Some years ago whilst Ranil Wickremesinghe was leading his politically defeated United National Party and whilst one Mahinda Rajapaksa was very much ruling the roost, frustration led one journalist to write a piece of opinion. The journalist opined that Ranil Wickremesinghe simply must have Asperger’s Syndrome. The characteristics the UNP Leader had then appeared to the journalist to be in line with the symptoms of the syndrome.
In this government of the good governance movement much has happened that leaves the people of this nation perplexed. The principal problem appears to be one of memory loss. It is a problem that appears to have reached endemic proportions and one that afflicts only those holding some form of office – even at the now lowly Sri Lanka Cricket Board.
Another problem that has manifested itself at an alarming rate is how very flippant those holding any office in this country have become.
And one more: that is how easy it has become for some holding very high office to lie seamlessly to the point that it is hardly detectable.
For veteran and seasoned journalists though, who have become rather accustomed to the routine half-truths and indeed wholesome lies put forth by legislators, it has become rather easy to spot the lies. As the world has grown closer and smaller thanks to the narrowing of the digital gap and with the increasing sophistication of technology at ever decreasing prices, the media and the public at large have learned the easy way to fact check every statement made by their (at times) elected and (also at times) appointed representatives.
The Prime Minister and the President seem to be trying to outdo each other: one completely does the opposite of what he preaches. That can be the Prime Minister. In March 2015 he writes a memo to his colleagues at Ministerial level ordering that as a matter of policy unsolicited bids must not be accepted and that procurement guidelines will therefore apply. Not three weeks later his government awards a Chinese company a contract without tender.
The Prime Minister’s spirited defense then and his shockingly shameful silence now, on the matter of the bond scam and its principal accused as it were, Arjuna Mahendran, is very well known. No doubt the archives of television and radio channels and newspaper archives too, must be overflowing with data on the bond scam.
It has become easily the selling ticket for the opposition forces. Never has the UNP led by anybody, been so enslaved and embarrassed as in the bond scam matter. There is a real belief that had it not been for the bond scam the UNP would have romped home with a clear majority in parliament.
On the other hand President seems to be suffering from a host of issues including short term memory loss – or so it appears to us.
He cannot for the life of him remember the 100 days, the helicopter for the previous head of state to go home in some dwindling style, his assurances and undertakings to Sobitha Thero on the one term matter and the list is endless.
His attacks sometimes of an internecine nature, on the PM have become legendary. If we were to mark this up, we would say RW is leading 70 – 30 to his Boss. That’s because one is slightly savvier than the other.
The flippancy of our politicos is another indicator as to quite where this country is headed towards in terms of economic growth. The explanation proffered on the sliding US dollar rate was exhaustively tame. The explanation given as to why one minister would not rob was because he said he had over RS 400 million in his bank. He never did provide the proof of his startling claim.
We wonder if President can remember that he is after all the President. He has forever and a day followed his PM almost lamb like but only sadly to find out that RW has been acting in a politically exploitative manner.
HE’s almost lethargy with the bond scam has not gone unnoticed. That’s not to say he did not score when he appointed the Commission of Inquiry. The detail of the scam and its treachery have become widely known thanks to this President.
All in all though when we examine the facts before us with the cold neutrality of judges, we must aver that it is the President who has the edge over all others when it comes to allegations of sleaze, graft and corruption. Again for that the people of this happy land must be grateful. That again does not mean to say that members of the family are included in that praise – far from it.
At the end of the day the Sri Lankan nation has found that its citizenry are a remarkably unlucky lot.
Consider, that the people of this land are a fun embracing, peace yearning, lovable lot. They love and cherish not only each other but their democratic lifestyle.
Yet for all that the people who lead them are tainted by allegations of corruption and some claims with proof positive. Yet they carry on regardless and relentlessly amassing fortunes of whirlwind nature along that route.
It is therefore imperative that the President rid himself of his short term memory loss and take charge and stop relying on his PM who is after all acting in the main for and on behalf of the UNP. Or so some say.
Oooh la la Monsieur.
