BY M D P DISSANAYAKE

NO TOILET PAPERS AT SRI LANKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, COLOMBO, INSTEAD A BUCKET OF WATER FOR FOREIGNERS AS WELL. FOREIGN TOURISTS PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN TOILET PAPERS IF COMING TO SRI LANKA.

In the history of Sri Lanka there was no instance  since Independence that an incoming government inherited an economy with a strong Balance Sheet, as Prez Maithree and Prime Minister Ranil were fortunate to grab.  

When the current management team took over the country it:

• Had been freed from the world worst terrorists outfit of Tamil Terrorists;
• Had the most technological advanced cost effective road network connecting previously neglected regions, with a future blue print for further interconnections throughout the country;
• Had built modern education facilities  with Universities, Technical Colleges, Royal Colleges, Primary, Secondary and High Schools with 5 star education facilities of Science laboratories, ICT Labs, Indoor Stadiums, Swimming Pools, Libraries, which were previously restricted to an isolated few schools in Colombo Suburbs;
• Had built modern Sea Ports, Air Ports capable of matching to the international airports of Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia etc, with future positive plans for Mono Rail System to cater for the growing business climate  and expected increase in tourist population;
• Had built  and or modernised existing Public Hospital Network with increase in number of beds, modern testing facilities for Cardiology, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedics, etc. with latest medical equipment at an enormous cost to upgrade the welfare of Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim etc in Sri Lanka;
• Increased the paddy harvest to match self sufficiency  and with surplus production available for export markets, thus generating new source of export revenue, outside traditional streams of foreign exchange;

Had achieved economic success unparalleled in the past by recording excellent performances from 2005 to 2014 in areas of :

• Gross Domestic Productivity   US $ 24 Billion to US $80 Billion;
• Gross National Income Per Capita  US$ 1,220 TO  US$3,650;
• Sri Lanka Adult Literacy Rate reached 92.63% in late 2014, a level much higher than the world average;
• Had reduced unemployment rate from 7.7% in 2005 to  4.2%  of those who actively were seeking full time employment;
• Had achieved Household Savings Ratio from  16.4% to 24% in 2014;
• Reduced Poverty Head Count Ratio from 15% to 6.2%;
• Expatriate Remittances increased from USD 1,968 million to US$ 7,018 million;
• Foreign Direct Investment Inflows increased from  USD 223 million to USD 1,188 MILLION;
• Improved Overall Balance of Payments from US$ (0.2) BILLION NEGATIVE to US$ 1.4 billion POSITIVE;
• Government Recurrent Expenditure reduced from 18.6% to 13.4% as a percentage of GDP;
• Budget deficit reduced from 7.5% to 5.2% as a percentage of GDP;
• Public Debt reduced from 102.3% to 75% as a percentage of GDP;
• Of the Top 10, Colombo ranked Number 1 cleanest Asian City in 2014.

(Source: SRI LANKA SOCIO – ECONOMIC DATA 2014, Central Bank of Sri Lanka)

Unfortunately, it took less than 3 years for the current regime to undo all the good work done to the economy.  This bunch of buffoons started their business plan implementation by using the Mattala Airport as a Warehouse to Store excess stock of Paddy.  This was pure jealousy.   

Today Colombo is a dirty city again.   Beira Lake is dirty again.    Beggers  are all over the main cities.  Uncontrolled cows, dogs, cats, crows, pigeons make the city despicable.  Economy in ruins. Sri Lankan rupee is showing signs of free fall. 

Bandaranaike International Airport was full of international airlines, which is now confined mostly to Sri Lankan and Malaysian Airlines.

Until 2014, the Airport was busy, clean and maintained standards similar to Singapore Changi Airport Terminals.   Today (May 2017) at the Airport arrival toilet doors cannot be locked and forced to use it with toilet doors left ajar.

Today at the International Arrivals toilets, there are no toilet papers.  The arriving men and women, locals and foreigners are provided with a bucket of water.   

Management team is physically frightened to face the masses and not holding elections.   Masses are regretting the foolish act carried out by them 2 years ago by handing over the country to a bunch of fools.  

For the remaining period in power, they will endeavour to make as much wealth as possible and find safe heavens elsewhere.

By that time, my poor country will be in RUINS.

Management by objectives works if you first think through your objectives. Ninety percent of the time you haven’t.”

— Prof. Peter Drucker