Despite the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) deciding not to hold any rallies today (1) for obvious reasons, thousands of people, essentially comprising the working masses, will take to the streets on this May Day not to fight for their labour rights as they would normally do, but to fight for survival. They will be raising their voices against the economic injustice meted out to them by an administration that has not only deprived them of the bare essentials but also threatened their livelihoods unlike ever before in the history of this nation.
No institution, however big or small, private or State, has been spared by the ravages of a collapsing economy, with many small-time businesses already forced to put up the shutters. Even though the latest unemployment data is yet to be released by the authorities, it is no secret that, just like everything else these days, unemployment too is on a rapid ascent. Rising inflation and unemployment form the bedrock of social unrest and one can only hope that the powers that be, who have been deaf and blind to the millions protesting on the roads, will give the suffering working masses a patient hearing at least today, their special day.
The past few months have seen the economy freefall headfirst thanks to ill-conceived decision making and vacillation on the part of the country’s leadership, for which an official apology has already been tendered, but the question that has arisen now is, do we leave it at that and move on or should those responsible for the economic carnage be held accountable for their actions? If the nationwide protests are anything to go by, it is clear that people have overwhelmingly decided on the latter and that is the basis on which the current administration is being told to ‘go home’. The SLPP’s May Day no show and both the first and second citizens of the nation being forced to stay put in their barricaded and sealed-off official homes are the clearest indications to those who wish to see that the writing is on the wall.
It is therefore unpardonable and unforgivable that precious time – time that needs to be spent rebuilding the tattered economy – is being wasted on fighting a losing battle with the tried, tested, and failed ‘numbers game’ in Parliament. An administration that has clearly lost the mandate of the people will find the going tough even if it manages to cobble up a working majority in Parliament, which too is the subject of much speculation, since the essential ingredient for any recovery mechanism is political stability.
Even though an artificial mandate can be created in Parliament via the ‘numbers’ game, it will not serve any meaningful purpose other than to delay the inevitable. Such politicking will also force the multilateral lender to play for time in order to seek better clarity on the evolving scenario on the ground. Therefore the delay in addressing the core issue could be construed as a crime committed against the entire nation, as every day that is delayed in doing what is required is costing jobs and driving thousands towards impoverishment.
The worst affected by this political stalemate are the working masses who are finding out on a daily basis that the fixed salaries and wages they earn are losing their value faster than they can keep track. For how long can the Government continue to look the other way while the prices of essentials continue to rise by unconscionable margins on a daily basis? For nearly a month now millions have protested opposite the President’s Office and in every nook and corner of the country, highlighting the fact that not only is the cost of living unbearable, but that even at sky high prices most essentials are in short supply. As a result, despite the musical chairs in changing cabinets every now and then, the administration has proven beyond doubt that it is out of its depth in tackling the issue at hand.
It is estimated that the cost of travel, including by public transport, has shot up by a minimum of 50% in just the last couple of months. Add to that the unconscionable increase in fuel, gas, food, and medicine prices, while the real purchasing power of employee wages has plummeted by over 50% due to inflation. Widely-respected economist Prof. Steve Hanke has estimated Sri Lanka’s real inflation to be in the three-digit range. To make matters worse, employers faced with a barrage of supply chain issues are in no position to raise salaries anytime soon, while the Central Bank will also have to restrain itself from printing more money. To quote the Opposition Leader, Sri Lanka is well and truly staring at economic armageddon.
This toxic combination of runaway inflation, a currency in freefall, dwindling reserves, and shrinking State revenue, coupled with power cuts and fuel and gas shortages, has delivered a sucker punch to the working class, especially in the Free Trade Zones, who also took to the streets last week, even blocking the airport entry road. And more worrying is the harm inflicted on the farming community that has been left destitute by ill-fated Government policy. To date, other than saying ‘sorry’ for the misery caused, no mechanism has been instituted to provide a helping hand to the farmers to get back on their feet. If in fact there is one, today would be a good day to announce it.
Could it be the case that more apologies will follow in the days ahead given that the Government has chosen to go to Washington for IMF assistance after having thrown out the MCC deal two years ago that was worth nearly half a billion dollars? Aren’t the Americans having the last laugh? Could the same apply to the Light Rail Transit project funded by the Japanese Government under generous concessionary terms, which too was thrown out for no valid reason two years ago? Had these two projects with a guaranteed multi-billion dollar inflow gone ahead, it would have potentially warded off the debilitating forex crisis.
While the Head of State has already apologised for the fertiliser blunder and delay in seeking IMF assistance – the two biggest causes of the current upheaval – what is to prevent bigger blunders being made in the future? It is this nagging suspicion that is driving people to demand not just a new administration but also a new system of governance, where the actions and decisions of leaders could be audited and those found wanting be made liable for their actions. Not to be left out, the Prime Minister moving to restore the 19th Amendment is also an admittance that the 20th was yet another mistake. It is this tragicomedy that has unfolded in the space of just two years that has got the administration running for cover.
However, a positive outcome of this turn of events has been the fall of the political establishment. That no politician has appeared at a public function for the last couple of weeks is indeed a refreshing change – and one that the country was yearning for. That this welcome change was created by none other than the politicians themselves is certainly the greatest of ironies. It was indeed a refreshing change to see children representing the future generation being handed the task of declaring open public projects carried out with State funding. If nothing else, this is a signal victory of the ‘jana aragalaya’ that has brought high-riding politicians back down to earth, and the metamorphosis will be complete when the ‘rulers’ once again become ‘servants of the people’.
Given the mood of the people, coupled with current economic exigencies and the need for the political establishment to redeem itself, self-imposed austerity is no longer an option but an absolute necessity. It is therefore incumbent upon the highest in the land to set the example by cutting out all extravagance associated with holding public office. It is however a matter of great consternation that this example has not been forthcoming so far, which has added to the wrath of the people. For instance, even though a new Cabinet has been appointed, it has been reported that all members of the previous Cabinet are still enjoying all the perks of office, such as luxury official vehicles, fuel, entertainment and communication allowances, official housing, security detail, and personal office staff, who in turn are also entitled to official vehicles and allowances, etc.
It is certainly a tale of two worlds with the servants of the people living it up while the masters are struggling to make ends meet. Given the growing social unrest as a result of this disparity, it would be a good idea to revert to the old times when politicians served in an honorary capacity. In fact, that is the basis for the prefix ‘honourable’. Many are the stories of how the wealthy became paupers by becoming politicians in the not-too-distant past as opposed to today, when paupers become billionaires overnight by becoming politicians. Desperate situations call for desperate measures and the Government can easily secure all the cash it needs if politicians are told to use their private vehicles and the hundreds of super luxury vehicles are auctioned off along with the prime residential properties allocated to ministers instead of selling national assets.
It is indeed unfortunate that while the people in general and the working masses in particular are looking for leadership from whichever quarter to steer the ship of State out of troubled waters, their elected leaders spent the whole of the past week sitting at their chessboards attempting to checkmate each other. The people have been left with no option but to secure their own collective future, which is exactly what they will be doing in the days ahead.
Leave it to the people
30 Apr 2022
Leave it to the people
30 Apr 2022
Despite the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) deciding not to hold any rallies today (1) for obvious reasons, thousands of people, essentially comprising the working masses, will take to the streets on this May Day not to fight for their labour rights as they would normally do, but to fight for survival. They will be raising their voices against the economic injustice meted out to them by an administration that has not only deprived them of the bare essentials but also threatened their livelihoods unlike ever before in the history of this nation.
No institution, however big or small, private or State, has been spared by the ravages of a collapsing economy, with many small-time businesses already forced to put up the shutters. Even though the latest unemployment data is yet to be released by the authorities, it is no secret that, just like everything else these days, unemployment too is on a rapid ascent. Rising inflation and unemployment form the bedrock of social unrest and one can only hope that the powers that be, who have been deaf and blind to the millions protesting on the roads, will give the suffering working masses a patient hearing at least today, their special day.
The past few months have seen the economy freefall headfirst thanks to ill-conceived decision making and vacillation on the part of the country’s leadership, for which an official apology has already been tendered, but the question that has arisen now is, do we leave it at that and move on or should those responsible for the economic carnage be held accountable for their actions? If the nationwide protests are anything to go by, it is clear that people have overwhelmingly decided on the latter and that is the basis on which the current administration is being told to ‘go home’. The SLPP’s May Day no show and both the first and second citizens of the nation being forced to stay put in their barricaded and sealed-off official homes are the clearest indications to those who wish to see that the writing is on the wall.
It is therefore unpardonable and unforgivable that precious time – time that needs to be spent rebuilding the tattered economy – is being wasted on fighting a losing battle with the tried, tested, and failed ‘numbers game’ in Parliament. An administration that has clearly lost the mandate of the people will find the going tough even if it manages to cobble up a working majority in Parliament, which too is the subject of much speculation, since the essential ingredient for any recovery mechanism is political stability.
Even though an artificial mandate can be created in Parliament via the ‘numbers’ game, it will not serve any meaningful purpose other than to delay the inevitable. Such politicking will also force the multilateral lender to play for time in order to seek better clarity on the evolving scenario on the ground. Therefore the delay in addressing the core issue could be construed as a crime committed against the entire nation, as every day that is delayed in doing what is required is costing jobs and driving thousands towards impoverishment.
The worst affected by this political stalemate are the working masses who are finding out on a daily basis that the fixed salaries and wages they earn are losing their value faster than they can keep track. For how long can the Government continue to look the other way while the prices of essentials continue to rise by unconscionable margins on a daily basis? For nearly a month now millions have protested opposite the President’s Office and in every nook and corner of the country, highlighting the fact that not only is the cost of living unbearable, but that even at sky high prices most essentials are in short supply. As a result, despite the musical chairs in changing cabinets every now and then, the administration has proven beyond doubt that it is out of its depth in tackling the issue at hand.
It is estimated that the cost of travel, including by public transport, has shot up by a minimum of 50% in just the last couple of months. Add to that the unconscionable increase in fuel, gas, food, and medicine prices, while the real purchasing power of employee wages has plummeted by over 50% due to inflation. Widely-respected economist Prof. Steve Hanke has estimated Sri Lanka’s real inflation to be in the three-digit range. To make matters worse, employers faced with a barrage of supply chain issues are in no position to raise salaries anytime soon, while the Central Bank will also have to restrain itself from printing more money. To quote the Opposition Leader, Sri Lanka is well and truly staring at economic armageddon.
This toxic combination of runaway inflation, a currency in freefall, dwindling reserves, and shrinking State revenue, coupled with power cuts and fuel and gas shortages, has delivered a sucker punch to the working class, especially in the Free Trade Zones, who also took to the streets last week, even blocking the airport entry road. And more worrying is the harm inflicted on the farming community that has been left destitute by ill-fated Government policy. To date, other than saying ‘sorry’ for the misery caused, no mechanism has been instituted to provide a helping hand to the farmers to get back on their feet. If in fact there is one, today would be a good day to announce it.
Could it be the case that more apologies will follow in the days ahead given that the Government has chosen to go to Washington for IMF assistance after having thrown out the MCC deal two years ago that was worth nearly half a billion dollars? Aren’t the Americans having the last laugh? Could the same apply to the Light Rail Transit project funded by the Japanese Government under generous concessionary terms, which too was thrown out for no valid reason two years ago? Had these two projects with a guaranteed multi-billion dollar inflow gone ahead, it would have potentially warded off the debilitating forex crisis.
While the Head of State has already apologised for the fertiliser blunder and delay in seeking IMF assistance – the two biggest causes of the current upheaval – what is to prevent bigger blunders being made in the future? It is this nagging suspicion that is driving people to demand not just a new administration but also a new system of governance, where the actions and decisions of leaders could be audited and those found wanting be made liable for their actions. Not to be left out, the Prime Minister moving to restore the 19th Amendment is also an admittance that the 20th was yet another mistake. It is this tragicomedy that has unfolded in the space of just two years that has got the administration running for cover.
However, a positive outcome of this turn of events has been the fall of the political establishment. That no politician has appeared at a public function for the last couple of weeks is indeed a refreshing change – and one that the country was yearning for. That this welcome change was created by none other than the politicians themselves is certainly the greatest of ironies. It was indeed a refreshing change to see children representing the future generation being handed the task of declaring open public projects carried out with State funding. If nothing else, this is a signal victory of the ‘jana aragalaya’ that has brought high-riding politicians back down to earth, and the metamorphosis will be complete when the ‘rulers’ once again become ‘servants of the people’.
Given the mood of the people, coupled with current economic exigencies and the need for the political establishment to redeem itself, self-imposed austerity is no longer an option but an absolute necessity. It is therefore incumbent upon the highest in the land to set the example by cutting out all extravagance associated with holding public office. It is however a matter of great consternation that this example has not been forthcoming so far, which has added to the wrath of the people. For instance, even though a new Cabinet has been appointed, it has been reported that all members of the previous Cabinet are still enjoying all the perks of office, such as luxury official vehicles, fuel, entertainment and communication allowances, official housing, security detail, and personal office staff, who in turn are also entitled to official vehicles and allowances, etc.
It is certainly a tale of two worlds with the servants of the people living it up while the masters are struggling to make ends meet. Given the growing social unrest as a result of this disparity, it would be a good idea to revert to the old times when politicians served in an honorary capacity. In fact, that is the basis for the prefix ‘honourable’. Many are the stories of how the wealthy became paupers by becoming politicians in the not-too-distant past as opposed to today, when paupers become billionaires overnight by becoming politicians. Desperate situations call for desperate measures and the Government can easily secure all the cash it needs if politicians are told to use their private vehicles and the hundreds of super luxury vehicles are auctioned off along with the prime residential properties allocated to ministers instead of selling national assets.
It is indeed unfortunate that while the people in general and the working masses in particular are looking for leadership from whichever quarter to steer the ship of State out of troubled waters, their elected leaders spent the whole of the past week sitting at their chessboards attempting to checkmate each other. The people have been left with no option but to secure their own collective future, which is exactly what they will be doing in the days ahead.
Kapruka
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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!