President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has an attitude problem. While a person’s attitude is personal and all individuals are wholly entitled to maintain their own, the President’s attitude has transcended the merely personal to encompass the social, due mainly to his title. In short, his personal attitude is having national-level consequences, as it is one from which most other problems stem. The results have been increasingly catastrophic, and Sri Lanka as a nation is paying dearly.
The problem is this: Like a note perfect ensemble of classical instrumentalists excite and invigorate an orchestral conductor, a deafening chorus of “yays” appears to be music to President Rajapaksa’s ears, over any “nays”, regardless of how well reasoned and well intentioned those nays may be. This has come to be the defining feature of an increasingly problematic brand of governance, revolving around the philosophy that “yes means you are with us and thus a patriot” and “no means you are not with us and therefore the enemy”.
These “naysayers” include former Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) Executive Director Thushan Gunawardena, National Catholic Social Communication Centre Director Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando, and former Agriculture Ministry Secretary Prof. Udith K. Jayasinghe-Mudalige, to take but only three prominent recent examples. Were their interventions, or criticism, made at some personal and professional cost including peril, mere exercises in indulgence, or grandstanding? Or were they constructive criticism and valuable input?
Gunawardena, a professional by training, who was self-established at the time of taking up the CAA seat, took up the position to lend his support for the development of the country and resigned to take up the even more vital role of saving the nation, and he has, through his consistent whistle-blowing, opened up the eyes of all, including the authorities, first by exposing corruption within Sathosa, Trade Ministry, and Co-operative Services State Ministry, and secondly, by helping avert a greater tragedy as far as “exploding” gas cylinders are concerned, by forcing the relevant consumer protection authorities to do their entrusted duties and fulfill the delegated responsibilities.
Fr. Fernando has posed specific questions on aspects related to the Easter Sunday terror attacks and the related investigations, with the intention of acting on behalf of the victims of the church bombings, whom he represents as a leading figure in the Catholic Church and are due justice.
Prof. Jayasinghe-Mudalige, a senior most academic of administrative standing as a former university vice chancellor, merely stated the obvious about what are already belated national realities, including about the problem child – an immediate shift to a 100% carbonic/green/organic agriculture policy, and food shortages.
All three have abided by the public trust doctrine and kept the public trust. The thanks they received were being hounded by law enforcement authorities, in the cases of Gunawardena and Fr. Fernando, and public vilification and calumny at the hands of ne’er-do-well politicians or being sacked overnight and relegated to persona non grata status, in the recent case of Prof. Jayasinghe-Mudalige.
Wasn’t the President’s own “Viyathmaga” (the path of the professionals) also about the “viyathun noyana maga” (the path not taken or not to be taken by professionals)?
Then there is the case of the three Cabinet Ministers and staunch Rajapaksa allies Udaya Gammanpila, who is also Cabinet Co-Spokesman, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, and Wimal Weerawansa. They decided, in the second half of 2021, to tow a different line from the rest of their Cabinet colleagues, on the matter of a controversial and questionable energy deal. The President’s criticism of the trio’s “principled” (by the threesome’s description) violation of “collective responsibility” was further proof of a “my way or the highway” attitude.
No one can be conceivably expected to know everything about everything, even within one’s own sphere of expertise, or exhibit acumen or be “correct or right” always. Therefore, no one expects the same from the President either, and it is indeed damaging for the country if the President labours under an ego trip that the people expect such from him. ‘Tis human, as it is said, to err.
What is, however, expected at all times, especially when the decisions one is tasked with taking affect not solely oneself but each and every one of the citizenry and still others, is to listen and learn, to listen to oneself and to others, to learn from one’s mistakes, and if possible, those of others. After all, one learns “of books and men” when learning to “play the game”.
Therefore, to refuse to even consider the other side in this collective endeavour of governance “of the people, by the people, for the people”, is dangerous, as has amply been proven in the President’s case and to the detriment of the country. Only a few examples from the agriculture related fiasco, economic crisis, and continuing shortages in the market suffice to make the case.
The President has to listen, and for this purpose, amongst other things, consult advisors, experts, intellectuals, and even the average Joe. Governance is impossible otherwise, as rigid adherence to a policy of “echo chamber”-based selective listening is a recipe for absolute disaster, as it is both counterproductive and downright destructive.
Hence, it is important to not just to listen and learn, but to listen soon and learn sooner, than doing so later, as exemplified in the case of the strong early calls made to seek International Monetary Fund (IMF) assistance, which, if done at the time the calls were made, would have prevented some of the unfortunate queues for essentials seen today and unnecessary import restrictions in place at present. The possible averting of the deadly post-2021 Sinhala and Tamil New Year Covid-19 wave is another prime example of the human costs involved with delayed decision-making and not heeding the voices of reason, not to mention the green agriculture disaster.
Yes, the President has an attitude problem. Yes, it can be rectified. Yes, it has to be rectified if 2022 – which, by all accounts, is going to be a year that is going to be far more challenging than the past one – is to be a saving grace for the country, as Sri Lanka cannot afford 2022 to be a repeat of the “maxima culpa” (most grievous fault) stasis of 2021. There is no “mea”, as the President as the Head of the State and the Government has not apologised in the first personal singular for any of the “culpas”. Let us, having learnt what we should and should not do, look to move forwards as a country with “collective responsibility”. Hopefully, the President is listening.A presidential attitude problem
03 Jan 2022
A presidential attitude problem
03 Jan 2022
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has an attitude problem. While a person’s attitude is personal and all individuals are wholly entitled to maintain their own, the President’s attitude has transcended the merely personal to encompass the social, due mainly to his title. In short, his personal attitude is having national-level consequences, as it is one from which most other problems stem. The results have been increasingly catastrophic, and Sri Lanka as a nation is paying dearly.
The problem is this: Like a note perfect ensemble of classical instrumentalists excite and invigorate an orchestral conductor, a deafening chorus of “yays” appears to be music to President Rajapaksa’s ears, over any “nays”, regardless of how well reasoned and well intentioned those nays may be. This has come to be the defining feature of an increasingly problematic brand of governance, revolving around the philosophy that “yes means you are with us and thus a patriot” and “no means you are not with us and therefore the enemy”.
These “naysayers” include former Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) Executive Director Thushan Gunawardena, National Catholic Social Communication Centre Director Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando, and former Agriculture Ministry Secretary Prof. Udith K. Jayasinghe-Mudalige, to take but only three prominent recent examples. Were their interventions, or criticism, made at some personal and professional cost including peril, mere exercises in indulgence, or grandstanding? Or were they constructive criticism and valuable input?
Gunawardena, a professional by training, who was self-established at the time of taking up the CAA seat, took up the position to lend his support for the development of the country and resigned to take up the even more vital role of saving the nation, and he has, through his consistent whistle-blowing, opened up the eyes of all, including the authorities, first by exposing corruption within Sathosa, Trade Ministry, and Co-operative Services State Ministry, and secondly, by helping avert a greater tragedy as far as “exploding” gas cylinders are concerned, by forcing the relevant consumer protection authorities to do their entrusted duties and fulfill the delegated responsibilities.
Fr. Fernando has posed specific questions on aspects related to the Easter Sunday terror attacks and the related investigations, with the intention of acting on behalf of the victims of the church bombings, whom he represents as a leading figure in the Catholic Church and are due justice.
Prof. Jayasinghe-Mudalige, a senior most academic of administrative standing as a former university vice chancellor, merely stated the obvious about what are already belated national realities, including about the problem child – an immediate shift to a 100% carbonic/green/organic agriculture policy, and food shortages.
All three have abided by the public trust doctrine and kept the public trust. The thanks they received were being hounded by law enforcement authorities, in the cases of Gunawardena and Fr. Fernando, and public vilification and calumny at the hands of ne’er-do-well politicians or being sacked overnight and relegated to persona non grata status, in the recent case of Prof. Jayasinghe-Mudalige.
Wasn’t the President’s own “Viyathmaga” (the path of the professionals) also about the “viyathun noyana maga” (the path not taken or not to be taken by professionals)?
Then there is the case of the three Cabinet Ministers and staunch Rajapaksa allies Udaya Gammanpila, who is also Cabinet Co-Spokesman, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, and Wimal Weerawansa. They decided, in the second half of 2021, to tow a different line from the rest of their Cabinet colleagues, on the matter of a controversial and questionable energy deal. The President’s criticism of the trio’s “principled” (by the threesome’s description) violation of “collective responsibility” was further proof of a “my way or the highway” attitude.
No one can be conceivably expected to know everything about everything, even within one’s own sphere of expertise, or exhibit acumen or be “correct or right” always. Therefore, no one expects the same from the President either, and it is indeed damaging for the country if the President labours under an ego trip that the people expect such from him. ‘Tis human, as it is said, to err.
What is, however, expected at all times, especially when the decisions one is tasked with taking affect not solely oneself but each and every one of the citizenry and still others, is to listen and learn, to listen to oneself and to others, to learn from one’s mistakes, and if possible, those of others. After all, one learns “of books and men” when learning to “play the game”.
Therefore, to refuse to even consider the other side in this collective endeavour of governance “of the people, by the people, for the people”, is dangerous, as has amply been proven in the President’s case and to the detriment of the country. Only a few examples from the agriculture related fiasco, economic crisis, and continuing shortages in the market suffice to make the case.
The President has to listen, and for this purpose, amongst other things, consult advisors, experts, intellectuals, and even the average Joe. Governance is impossible otherwise, as rigid adherence to a policy of “echo chamber”-based selective listening is a recipe for absolute disaster, as it is both counterproductive and downright destructive.
Hence, it is important to not just to listen and learn, but to listen soon and learn sooner, than doing so later, as exemplified in the case of the strong early calls made to seek International Monetary Fund (IMF) assistance, which, if done at the time the calls were made, would have prevented some of the unfortunate queues for essentials seen today and unnecessary import restrictions in place at present. The possible averting of the deadly post-2021 Sinhala and Tamil New Year Covid-19 wave is another prime example of the human costs involved with delayed decision-making and not heeding the voices of reason, not to mention the green agriculture disaster.
Yes, the President has an attitude problem. Yes, it can be rectified. Yes, it has to be rectified if 2022 – which, by all accounts, is going to be a year that is going to be far more challenging than the past one – is to be a saving grace for the country, as Sri Lanka cannot afford 2022 to be a repeat of the “maxima culpa” (most grievous fault) stasis of 2021. There is no “mea”, as the President as the Head of the State and the Government has not apologised in the first personal singular for any of the “culpas”. Let us, having learnt what we should and should not do, look to move forwards as a country with “collective responsibility”. Hopefully, the President is listening.Kapruka
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Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!