“Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Superman!.” These are the famous words uttered by awed onlookers when the most iconic superhero of all time, Superman, flies above them. An observer of Sri Lanka’s political landscape and its election trends could very well apply this quote to the average Sri Lankan citizen and voter. All too often it seems like Sri Lankans as a population are waiting for a miracle worker, a magician, or a superhero to come along and cure the nation of all its ills and elevate it to the status of a developed nation. The sad reality is that this attitude, which is akin to putting all eggs in one basket, rarely pays off. Therefore, the inevitable disappointment follows.
While the toxic, dishonest, and corrupt political culture is the main cause of the dashing of the public’s hopes and expectations, the public must also assume a share of the blame. Their lack of understanding of how a nation truly develops and the ingredients necessary for a people-centric political environment keeps them expecting individual-led revolutions. In reality though, developed nations are developed because they have the necessary systems and processes in place which are conducive to development. The individuals these nations elect or appoint to positions of power and influence are shaped by these establishments and the overall political and governance culture. This culture also ensures that any corrupt tendencies these individuals may have are kept in check by the fear of ignominy and punishment.
The only thing bringing in new faces for the sake of it would do is give the people, or more specifically, the sycophantic “believers”, a temporary peace of mind, which lasts only until they comprehend the simple truth that it was just a phase. Leaders need to come in with genuine intentions of changing the system and developing the country, and there is a doubt as to whether the leaders that have ruled the country so far have created a system which requires the leaders to strengthen the governing system, instead of strengthening their political careers and bank accounts.
Once again, Sri Lankans appear to be placing their faith in and cheering on a so-called miracle worker, who can swoop in and fix the economy, elevate the standards of living, and rescue the masses from the depths of poverty. If the past is any indication, they are setting themselves up for familiar disappointment and disenchantment. Fantastical proclamations about the capabilities of the next saviour of the people are being bandied about by political cheerleaders. However, these character recommendations, which are essentially promises the country is fed up with, are not going to feed the people who have lost their livelihoods, save the country’s export sector or dwindling foreign reserves, or restore the socio-economic balance that was hit by the myriad pandemic-driven restrictions.
This vicious cycle needs to be broken if Sri Lanka has any hopes about a future, and it begins with changing the aforementioned belief in which we are blindly immersed. Then and only then will the people have a Government, regardless of the party it is led by, that serves the people, not leaders who expect the people to serve them. Perhaps, the time has come to put the country’s leaders and public officials to test, because putting the people’s trust in them has not worked so far and changing the leaders has rarely resulted in changes in the governing system.
Any person who has the slightest understanding of Sri Lanka’s status quo would agree that Sri Lanka’s future is hanging by a thread, and that it needs more than a miracle, or a Superman, to save it from the worsening economic and social collapse. Till we realise these home truths, we Sri Lankans will always be looking up with starry eyes at a so-called Superman, a caped crusader, flying far above us in the bright blue sky not bothering to look down and notice the rotten conditions on the ground that need cleaning up for any miracles to take place.In ‘Superman’, we trust
08 Jul 2021
In ‘Superman’, we trust
08 Jul 2021
“Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Superman!.” These are the famous words uttered by awed onlookers when the most iconic superhero of all time, Superman, flies above them. An observer of Sri Lanka’s political landscape and its election trends could very well apply this quote to the average Sri Lankan citizen and voter. All too often it seems like Sri Lankans as a population are waiting for a miracle worker, a magician, or a superhero to come along and cure the nation of all its ills and elevate it to the status of a developed nation. The sad reality is that this attitude, which is akin to putting all eggs in one basket, rarely pays off. Therefore, the inevitable disappointment follows.
While the toxic, dishonest, and corrupt political culture is the main cause of the dashing of the public’s hopes and expectations, the public must also assume a share of the blame. Their lack of understanding of how a nation truly develops and the ingredients necessary for a people-centric political environment keeps them expecting individual-led revolutions. In reality though, developed nations are developed because they have the necessary systems and processes in place which are conducive to development. The individuals these nations elect or appoint to positions of power and influence are shaped by these establishments and the overall political and governance culture. This culture also ensures that any corrupt tendencies these individuals may have are kept in check by the fear of ignominy and punishment.
The only thing bringing in new faces for the sake of it would do is give the people, or more specifically, the sycophantic “believers”, a temporary peace of mind, which lasts only until they comprehend the simple truth that it was just a phase. Leaders need to come in with genuine intentions of changing the system and developing the country, and there is a doubt as to whether the leaders that have ruled the country so far have created a system which requires the leaders to strengthen the governing system, instead of strengthening their political careers and bank accounts.
Once again, Sri Lankans appear to be placing their faith in and cheering on a so-called miracle worker, who can swoop in and fix the economy, elevate the standards of living, and rescue the masses from the depths of poverty. If the past is any indication, they are setting themselves up for familiar disappointment and disenchantment. Fantastical proclamations about the capabilities of the next saviour of the people are being bandied about by political cheerleaders. However, these character recommendations, which are essentially promises the country is fed up with, are not going to feed the people who have lost their livelihoods, save the country’s export sector or dwindling foreign reserves, or restore the socio-economic balance that was hit by the myriad pandemic-driven restrictions.
This vicious cycle needs to be broken if Sri Lanka has any hopes about a future, and it begins with changing the aforementioned belief in which we are blindly immersed. Then and only then will the people have a Government, regardless of the party it is led by, that serves the people, not leaders who expect the people to serve them. Perhaps, the time has come to put the country’s leaders and public officials to test, because putting the people’s trust in them has not worked so far and changing the leaders has rarely resulted in changes in the governing system.
Any person who has the slightest understanding of Sri Lanka’s status quo would agree that Sri Lanka’s future is hanging by a thread, and that it needs more than a miracle, or a Superman, to save it from the worsening economic and social collapse. Till we realise these home truths, we Sri Lankans will always be looking up with starry eyes at a so-called Superman, a caped crusader, flying far above us in the bright blue sky not bothering to look down and notice the rotten conditions on the ground that need cleaning up for any miracles to take place.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!