Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Monday (12) openly acknowledged that his Government had made an “error of judgement” when it decided to relax Covid-19-related restrictions by end-June, which turned out to be too early and contributed to an increase in Covid-19 cases in the country. Not only did he regret the said decision and apologise for it, he also went back on his and the country’s Health Minister’s earlier statements that this decision was a responsible one and was made based on experts’ knowledge.
Sri Lanka rarely sees politicians that openly regret and apologise for their actions, even if their decisions and actions had caused national-level crises, and the country’s history has ample examples for it. In such instances, instead of taking remedial actions and accepting responsibility, what has usually happened was they told the people to look at what was left, the bright side.
The sad truth is, complacency has cost Sri Lanka things too numerous to mention. We are a nation that has been shaped to find too much comfort in what we have been given; so much so that we easily tend to overlook what we deserve. This can be seen in almost every aspect of the country’s affairs, be it politics, the economy, or cultural and societal progress, despite the presence of a very few ardent voices trying to change it. Unfortunately, this complacency was observed during the prevailing pandemic too, and what it cost this time was people’s health and lives.
The third wave of the pandemic, or the rise in Covid-19 cases following the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, is the prime example that shows the magnitude of the chaos excessive complacency can create. The authorities, knowing full well that Sri Lanka cannot afford to allow the people to travel and gather freely during Sri Lanka’s biggest cultural celebration, allowed the people to celebrate the New Year without imposing any restrictions but a set of guidelines. The complacency was in that the decrease in Covid-19 cases in the few weeks preceding the New Year was considered as a sign that the country could be reopened. What resulted was the most disastrous Covid-19 wave Sri Lanka experienced so far – on some days, the daily number of cases surpassed 3,000.
On many occasions during the past few months, various parties alleged that the health authorities had taken to the practice of reducing the number of tests conducted daily when cases started increasing, as high caseloads leads to bad press for the Government and panic among the general public, which results in a decline of the Government’s popularity.
The lockdown imposed and then suddenly lifted in the Piliyandala area is another good example that resembles the aforementioned incident in the Netherlands. The controversial circumstances under which the lockdown was lifted, when the Mayor had instructed for it to be lifted contrary to health officials’ advice, shows how hasty decisions and excessive complacency can lead to unpleasant consequences. In the several weeks that followed, Piliyandala became one of the areas in the Western Province that recorded a higher number of Covid-19 cases. However, Sri Lanka did not hear any apology or see anyone taking at least part of the responsibility. Whether the people who have been brought up in a forgiving and complacent culture expected such an apology is another question.
Relaxing Covid-19-related restrictions could be a priority to a country that is struggling to get back on its feet; however, if it affects people’s lives adversely or worsens the pandemic in any way, the authorities have to employ a different and a more judicious approach than merely lifting the lockdown when cases decrease. Most people will always support the idea of reopening the country as soon as possible, especially in a country with a largely informal economy filled with daily wage earners. However, it is the Government’s responsibility to do so when it is possible and advisable. Putting the people in danger by reopening the country without adequate reasons to believe that it is the best solution, is unjustifiable. The best lesson Sri Lanka must learn from its own mistakes is that the country that lifts lockdowns first is not the winner and that it is the country that learns to successfully deal with the pandemic that is.
The Dutch Prime Minister’s statement and apology is a good example that emphasises that a Government must not only have the courage to make good decisions, but also the courage to accept responsibility and be answerable to the country in the event of a wrong move. It is a non-alcoholic “Dutch courage” that Sri Lanka’s politicians and administrators badly need a sip of.A lesson in ‘Dutch courage’
14 Jul 2021
A lesson in ‘Dutch courage’
14 Jul 2021
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Monday (12) openly acknowledged that his Government had made an “error of judgement” when it decided to relax Covid-19-related restrictions by end-June, which turned out to be too early and contributed to an increase in Covid-19 cases in the country. Not only did he regret the said decision and apologise for it, he also went back on his and the country’s Health Minister’s earlier statements that this decision was a responsible one and was made based on experts’ knowledge.
Sri Lanka rarely sees politicians that openly regret and apologise for their actions, even if their decisions and actions had caused national-level crises, and the country’s history has ample examples for it. In such instances, instead of taking remedial actions and accepting responsibility, what has usually happened was they told the people to look at what was left, the bright side.
The sad truth is, complacency has cost Sri Lanka things too numerous to mention. We are a nation that has been shaped to find too much comfort in what we have been given; so much so that we easily tend to overlook what we deserve. This can be seen in almost every aspect of the country’s affairs, be it politics, the economy, or cultural and societal progress, despite the presence of a very few ardent voices trying to change it. Unfortunately, this complacency was observed during the prevailing pandemic too, and what it cost this time was people’s health and lives.
The third wave of the pandemic, or the rise in Covid-19 cases following the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, is the prime example that shows the magnitude of the chaos excessive complacency can create. The authorities, knowing full well that Sri Lanka cannot afford to allow the people to travel and gather freely during Sri Lanka’s biggest cultural celebration, allowed the people to celebrate the New Year without imposing any restrictions but a set of guidelines. The complacency was in that the decrease in Covid-19 cases in the few weeks preceding the New Year was considered as a sign that the country could be reopened. What resulted was the most disastrous Covid-19 wave Sri Lanka experienced so far – on some days, the daily number of cases surpassed 3,000.
On many occasions during the past few months, various parties alleged that the health authorities had taken to the practice of reducing the number of tests conducted daily when cases started increasing, as high caseloads leads to bad press for the Government and panic among the general public, which results in a decline of the Government’s popularity.
The lockdown imposed and then suddenly lifted in the Piliyandala area is another good example that resembles the aforementioned incident in the Netherlands. The controversial circumstances under which the lockdown was lifted, when the Mayor had instructed for it to be lifted contrary to health officials’ advice, shows how hasty decisions and excessive complacency can lead to unpleasant consequences. In the several weeks that followed, Piliyandala became one of the areas in the Western Province that recorded a higher number of Covid-19 cases. However, Sri Lanka did not hear any apology or see anyone taking at least part of the responsibility. Whether the people who have been brought up in a forgiving and complacent culture expected such an apology is another question.
Relaxing Covid-19-related restrictions could be a priority to a country that is struggling to get back on its feet; however, if it affects people’s lives adversely or worsens the pandemic in any way, the authorities have to employ a different and a more judicious approach than merely lifting the lockdown when cases decrease. Most people will always support the idea of reopening the country as soon as possible, especially in a country with a largely informal economy filled with daily wage earners. However, it is the Government’s responsibility to do so when it is possible and advisable. Putting the people in danger by reopening the country without adequate reasons to believe that it is the best solution, is unjustifiable. The best lesson Sri Lanka must learn from its own mistakes is that the country that lifts lockdowns first is not the winner and that it is the country that learns to successfully deal with the pandemic that is.
The Dutch Prime Minister’s statement and apology is a good example that emphasises that a Government must not only have the courage to make good decisions, but also the courage to accept responsibility and be answerable to the country in the event of a wrong move. It is a non-alcoholic “Dutch courage” that Sri Lanka’s politicians and administrators badly need a sip of.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!