Yesterday (21), Sri Lankans woke up to the news that the Government has decided to increase fuel prices, to worsen the cost of living that has been on an upward trajectory for several months. Within hours, the media reported various traders associations as having decided to hike the prices and charges of the goods and services they provide, including taxi and bus fares and bakery products.
This is not how the people expected to end the year. Instead of taking time off to relax with family members, a considerable segment of Sri Lankans remain doubtful as to what the coming year would be like, and there are also people who are wondering how they are going to make ends meet just for the next 24 hours.
However, not everyone is going through the same experience.
It is no secret that Members of Parliament (MPs) go abroad for their year end vacation. As has happened in the past, this year, a large number of MPs, according to some media reports the number could be as high as 60, have made plans to travel both within the country and overseas for the December vacation. Among them is Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa.
This is not the first time Rajapaksa was not present when his presence was essential during his tenure which started just five months ago. Earlier, when the Budget 2022 was passed in the Parliament, he was not in Parliament for most of the Budget reading to answer Opposition MPs questions about his maiden Budget. Now, when the people have questions and seek solutions, he is not available, again.
Rajapaksa left for the US at a critical time when the country is in the midst of the worst economic crisis in its history, and the people and businesses are waiting for him to provide answers and solutions to their burning issues. However, he is not available, and certain Government politicians remaining in the country do not seem to be concerned about the importance of Rajapaksa being in the country, at least to share the people’s plight.
Their remarks about Rajapaksa’s unavailability do not show the least bit of concern about the matter. When asked about Rajapaksa’s year-end vacation, Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara stated that Rajapaksa leaving the country at this critical moment is justifiable because the latter’s family lives abroad, and that the common man not being able to go overseas is not the Government’s problem. Speaking of the same, State Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa went further, stating that Basil is on holiday and that there is nothing wrong with him going abroad, and that even if all 225 MPs were to go abroad, that would not be an issue.
The comments made by those around Basil, whether made in jest or earnestness, show the stance of the Government regarding Rajapaksa’s absence when the country’s economy is descending into a deeper economic crisis. What is more, their comments also raise concerns as to what Rajapaksa would have said or done even if he was in the country to alleviate the economic catastrophe.
For Rajapaksa’s presence or absence to not matter, either Rajapaksa’s role should be an unimportant one, or the Government should be overestimating its abilities and underestimating the country’s situation. However, most people feel the finance minister should be in the country and that the Government is not as skilled as it thinks in managing the economy.
This is, perhaps, a great example about how politicians look at the country’s issues. When they say “country’s issues”, what they actually mean is the “people’s issues”, and when they preach austerity to the people and practise prosperity among themselves, it becomes a case of them tending to prioritise their desires such as taking a vacation over the needs and wants, including the suffering of the people who, in certain cases, made their vacation possible by voting for them.
The least the Government can do is lend an ear to the people, and refrain from downplaying the true gravity of the situation. Not everyone has the luxury of taking a break from the stress of attempting to keep one’s head above the water and the wolf from the door, like Rajapaksa.Holidaying in crisis, prosperity in austerity
22 Dec 2021
Holidaying in crisis, prosperity in austerity
22 Dec 2021
Yesterday (21), Sri Lankans woke up to the news that the Government has decided to increase fuel prices, to worsen the cost of living that has been on an upward trajectory for several months. Within hours, the media reported various traders associations as having decided to hike the prices and charges of the goods and services they provide, including taxi and bus fares and bakery products.
This is not how the people expected to end the year. Instead of taking time off to relax with family members, a considerable segment of Sri Lankans remain doubtful as to what the coming year would be like, and there are also people who are wondering how they are going to make ends meet just for the next 24 hours.
However, not everyone is going through the same experience.
It is no secret that Members of Parliament (MPs) go abroad for their year end vacation. As has happened in the past, this year, a large number of MPs, according to some media reports the number could be as high as 60, have made plans to travel both within the country and overseas for the December vacation. Among them is Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa.
This is not the first time Rajapaksa was not present when his presence was essential during his tenure which started just five months ago. Earlier, when the Budget 2022 was passed in the Parliament, he was not in Parliament for most of the Budget reading to answer Opposition MPs questions about his maiden Budget. Now, when the people have questions and seek solutions, he is not available, again.
Rajapaksa left for the US at a critical time when the country is in the midst of the worst economic crisis in its history, and the people and businesses are waiting for him to provide answers and solutions to their burning issues. However, he is not available, and certain Government politicians remaining in the country do not seem to be concerned about the importance of Rajapaksa being in the country, at least to share the people’s plight.
Their remarks about Rajapaksa’s unavailability do not show the least bit of concern about the matter. When asked about Rajapaksa’s year-end vacation, Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara stated that Rajapaksa leaving the country at this critical moment is justifiable because the latter’s family lives abroad, and that the common man not being able to go overseas is not the Government’s problem. Speaking of the same, State Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa went further, stating that Basil is on holiday and that there is nothing wrong with him going abroad, and that even if all 225 MPs were to go abroad, that would not be an issue.
The comments made by those around Basil, whether made in jest or earnestness, show the stance of the Government regarding Rajapaksa’s absence when the country’s economy is descending into a deeper economic crisis. What is more, their comments also raise concerns as to what Rajapaksa would have said or done even if he was in the country to alleviate the economic catastrophe.
For Rajapaksa’s presence or absence to not matter, either Rajapaksa’s role should be an unimportant one, or the Government should be overestimating its abilities and underestimating the country’s situation. However, most people feel the finance minister should be in the country and that the Government is not as skilled as it thinks in managing the economy.
This is, perhaps, a great example about how politicians look at the country’s issues. When they say “country’s issues”, what they actually mean is the “people’s issues”, and when they preach austerity to the people and practise prosperity among themselves, it becomes a case of them tending to prioritise their desires such as taking a vacation over the needs and wants, including the suffering of the people who, in certain cases, made their vacation possible by voting for them.
The least the Government can do is lend an ear to the people, and refrain from downplaying the true gravity of the situation. Not everyone has the luxury of taking a break from the stress of attempting to keep one’s head above the water and the wolf from the door, like Rajapaksa.Kapruka
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!
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!