in the construction of high ways. They divide the total expenditure in kilo meters of construction, and questioning why there is a great disparity in the cost of construction of one highway compared to another.
They compare the cost of construction of highways in Australia and Kenya and ask why it had coast so much more in Sri Lanka. Having had the privilege of being with one of the Engineers who had worked on the Colombo –Galle Highway and now working on the outer circular road. I saw the on going construction of the outer circular road, the huge bridge being constructed placing block by block. It is the work of Sri Lankan workers, under the Japanese contractors assisted by Sri Lankan, Philipine and Pakistani Engineers
The land on which the road is built is a waterlogged marshy land . Lot of preparation has gone on the land itself before the road had been constructed on huge cement towers driven deep into the land. The first layer of the road is earth checked for its reliability, some times collected from different parts of Sri Lanka and transported to the place of work. The sites where earth had been removed have to be prepared , grass and shrubs planted on it, and conserved to avoid land slides. The next layer of gravel is constantly checked for its quality and resistance before the road is carpeted. All that cost a tremendous amount of money.
Every land area where the highways were constructed had required careful examination and different construction methods had been used depending on the situation of the land and its quality of resistance. In Sri Lanka the highways run through villages and towns unlike in Australia or Kenya where villages are either not by the highways or are far apart. In Sri Lanka the highways run through villages. Therefore facilities have to be provided for the people in villages on either side of the highway to move from place to place. The 124 Km long southern highway required the construction of a large number of overhead bridges for the use of the villagers on either side of it.
Hence the critics who blatantly say the cost of construction of highways are far excessive and that the discrepancy between the cost of construction of one highway and another is a proof of pilfering by way of commissions and bribes is an exaggeration and unverified statements made to bring disrepute to the Government. Good governance is not measured from vague statements of vilification.
One who makes a sincere objective evaluation of the work carried out by the Government of the President Mahinda Rajapakse since 2005 from the elimination of terrorism, construction of roads to extending science education to the village schools, would see the extent of work the Government has carried out, which would have been impossible if there had been no good governance.
The President Mahinda Rajapakse has begun a continuous process of development we have to forget democracy of the west and make democracy a workable method for Sri Lanka which has come out of a disastrous terrorism. Therefore we cannot change pilots half way, which would result in a catastrophe. We should therefore continue with President Mahinda Rajapakse to allow him complete the process of development he began since 2005, and for him to unite the people which he alone can do, and end corruption , and criminality and make our people peaceful and disciplined.
In order to continue development, to create a disciplined, safe and secure environment and give peace and happiness to the people, let us not hesitate to allow the President Mahinda Rajapakse remain the pilot until we reach our goal of success, unity and prosperity.
December 27th, 2014 at 10:16 am
Well said Charles. I agree totally with you. What many people have lost sight is of the fact that the war which was physically fought with guns and bullets is still going on in another way. Now it is more subtle and is being fought in the UN and by lobbying US Congress and other Western politicians by the LTTE diaspora abroad who have lots of funds. They openly and sometimes not so openly bribe politicians in the West to do their bidding. See http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2014/12/21/eelam-push-to-continue/
President Rajapaksa has stood firm and has done what is best for the country all along. If he is removed at this juncture it will be the greatest misfortune to befall our beloved nation. When MR inherited the country from CBK and RW it was in a mess. There was no law and order, the LTTE were moving freely around the country placing bombs wherever they pleased, and people did not know if they would come home when they left for work. RW and CBK were so afraid of LTTE that they decided that the Sri Lanka army could not defeat the LTTE. It appears that the Western powers wanted to keep the LTTE going so that they could sell arms and let the divide & rule principle operate to their advantage. However, it is interesting that USA via India gave the Sri Lanka navy the locations of LTTE ships carrying arms which were then sunk. The Sri Lanka army was trained by USA. Who prevailed on India to train the LTTE in Tamil Nadu ?
MR together with the armed forces of Lanka and countless others together defeated the LTTE and has been slowly putting back the infra structure and law and order in the country. There has been good economic growth too. It is true that there are thugs in the GoSL. Unfortunately the 30 years war had brutalized our people. People who were so peace loving and kind in the 1950s became brutalized due to the viciousness of the LTTE. If you listen to Sunil Shanta songs you can feel the peaceful quality of our people of that time.
Regarding corruption most politicos are corrupt everywhere. MR is the only man who stood up to the West inspired LTTE to free the Nation from their tyranny. MR has stated in his manifesto that he will change the Constitution in consultation with the people and the parliament. We owe him that chance to finish that he started.
The West appears to be in the process of an economic meltdown as it was in 2008. I got the following advice from a friend. He recommended that I read the book “Crash of 2016” by Thom Hartmann. After reading this book, I think developing countires ought to diversify their economic bases.
As you say Sirisena is a nonentity who will be removed as indicated by Sirisena himself, possibly within 100 days. The country will be ruled by RW and CBK who will destroy the country by using IMF advice. RW and CBK listened to IMF and got rid of the CWE, and many State run Corporations which were doing well. They sold them to private sector and which made money for themselves. Those companies ran through the assets of those Corporations and closed them down like the Sevanagala Sugar factory which was later revived by MR. Also, if the rumors are right then RW and CBK already have an agreement with TNA to divide the country. I pray these rumors are not correct.
May the triple gem bless and protect Sri Lanka now in its darkest hour and guide our people to use wisdom in voting. Let us not be side tracked through fear mongers and short term gain people. If the voters make the wrong choice there will be no going back.
December 27th, 2014 at 10:40 am
The Colonial age changed the world. This age is so diverse by both the formation and result that the only way to see it is by the effects it had in the many regions it effected. In that sense I only focus on the subcontinent.
The article claims that the Russian helped trigger the downfall of the British Colonial Empire as seen in the sub continent. I do not see that connection and the article does not make it obvious. The move for home rule against the British Empire started in the late 19th century under the (new) Congress party of India. India was also the only region called “the Empire” as all other parts of that Empire were termed “territories” of the Empire. The British Empire roughly lasted 100 years (1850’s to 1940’s)
If the Sepoy rebellion was not defeated the region now called “India” to Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka etc would have been the battle ground of European powers who would have descended on that region with advanced weapons and brought hell. The defeat of the Sepoys then led to the British Empire and all the trappings that were needed for the nations of the Sub continent to rise up with a modern infrastructure. Granted that the British built this for personal reasons of commerce and management and not necessarily for the goodwill of her subjects in the Subcontinent.
A final note. To put this whole issue into context ancient Egypt, after the fall of Cleopatra, became a province of Rome. Ancient Egypt (like that of India) was the most richest province the Roman Empire had. Egypt was controlled by the Roman Empire for well over 2 centuries or longer than the time the British Empire lasted in the sub continent. Now both the ancient Roman Empire and ancient Egypt including their relationship with one another are foot notes in history.
December 27th, 2014 at 7:38 pm
>>> America has an annual country report on developing countries presented to its Congress with which it accuses developing countries for political mismanagement and internal problems which in reality are none of their business ” .<<<
Good governance has nothing to do with the allocation of foreign aid in the United States. It is ALWAYS about political considerations – how else do you explain 2 BILLION a year going to Egypt, a county where the party with majority support has been BANNED and its leaders put in prison?
No one in their right mind would say that Egypt has 'good governance' by any stretch of the imagination, so the 'lack of good governance' talk in Sri Lanka is political doublespeak for saying Sri Lanka is not sufficiently friendly to US political interests, which means it is getting too close to China according to the United States.
December 27th, 2014 at 8:09 pm
Attempt to sabotage POPES visit is gearing up as the date nears. First by Royal Asiatic Society in SL based in London UK.
(Kensington). They had indirect attack on Catholics. (did not read Honorable MR’s Christmas Message or did not read Cardinal Malcolm Ranjit’s Christmas Message) What these comedy actors do not know is that Sri Lankans know who their enemies are) Also got the full support of all the Comment writers including Lorenzo, for Weerkkody who was the mural designer (for the movie) that showed the Portuguese destroying Buddhist Temples. There was no historical proof of this but reader has to believe the Current President Susantha. He attempted to discredit Catholics in 2013, but failed miserably, so he thought, he and his RASSL can make an attempt again. Again he had to hire a NGO to support him. What many do not know is RASSL was given plenty of British pounds to sabotage the Popes visit. RASSL made a movie; a documentary with real life actors which has a effect; the a viewer is forced to believe it is real. An example USA-AID has an account ($50 million) to replace Honorable MR and his family. Today there is another NGO has written to the POPE stating that the Catholics of SL wants the Pope to cancel the visit because, (indirectly) his life might be in danger. (Ref: http://www.colombopage.com December 26th 2014) Letter is addressed to H.E. Federico Lambadi, Director of information. NO NAME OF THE NGO OR THE INDVIGUAL is on the web page.
December 27th, 2014 at 8:13 pm
Here we go again the Samajawadayas, lentil eating farts of the island. Where are these white colonists in the island nation? What I see and come across are the Indian colonial parasites who colonized the island and are still calling the shots. Smajawadaya was brought in to the islandy by Indian colonial parasites and was eaten by our “great” men like NM, Colvin, Phillip, Wijeweera who only saw the Sinhala Dhanapathiyas but not the Indian colonial parasites who are filthy rich but only brought suffering to the locals.
December 27th, 2014 at 8:22 pm
The West and its assumed leader is not in good health economically and socially and depend a lot on Indian vermin and India. It is Mauritius that co-sponsored the last UN resolution. Mauritius is another state of India. Then India did not support us so please blame India who started the violence in the island, that is India who trained, armed, managed, financed and branded their terrorist arm the Tamil Tigers.
December 27th, 2014 at 10:36 pm
>>>Where are these white colonists in the island nation?<<<
They hide in the shadows in the background and put people like Ranil out front with the hope you do not notice who is running him.
December 28th, 2014 at 5:59 am
Thanks Vimutti; in 2005 election India ( when I say India it includes Indian colonial parasite, vermin and Indiantrrroist arm and the Tamils and other Indians who went to West as refugees) backed Mahinda. The reason was the Third Eye and India thought it will hard to negotiate with him and Third Eye assumed Mahinda could be managed like SWRD, JR etc. The white colonists is something we have been brainwashed by the Indian imperialists. There were white colonists in the island nation like the Portuguese and the Dutch. The British
were absentee landlord and the Indians colonized the island.
December 28th, 2014 at 9:26 am
LANKAPUTHRAs REFERENCE TO SUSANTHA, IS NO REFERENCE TO ME.
December 28th, 2014 at 8:40 pm
Susantha Wijesinghe Yes Sir, it was not for you. It was for RASSSL current president. I clearly state that.
January 2nd, 2015 at 4:48 pm
I salute Idi Amin a great man who stood up to Indian colonial parasites and Indian Empire.