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Return to 2018 before grand plans

03 Aug 2022

It would not be an exaggeration to state that Sri Lanka’s politics is largely driven by promises, rather than concrete plans, and blind faith in politicians, rather than understanding and assessing what they are doing. This has led to a culture where the general public can easily be deceived by vague and impractical but attractive promises. In his speech on his vision for the crisis ridden country, President Ranil Wickremesinghe also made many promises, which seem like plans, for fed up Sri Lankans to have hopes in, and to continue to support his Government for a little while. He proudly told the people that “if we build the country and the economy through the national economic policy, we would be able to become a fully developed country by the year 2048, when we celebrate the 100th anniversary of our Independence”. One reality that this seasoned politician, who, however, shows a great ignorance about the people’s plight, has to understand before asking the people to trust him with regard to his grand plan is that the people are more concerned with the issues affecting their day-to-day lives, rather than the next two decades. If he asked the people, they might say that they would rather go back to how the country was in 2018, instead of seeing a supposedly developed country in 2048. Further, such plans seem vague and too optimistic – what exactly does the promise of making Sri Lanka a developed country in 25 years entail?  The truth is, there are a plethora of changes that the ordinary, working-class people would like to see implemented as soon as possible. Resolving the fuel shortage, the unbearable prices of food, the shortage of medicines, and paving the way for a people-friendly system of governance are some of the changes that the people would like the President to bring about, and it is these aspirations that led to the people's movement that overthrew former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.  At the same time, the President has to understand the obvious reality that his Government and his Presidency do not have the support of the public. While Galle Face protestors have openly declined to accept Wickremesinghe as the President that the country needs, the people in general remain uncertain about Wickremesinghe’s capabilities and, most importantly, how he will treat the people. This matters because the President’s 25-year plan for Sri Lanka is a plan for several governments and generations. What he must do first in order to get the support and patience of the people, political parties, and also various experts that want a better future for the country, is garnering public trust in his Government. If the President thinks that mere promises and impractical but attractive plans can secure the trust of the public, he is seriously mistaken, because the prevailing crises have taught the majority of the population that they need a leader that brings not promises, but prosperity. The President said that he came forth to take over the country when no other politician wanted to, and proving his capabilities is one part of that arduous task. The President has already lost a considerable amount of the meagre public support he had, due to how he is dealing with protestors, and he has to take measures to ease the burden of the economic crisis on the public, either as part his 25-year plan or as a separate plan to bring about changes that not only support the people, but also give them a message about his capabilities. Put simply, he has to prove his worth through action. Failure to do so will result in him being rejected by the people at the next election, which he cannot put off for more than two years. Wickremesinghe finally obtained the Presidency he wanted for decades, and now has the opportunity to showcase his worth. He should prove that he can do what Rajapaksa could not as the President, and how much the people trust in and rely on him is a decisive factor in this regard. Promises dressed as plans are not going to help him do that or the public to see a better future.

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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!


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