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Is it true…

11 Sep 2022

  • That three party leaders who were to join the new Opposition alliance named ‘Uttara Sabhawa’ (US), of which Wimal is President, did not participate in the festivities held in Maharagama to mark the beginning of its political campaign? The dominant personality in this alliance is Wimal, who as a wordsmith must have coined the attractive double-edged title. A common programme was also unveiled at the ceremony. It is rumoured that the three ‘no shows’ – Athaullah, Thondaman, and Navaratne are likely to enter the RW Cabinet and sever connections with the US. These hopefuls are kicking their heels till President RW finishes his negotiations with other MPs likely to cross over and join his all-party cabinet.
  • That many journalists who covered the opening ceremony were struck by the incongruous collection of party leaders and the different political philosophies corralled within the new party? The once-famous and principled LSSP was represented by Vasudeva and Tissa, whose contortions and unswerving pursuit of cabinet posts must have the founders of the party like NM and Colvin turning in their graves. NM and Colvin gave up cabinet office for their principles. Their ‘golayas’ Vasu and Tissa gave up their principles for cabinet office. How comfortable must they feel with the communalist ideas propagated by their present colleagues like Wimal, Udaya, and Gevindu [an acolyte of ‘Jathika Chinthanaya’ gurus]. Old LSSPers speak with pride about NM’s heroic speech in Parliament in 1956 on the Sinhala Only Bill brought by SWRD and the assassination attempt on Colvin for espousing parity of status for Sinhala and Tamil. The bomb thrown at Colvin was mercifully thwarted by his countryman and comrade Reggie Mendis at the cost of losing his limb.
  • What has our Foreign Ministry to say about the Uttara Sabha inviting select ambassadors for its inauguration? While on one hand it smacks of cheap politicking, it also shows an absence of responsibility as a local political party. Colombo glitterati are calling this party a special friend of China. It will bode ill for the country if parties begin to be identified with specific countries, no matter which political spectrum they belong to. No party should be a spokesman for the interests of another country, especially at a time when several nations are competing with each other to strengthen their position in the Indian Ocean. One is reminded of the book by John Kenneth Galbraith who was Kennedy’s Ambassador to India. He wrote that while the Indian communists were critical of the US during the daytime, they would visit him at night to get scholarships for their kith and kin in American universities. Readers will be surprised to know how many children of our US critics are in the US. Sri Lankan politicians and Army top brass seem to love to have that magical Green Card.
  • That the SLPP’s young leaders were all accommodated by President RW in his appointment of state ministers? However, there is criticism that the SLPP list sent from Nelum Mawatha had several undesirables in it. Some of them were under investigation by the law authorities for high crimes and misdemeanours. When the President returns from Japan he will unveil his new cabinet, which may see the promotion of some of the state ministers who had held cabinet rank earlier. Anyway, he has now crossed one hurdle and garnered the loyalty of the majority of the SLPP, which is necessary for him to function effectively. The usual backbiting among our politicians was seen in the rumours spread by interested parties that a new prime minister would be appointed from the SLPP. This is base ingratitude shown to the present PM Dinesh, who has a good record as an incorruptible and efficient cabinet minister. They have dragged in the name of former President GR who is waiting for a visitor visa to the US to see his son and relatives who are longstanding residents of Los Angeles, California. GR would have been happy about the large number of people who turned up at his Malalasekera Mawatha quarters to welcome him back. One of the earliest to call over was big brother MR.
  • That there were some SJB leaders under ‘contract’ to give the Governor of the Central Bank (CB) a hard time when he addressed MPs about the state of the economy? One leader whom journalists call ‘Milk Falls’ went on blaming the Governor for not informing Parliament prior to stating that we would default on our debt payments. This is precisely the type of public baiting that demoralises officials. The CB works under its charter and is not an underling of the Government. However, many governments in our region have tended to look on the CB as a rival which has to be brought under its fiat. A famous Governor of the Reserve Bank of India once told the press: “We are independent and I have the permission of the Minister of Finance to tell you that.” Fortunately the Leader of the SJB stood up for the Governor and told the House that no attempt should be made to terminate his tenure.
    CHINA AND DEBT Sri Lanka’s debt issues with China have become a talking point globally. The latest issue of The Economist has a special article which features Sri Lanka’s involvement with the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative and its attempts to seek debt relief from China, which is now the main lender. Globally too, China leads the list of lenders to poor countries. According to The Economist, “In 2020, 60% of debt-distressed countries owed $ 110 billion to China which is more than all other official bilateral creditors combined.” After the Staff-Level Agreement, the next step is to resolve the Chinese debt issue and then negotiate with the other lenders. However, the Chinese have till recently resisted working with Western intermediaries, particularly the Paris Club. China’s preferred solution in restructuring is “lengthening maturities or grace periods rather than reducing principal”. However, the deal on Zambia after two years of negotiation gives hope to us, though up to now relief has been proposed for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) while we are a middle income country. What is the way forward? “The proposal under discussion is for China, as Sri Lanka’s biggest bilateral creditor, to co-chair a creditor committee with Japan, the second biggest [and a Paris Club member]. India could join in too. The aim is ad hoc common framework treatment.” But there can be many a slip between cup and lip. China is evaluating the pros and cons of working with the Paris Club in a worsening political and military environment. It is wary of setting a precedent of leniency, which will be a precedent for other borrowers. As a Chinese commentator said: “China’s money does not fall from the sky; it is earned by the Chinese people’s hard work.”     CRICKET Many Sri Lankans are bleary-eyed these days as they have been watching the Asia Cup cricket beamed from the UAE daily. This series was to be held in Sri Lanka but our Cricket Board has let go of the occasion for a paltry payment because the chaotic political environment dismayed the organisers of this event. However, the commentaries have been interrupted from time to time to plug Sri Lanka as an attractive tourist destination. Even more compelling has been the superb performance of our young team led from the front by Dasun Shanaka. After a humiliating defeat in the qualifying round at the hands of Afghanistan, we came back strongly to defeat in quick succession Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and India to enter the finals. The match with India was a cliffhanger but our youngsters won, with only one ball to spare. The final between Sri Lanka and Pakistan will signal the arrival of our strong presence in T20 cricket and bring back memories of glorious wins in the past. A remarkable feature of our team is a good mix of players, with those from suburban schools leading the battle. The widening of choices through good players from the outstations is a tribute to committed coaches in those schools and the indomitable courage of our boys who have overcome great odds to play the ‘game of kings’.     BLOOMER The ‘Bloomer of the Year’ award goes to Harin Fernando, who mangled singer Gunadasa Kapuge’s Sinhala song which referred to mountains (kandu) by reading his script writer’s text wrong and calling it a ‘hunchback’ (kudu). It changed the meaning of the song and evoked much laughter among the rank and file members who were seated in the galleries. Harin is now getting roasted on social media over this.    


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