Despite denials to the contrary from the usual quarters, there appear to be signs of a poll of some sort looming over the horizon in the not-too-distant future. That is the only rational explanation for the bizarre goings-on in the highest echelons of the administration these days, with even the usually reticent President seemingly changing gear and becoming all too keen to get behind a microphone.
Unfortunately, what he is saying these days is no different to that of his political predecessors of nearly five decades, who have collectively milked the concept of ‘politics of promises’ for all that it is worth. Therefore, to even attempt to go down that road in the post-revolution context is nothing short of suicidal.
However, that is exactly what the regime appears to be doing by attempting to turn the much revered and venerated Catholic feast of the Madhu Shrine in Mannar into a political fiesta. Not surprisingly, the ill-fated attempt has now turned into a political blunder of monumental proportions. Having failed to deliver on the promise of delivering justice to the 270 victims of the Easter Sunday attacks, the President, no less dabbling in politics at the altar of a venerated shrine on its most holy day, promised the shell-shocked devotees everything under the sun except justice for their brethren.
Quite understandably, the official Catholic media has been brutal in its condemnation of the political theatrics resorted to by the Head of State. The weekly Church publication, The Messenger, had dedicated its editorial this week to condemn the cheap political theatrics and criticise those who had arranged the sacrilegious desecration.
The episode reignited the debate on the stalled Easter Sunday investigation – something the President will now have to deliver on if he is to make any inroads into the Catholic vote base – the not so subtle motive of the Madhu ambush. It will be recalled that his predecessor, deposed former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, rode to power on the strength of the Catholic bloc vote as well, on the promise that those behind the Easter attacks will be investigated, exposed, and punished. That was not to be. His successor appears to be equally uninterested.
Despite intense pressure from the Church over the past four years for an unbiased and comprehensive investigation, the only ‘progress’ that has taken place thus far has been to cover up evidence as in the case of the prime witness and wife of the mastermind, who was suddenly declared dead four years after the incident after a third post-mortem this year, which no legal entity had requested or authorised.
Therefore, the ill-advised stunt at Madhu has not only obliterated any electoral gain the regime may have hoped for in that part of the island, but also reminded the people of the presidential promise to bring in Scotland Yard to investigate the heinous massacre, which to date remains a broken promise.
Given his long innings at the political crease, Ranil Wickremesinghe is no stranger to the concept of ‘politics of promises,’ having quite an illustrious record in that department. From bracelets, computer tabs, and free Wi-Fi to abolition of the Executive Presidency to economic nirvana by 2025 according to his policy document ‘Vision 2025’ unveiled post-election in 2015 and ‘system change’ promised exactly one year ago, like everyone else, he too cannot disown his own legacy of broken promises, to which some more goodies were added at Madhu.
The point being made here is that it is about time that politicians began to walk the talk. It might be worthwhile for administrations now and in the future to keep in mind that there was in fact a people’s revolution just over a year ago where people showed that they no longer accept the failed currency of ‘political promises’. What matters now and most definitely in the future will be real, tangible action on ground to fulfil those hundreds of promises made over the years. In the absence of such action, the entire political leadership will remain invalidated in the eyes of the people.
In a nation where political credibility is equivalent to its financial credibility – mercifully Fitch, Standard & Poor’s, etc. do not rate politicians – it is clear that Sri Lankan citizens have had more than their share of empty promises. That is why talk of Artificial Intelligence (AI), blockchain, robotics, etc., rings hollow and will not gain credibility nor traction because this nation is ill-equipped for it.
In fact, Sri Lanka has been identified as being among the lowest investors on education. According to a recent report, the spend on education is less than half of even our regional peers – at around 2% of GDP. Further, according to the same report, a shocking 85% of Grade 3 students lack minimum proficiency in literacy and numeracy. It is these kids that will not only have to face the world of AI and robotics, but also define the legacy of the crop of politicians who are now presiding over their future.
Rather than wasting time on the outdated currency of political promises, the regime must focus on restoring lost credibility for the simple reason that by default, its credibility hinges on that of the nation. The administration must be mindful of the fact that if the people of this country continue to lose faith in their administrators, there is no reason why foreign entities, to which the nation is now beholden for both financial assistance as well as investment, should treat it any differently.
Therefore, restoring credibility should be topmost not only in the economic agenda of the administration, but also its political agenda for its own good and that of the nation. In the new and evolving realm, credibility has little to do with promises and is all about execution and implementation of policy. Today, people are acutely aware of the fact that it is they who are being punished and penalised for the failures of the politicians they elected. Despite this untold suffering imposed on the people through unbearable taxes and sky-high cost of living where the hardest hit are the poor, there is still no inclination on the part of the regime to hold to account those responsible for this state of affairs.
On the contrary, those responsible for this debacle continue to enjoy a luxurious life at the taxpayers’ expense. It must be kept in mind that the packed nightclubs in Colombo are no indication of the economy because, as pointed out by the likes of UNICEF in its most recent report, economic pain is largely directed towards the dwindling middle class and growing lower income earners to whom nightclubs are a distant dream.
Basic economic theory dictates that when disposable income diminishes, the direct outcome is curbed consumer spending. Consequently, there is less demand for products and services, leading to less production and inevitable job cuts. Therefore, the reducing inflation index has more to do with less demand than prices reducing, which is the popular perception. When tax revenue increases in a shrinking, bankrupt economy, there is certainly much to worry about.
Despite all that this nation has been put through due to politicians playing politics with everything, the Madhu fiasco underlined the fact that very little has changed. The politics of promises is still very much alive. As a result, the last vestiges of principled politics are being cast to the wind, completing the descent of this once resplendent island into what could now only be described as a proper kakistocracy. To the uninitiated, the word kakistocracy, which has its origins in the Greek word ‘kakistos’ meaning the ‘worst,’ describes ‘government by the least suitable or competent citizens of a state’.