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Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour: A tragic betrayal for youths

13 Nov 2021

By Shehara Herath Undoubtedly, the presidential election of 2019 was one of the most historic elections in the history of Sri Lanka, where the youth of the country was a decisive factor. The youths of Sri Lanka were engaged and involved in the run-up to the elections, with the hope of changing the system of governance from traditional politics to creating a new political culture. “Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour” created hope in the minds of the young people, and slogans such as a quality education, job opportunities, and a better standard of living gained traction among the young and old alike. This trend of young people engaging in governance and politics is indeed commendable, and should be encouraged, as, often, young people are left out of political spheres, and interest among young people in politics has been minimal. The youth of Sri Lanka did indeed welcome the change of the Head of State from Maithripala Sirisena to Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2019. They were overjoyed with the expectation that the new Government would offer an opportunity for them to realise their potential. Youths took to the streets in celebration, and the atmosphere was of determination and hope. The Government had an overwhelming mandate for the youths, who went out of their way to support government initiatives. For example, many young people volunteered to paint the walls in cities with beautiful murals and art. These were all seen as signs of a prosperous change. Little did they know that their hopes were to be shattered sooner than they could imagine. A struggling economy In 2020, Sri Lanka experienced a negative economic growth rate of -3.6%, the worst economic contraction since gaining Independence in 1948. While the impact of Covid-19 is partially to blame, ad hoc economic policies and mismanagement added to the damage. Sri Lanka recorded a -1.8% economic growth rate in the first quarter, which was before the lockdowns were imposed. Along with a contracting economy, Sri Lanka was also diving into a foreign currency shortage and thus, restrictions were imposed on imports. It must also be noted that other South Asian nations, such as India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, were experiencing an increase in foreign currency reserves. Before long, the youth realised that their dreams and hopes, which drove them to actively be a part of the victory in 2019, may not become a reality. The economic contraction was most felt by the youth. Many young people who were employed on contractual basis or as non-permanent staff were laid off. The loss of job opportunities in both the private and public sectors meant that more and more youths were left jobless. Business startups had to be closed down, and starting a new business venture was a futile effort. In addition to this, the rising cost of living meant less investment; less investment in education, training, and business. Ad hoc decision-making The youth were also victims of ad hoc decision-making by the Government from time to time. This includes the overnight ban on chemical fertiliser, ad hoc gazettes printed on essential commodity prices, and haphazard government policy decisions. The shattering of expectations was a little too much to comprehend and difficult to believe. Even those who voted against the ruling Government were astonished at certain government decisions. Education at a standstill One of the most unfortunate outcomes of the Covid-19 pandemic was the entire education system of the country coming to a standstill. There was absolutely no effort to ensure that education was continued. It was also laughable how those who criticised former Minister for Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam for his initiative of providing free tabs for students, were now compelling students to engage in online education, when many students throughout the country did not have means to access online education. While urban schools did continue with online education, many rural school students have not been given proper academic instructions for more than a year. Lost opportunities All in all, there is a great sense of discontent among the youths in Sri Lanka regarding the future prospects of the country. More and more young people are now queuing up before the Department of Immigration and Emigration to obtain their passports or queuing up before embassies applying for visas. The bulk of the youth do not see Sri Lanka as a ground to make their dreams a reality. This is quite unfortunate for us as a nation, as we may be on the verge of the largest brain drain in decades. For those who fail to seek greener pastures or for those who decide to stay back, the current political and economic landscape offers little to no hope. One country, one law? When the youths voted at the 2019 presidential election and the 2020 parliamentary elections, it would be right to say that there was an expectation of a form of discipline and elimination of corruption. The rhetoric from the government party called for a “disciplined country”. The slogan certainly did appeal to the youths. But once again, continued presidential pardons to political supporters, withdrawal of court cases of politicians, and non-action on scams such as the garlic scam and sugar scam, show that the Government’s rhetoric was only limited to rhetoric. Betrayal While it feels bad to be discontent, it is worse to be betrayed. The youth of the country were betrayed by the Government in the past two years to a point where they have absolutely lost trust in the political system of Sri Lanka. This is not only unfortunate for us as a democratic country, but it is also a dangerous trend. Young people moving away from politics and losing trust in democracy will have negative consequences in the years to come. The Government, having the powers of the executive presidency, two-thirds majority in Parliament, power over most local government institutions, and a mandate for a positive change, is in the most ideal position to correct this betrayal. As Sri Lankans, we hope that there would be immediate action on part of the Government to rekindle hope in the hearts of the young people, especially in the hearts of those who are queuing up before passport offices, by giving them a reason to stay. (The writer is an Attorney-at-Law and a Working Committee Member of the United National Party [UNP])  


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