“When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty” – Thomas Jefferson
Even though life is full of uncertainties, there are some things that are written in stone and one such is the concept of karma or retribution. It was almost three years ago to the day that the Easter Sunday terror attack took place, and the biggest allegation levelled at the then Government at the time was that despite credible warnings of an impending attack, it took little or no action to prevent it. A week later, the incumbent President announced his candidature and the rest is history.
Now, fast-forward to today. Sri Lanka is in the throes of its darkest and deepest-ever economic crisis, compromising not only lives but also millions of livelihoods. Here again, the allegation is that for over a year, the collective parliamentary Opposition had been warning of an imminent crisis, yet the Government did nothing to prevent it. Whether the outcome of the current crisis will be similar to that of the Easter crisis is left to be seen. The economic fallout is so grave that it is threatening the lives of thousands of patients and even new-born babies, with hospitals running out of critical supplies according to the Government Medical Officers’ Association.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man, and as far as Sri Lanka is concerned that hour has now dawned and its destiny is in the hands of its 22 million people, who, after 74 years of politically-induced ethnic and religious division, are now speaking in one loud voice as the Sri Lankan nation. As a consequence, a heavy responsibility lies on the shoulders of every elected Member of Parliament representing those 22 million people to heed their call. As for the parliamentary Opposition, it has its work cut out and it must use all the constitutional tools at its disposal to give effect to the voice of the people. As for those who refuse to hear the clarion call, they are accountable and complicit in the unfolding chaos that is costing the nation dearly. The business chambers that have finally woken up have pointed out that the situation is so bad that the prospect of the entire economy grinding to a halt is now a distinct possibility.
Already tourism, which the Government was banking on for revival, is close to crashing with airlines pulling out due to poor load factors and unlike earlier, when domestic tourism kicked in to save the industry, that too will not happen this time around due to empty pockets. To make matters worse, there are also reports that Sri Lanka’s tea and apparel exports are likely to take a hit as orders are being diverted to India due to delays in processing as a result of power cuts, fuel shortages, and escalating operational costs. Exporters have already warned of a $ 50 million hit to the economy every day, if the status quo prevails.
Given what is at stake, there is no time to waste and the crisis at hand needs to be resolved one way or the other. In the natural order of things, if an individual fails to perform an entrusted task, that individual must step aside and make room for another to fulfil that task. If the individual refuses to do so, then he or she must explain the reason for it. Thereafter, whether that individual will be provided another opportunity to fulfil the unfulfilled task is entirely a decision of those who appointed the individual. In the same vein, if the administration is refusing to budge, then the people have a right to know as to what the plan is to get out of this mess.
Already for nearly a week now the country has been without a cabinet of ministers and critical areas like health, power, energy, agriculture, and trade are drifting aimlessly without a minister in charge. Funnily enough, there is a Minister for Highways, apparently the need of the hour, with the same Minister being reappointed to the post within 24 hours. The danger in this hopeless situation is that the IMF, which is the sole entity that the Government is banking on, will also likely adopt a wait-and-see attitude given the instability factor as it will see no point in negotiating with an administration that is clearly out of its depth and incapable of getting its act together.
If the administration has no comprehensive recovery plan, as the case appears to be at the moment, and is yet refusing to pave the way for an alternate administration, then for all intents and purposes Sri Lanka is staring into a very dark abyss. As far as an alternate administration is concerned, it’s not that there are no takers, but the stumbling block understandably appears to be the incumbent all-powerful Executive deriving power from the 20th Amendment, whom no one wants to work with. Therefore it behoves the parliamentary Opposition to assure itself that there is no conceivable alternative to using the constitutional provisions to give effect to the people’s demand for change.
On the flip side, given the current dire economic situation, a snap poll is not a feasible option even if Parliament, which has the power to call for one chooses to do so, due to its sheer impracticality. An election is an expensive exercise costing the taxpayer around Rs. 10 billion, and with fuel in short supply, power cuts and shortages of paper, ink, and other paraphernalia required for a poll, this certainly is not the time for taking that particular route.
In the interim, until such time economic conditions are conducive for a poll, Parliament will have to come up with a workable formula to form a stable interim administration consisting of all parties but bereft of those whom the public want out. In a situation where Parliament as a whole has earned the wrath of the people, its primary duty now is to redeem itself and show that it does serve a purpose.
What every one of the 225 members plus Executive must bear in mind is the hard truth that the present crisis is as much an economic crisis as it is a political one. There is no way that one can be solved in isolation of the other. To do so as the ruling party is attempting to do now, will only push the country deeper into the abyss. It is to the Opposition’s credit that it has understood this fundamental reality and as a consequence has refused in principle to accept posts in the absence of a popular mandate. The biggest Opposition party, the SJB gained just 54 seats at the last poll and lost another six members to Government ranks during the vote on the 20th Amendment. Therefore, asking a party of some 48 members to form an administration defeats the very purpose of such an exercise, which is essentially to offer a degree of comfort and confidence to the IMF and other lenders. The task has been made even more difficult with the Sword of Damocles in the form of the Executive Presidency hanging over their collective necks given the precedents of 2004 and 2018.
For an Opposition that has been obsessed with squabbling not only among parties but also within parties, the time has come to put differences aside and focus on the common goal of eliminating the stumbling block preventing an alternate administration and thereafter work towards putting this country back on track. It is their time to stand with the people who are literally crying on the streets for redemption from a leadership that is completely out of sync with reality. The time is upon us where all 225 MPs will be judged on which side of history they belong to when the people who appointed them ask them to make that choice.
Those who rise to the occasion and stand out from the rest will endear themselves to a whole new generation of young Sri Lankans who are at the forefront of the evolving struggle. Generation Z is of a different mindset to their laidback parents and grandparents and have no inclination to put up with mediocrity and buffoonery. They are the ones demanding that politicians must declare their assets and whatever that cannot be accounted for be confiscated and used towards public welfare. They are the ones demanding that those who are alleged to have robbed and plundered public property be punished and their loot hidden in offshore havens be repatriated to settle the country’s external debt.
According to credible estimates, the combined hidden wealth of some prominent politicians and their cronies is equivalent to the total external debt commitments of the State. The legal fraternity, which is in the vanguard of the struggle to safeguard the fundamental rights of the public, must take the lead in this instance too, in ensuring that every allegation of corruption is extensively investigated and prosecuted. They must ensure that individuals facing corruption allegations are prevented from fleeing the country through recourse to the law. The obtaining of a Court order preventing the former Governor of the Central Bank from travelling overseas is a step in the right direction.
For the first time in this country we are witnessing the creation of a people’s movement that is demanding accountability from elected representatives. No one else but the people will stand in judgement and no amount of suppression and intimidation will be able to make it go away. If that is not a system reset, then what is? Already, those who do nothing, those who play politics switching loyalties at critical junctures, and those who play safe to save their skin have been marked and issued notice by their bosses; the people. It is this people’s movement that has brought a high-riding Government with a two-thirds majority down to its knees.
The Great Reset – II
09 Apr 2022
The Great Reset – II
09 Apr 2022
“When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty” – Thomas Jefferson
Even though life is full of uncertainties, there are some things that are written in stone and one such is the concept of karma or retribution. It was almost three years ago to the day that the Easter Sunday terror attack took place, and the biggest allegation levelled at the then Government at the time was that despite credible warnings of an impending attack, it took little or no action to prevent it. A week later, the incumbent President announced his candidature and the rest is history.
Now, fast-forward to today. Sri Lanka is in the throes of its darkest and deepest-ever economic crisis, compromising not only lives but also millions of livelihoods. Here again, the allegation is that for over a year, the collective parliamentary Opposition had been warning of an imminent crisis, yet the Government did nothing to prevent it. Whether the outcome of the current crisis will be similar to that of the Easter crisis is left to be seen. The economic fallout is so grave that it is threatening the lives of thousands of patients and even new-born babies, with hospitals running out of critical supplies according to the Government Medical Officers’ Association.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man, and as far as Sri Lanka is concerned that hour has now dawned and its destiny is in the hands of its 22 million people, who, after 74 years of politically-induced ethnic and religious division, are now speaking in one loud voice as the Sri Lankan nation. As a consequence, a heavy responsibility lies on the shoulders of every elected Member of Parliament representing those 22 million people to heed their call. As for the parliamentary Opposition, it has its work cut out and it must use all the constitutional tools at its disposal to give effect to the voice of the people. As for those who refuse to hear the clarion call, they are accountable and complicit in the unfolding chaos that is costing the nation dearly. The business chambers that have finally woken up have pointed out that the situation is so bad that the prospect of the entire economy grinding to a halt is now a distinct possibility.
Already tourism, which the Government was banking on for revival, is close to crashing with airlines pulling out due to poor load factors and unlike earlier, when domestic tourism kicked in to save the industry, that too will not happen this time around due to empty pockets. To make matters worse, there are also reports that Sri Lanka’s tea and apparel exports are likely to take a hit as orders are being diverted to India due to delays in processing as a result of power cuts, fuel shortages, and escalating operational costs. Exporters have already warned of a $ 50 million hit to the economy every day, if the status quo prevails.
Given what is at stake, there is no time to waste and the crisis at hand needs to be resolved one way or the other. In the natural order of things, if an individual fails to perform an entrusted task, that individual must step aside and make room for another to fulfil that task. If the individual refuses to do so, then he or she must explain the reason for it. Thereafter, whether that individual will be provided another opportunity to fulfil the unfulfilled task is entirely a decision of those who appointed the individual. In the same vein, if the administration is refusing to budge, then the people have a right to know as to what the plan is to get out of this mess.
Already for nearly a week now the country has been without a cabinet of ministers and critical areas like health, power, energy, agriculture, and trade are drifting aimlessly without a minister in charge. Funnily enough, there is a Minister for Highways, apparently the need of the hour, with the same Minister being reappointed to the post within 24 hours. The danger in this hopeless situation is that the IMF, which is the sole entity that the Government is banking on, will also likely adopt a wait-and-see attitude given the instability factor as it will see no point in negotiating with an administration that is clearly out of its depth and incapable of getting its act together.
If the administration has no comprehensive recovery plan, as the case appears to be at the moment, and is yet refusing to pave the way for an alternate administration, then for all intents and purposes Sri Lanka is staring into a very dark abyss. As far as an alternate administration is concerned, it’s not that there are no takers, but the stumbling block understandably appears to be the incumbent all-powerful Executive deriving power from the 20th Amendment, whom no one wants to work with. Therefore it behoves the parliamentary Opposition to assure itself that there is no conceivable alternative to using the constitutional provisions to give effect to the people’s demand for change.
On the flip side, given the current dire economic situation, a snap poll is not a feasible option even if Parliament, which has the power to call for one chooses to do so, due to its sheer impracticality. An election is an expensive exercise costing the taxpayer around Rs. 10 billion, and with fuel in short supply, power cuts and shortages of paper, ink, and other paraphernalia required for a poll, this certainly is not the time for taking that particular route.
In the interim, until such time economic conditions are conducive for a poll, Parliament will have to come up with a workable formula to form a stable interim administration consisting of all parties but bereft of those whom the public want out. In a situation where Parliament as a whole has earned the wrath of the people, its primary duty now is to redeem itself and show that it does serve a purpose.
What every one of the 225 members plus Executive must bear in mind is the hard truth that the present crisis is as much an economic crisis as it is a political one. There is no way that one can be solved in isolation of the other. To do so as the ruling party is attempting to do now, will only push the country deeper into the abyss. It is to the Opposition’s credit that it has understood this fundamental reality and as a consequence has refused in principle to accept posts in the absence of a popular mandate. The biggest Opposition party, the SJB gained just 54 seats at the last poll and lost another six members to Government ranks during the vote on the 20th Amendment. Therefore, asking a party of some 48 members to form an administration defeats the very purpose of such an exercise, which is essentially to offer a degree of comfort and confidence to the IMF and other lenders. The task has been made even more difficult with the Sword of Damocles in the form of the Executive Presidency hanging over their collective necks given the precedents of 2004 and 2018.
For an Opposition that has been obsessed with squabbling not only among parties but also within parties, the time has come to put differences aside and focus on the common goal of eliminating the stumbling block preventing an alternate administration and thereafter work towards putting this country back on track. It is their time to stand with the people who are literally crying on the streets for redemption from a leadership that is completely out of sync with reality. The time is upon us where all 225 MPs will be judged on which side of history they belong to when the people who appointed them ask them to make that choice.
Those who rise to the occasion and stand out from the rest will endear themselves to a whole new generation of young Sri Lankans who are at the forefront of the evolving struggle. Generation Z is of a different mindset to their laidback parents and grandparents and have no inclination to put up with mediocrity and buffoonery. They are the ones demanding that politicians must declare their assets and whatever that cannot be accounted for be confiscated and used towards public welfare. They are the ones demanding that those who are alleged to have robbed and plundered public property be punished and their loot hidden in offshore havens be repatriated to settle the country’s external debt.
According to credible estimates, the combined hidden wealth of some prominent politicians and their cronies is equivalent to the total external debt commitments of the State. The legal fraternity, which is in the vanguard of the struggle to safeguard the fundamental rights of the public, must take the lead in this instance too, in ensuring that every allegation of corruption is extensively investigated and prosecuted. They must ensure that individuals facing corruption allegations are prevented from fleeing the country through recourse to the law. The obtaining of a Court order preventing the former Governor of the Central Bank from travelling overseas is a step in the right direction.
For the first time in this country we are witnessing the creation of a people’s movement that is demanding accountability from elected representatives. No one else but the people will stand in judgement and no amount of suppression and intimidation will be able to make it go away. If that is not a system reset, then what is? Already, those who do nothing, those who play politics switching loyalties at critical junctures, and those who play safe to save their skin have been marked and issued notice by their bosses; the people. It is this people’s movement that has brought a high-riding Government with a two-thirds majority down to its knees.
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!