Sri Lanka celebrates its Independence every year on a grand scale; politicians wrap themselves in the flag and treat us to patriotic grandiloquence but, curiously, the country remains dependent on foreign powers for survival––as ever. It cannot even fix a damaged sewer or dispose of its garbage without foreign help!
The International Monetary Fund (IMF), whose controversial remedies are considered worse than the economic maladies the developing countries are afflicted with, has reportedly offered to assist this country in restructuring some of the loss incurring state ventures such as the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), Mihin Air and Sri Lankan. However, those who are au fait with the agenda of international lending institutions, know that they are not driven by altruism and make no ‘offers’ as such but lay down constricting conditions for their assistance. So, it is hoped that the government will not yield to pressure it is likely to come under to divest some of the aforesaid institutions.
It was not so long ago that the present dispensation bragged that the country’s economy was on an even keel and it would not bow down to the IMF and the World Bank. But, today, the intrepid government bigwigs have had to swallow their pride and grovel before the Bretton Woods Twins in a bid to keep the economy afloat. How sad!
On the human rights front, too, Sri Lanka continues to be the burden of the international community though its war on terror ended four years ago. The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is one of the international outfits that have taken upon themselves the onus of protecting human rights here. Some years ago, several government leaders, true to form, tucked up their sarongs and heaped abuse on the UN and its human rights arm, vowing not to give in to their diktats. But, today, with tails between their legs, so to speak, they have agreed to some of the UNHRC recommendations!
The country has come to this sorry pass with the state revenue declining rapidly and international pressure mounting on it because the government has not cared to get its act together on the human rights and economic fronts. It has been preoccupied with partisan politics.
Sri Lanka celebrates its Independence every year on a grand scale; politicians wrap themselves in the flag and treat us to patriotic grandiloquence but, curiously, the country remains dependent on foreign powers for survival––as ever. It cannot even fix a damaged sewer or dispose of its garbage without foreign help!
The International Monetary Fund (IMF), whose controversial remedies are considered worse than the economic maladies the developing countries are afflicted with, has reportedly offered to assist this country in restructuring some of the loss incurring state ventures such as the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), Mihin Air and Sri Lankan. However, those who are au fait with the agenda of international lending institutions, know that they are not driven by altruism and make no ‘offers’ as such but lay down constricting conditions for their assistance. So, it is hoped that the government will not yield to pressure it is likely to come under to divest some of the aforesaid institutions.
It was not so long ago that the present dispensation bragged that the country’s economy was on an even keel and it would not bow down to the IMF and the World Bank. But, today, the intrepid government bigwigs have had to swallow their pride and grovel before the Bretton Woods Twins in a bid to keep the economy afloat. How sad!
On the human rights front, too, Sri Lanka continues to be the burden of the international community though its war on terror ended four years ago. The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is one of the international outfits that have taken upon themselves the onus of protecting human rights here. Some years ago, several government leaders, true to form, tucked up their sarongs and heaped abuse on the UN and its human rights arm, vowing not to give in to their diktats. But, today, with tails between their legs, so to speak, they have agreed to some of the UNHRC recommendations!
The country has come to this sorry pass with the state revenue declining rapidly and international pressure mounting on it because the government has not cared to get its act together on the human rights and economic fronts. It has been preoccupied with partisan politics.
Only a handful of state institutions are professionally run. Others are characterised by gross mismanagement, lethargy, waste, inefficiency and corruption. The ruling UPFA keeps catapulting its unqualified henchmen to the top notches of state enterprises and indulges in profligacy without caring a damn about the wellbeing of the public sector, as is common knowledge.
If the state institutions in the red are rid of corruption and square pegs in round holes, and properly managed with minimal government intervention, they could surely be turned around soon with no additional burdens placed on the public. This is an attainable goal which the government ought to make a serious effort to achieve if the country is to be extricated from the debt trap it has got into over the years. If the direct tax collection is streamlined with dodgers netted and no room left for malpractices, the state revenue is bound to increase. What is needed is the political will to address these issues and take drastic action in the national interest. The IMF, too, has called for increasing the direct tax revenue.
The best antidote to interference by some foreign powers with Sri Lanka’s internal affairs is for the government to improve its human rights record without further delay. If attacks on dissenters are stopped; the law enforcement and judicial systems are depoliticised and allegations of human rights are expeditiously probed with culprits brought to justice swiftly, neither the meddlesome western powers nor the UNHRC will be able to have a finger in Sri Lanka’s pie.
Unless the government makes sacrifices popularly expected of it and goes the whole hog to repair the national economy in bad shape and restore the rule of law which is teetering on the brink of collapse, the hard-won peace will be the first casualty.
Only a handful of state institutions are professionally run. Others are characterised by gross mismanagement, lethargy, waste, inefficiency and corruption. The ruling UPFA keeps catapulting its unqualified henchmen to the top notches of state enterprises and indulges in profligacy without caring a damn about the wellbeing of the public sector, as is common knowledge.
If the state institutions in the red are rid of corruption and square pegs in round holes, and properly managed with minimal government intervention, they could surely be turned around soon with no additional burdens placed on the public. This is an attainable goal which the government ought to make a serious effort to achieve if the country is to be extricated from the debt trap it has got into over the years. If the direct tax collection is streamlined with dodgers netted and no room left for malpractices, the state revenue is bound to increase. What is needed is the political will to address these issues and take drastic action in the national interest. The IMF, too, has called for increasing the direct tax revenue.
The best antidote to interference by some foreign powers with Sri Lanka’s internal affairs is for the government to improve its human rights record without further delay. If attacks on dissenters are stopped; the law enforcement and judicial systems are depoliticised and allegations of human rights are expeditiously probed with culprits brought to justice swiftly, neither the meddlesome western powers nor the UNHRC will be able to have a finger in Sri Lanka’s pie.
Unless the government makes sacrifices popularly expected of it and goes the whole hog to repair the national economy in bad shape and restore the rule of law which is teetering on the brink of collapse, the hard-won peace will be the first casualty.