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New wine in old bottles

Prof. Rajiva Wjesinha

Some weeks back I received in the post a copy of Milinda Moragoda's collected speeches, 'A Warm Heart, a Cool Head and a Deep Breath'.

I was pleased by this because, though I did not know him, what I had read of his attitudes and capabilities had impressed me. This was why, a couple of years ago, I bemoaned the fact that bright young things like him and Ravi Karunanayake had been left out of the cabinet.

While doubtless neither would thank me for classifying them together, I feel justified in that both have continued to evince the new thinking the country needs so desperately.

At the same time I must confess I was wrong in some other areas. Mr Bakeer Markar, though undoubtedly one of the most decent people in politics, allowed the Media Ministry to be superseded entirely by Ranil's private think tank.

This ensured that Ranil remained sacrosanct even as various branches of the media laid bare the corruption and inefficiency overwhelming the administration.

And though I still think it was ridiculous that Education should not have been in the Cabinet from the start, and can believe that it was the warning he got in being left out then that paralysed Karunasena Kodituwakku, his performance has been extremely sad since then.

Indeed, one almost feels Ranil should have given his prejudices full rein and appointed someone else to that portfolio instead.

Either Milinda or Ravi would indeed make an admirable Minister of Education. Ravi, insofar as his Mahapola responsibilities give him an entry into the field, has been quick at decisions but one has to accept that his work in other areas probably keeps him fully occupied.

Milinda however is in a very different position and, given his responsibility for Science and Technology (as well as Economic Reforms), it would make sense for him to take over at least Higher Education, if the hope of Regaining Sri Lanka is not to be entirely forgotten.

I say this because it is clear that the ideas he was bursting with, even a year ago, are simply nowhere near being put into practice. When finally elevated to the Cabinet he was also made Deputy Minister for Policy Development and Implementation, and his speeches indicate he thought he would be entrusted with significant responsibilities.

In those days indeed he also assisted the Prime Minister with the Peace Process, which is why he apologized for neglecting Science and Technology. And he noted that the Prime Minister had decided to 'place the responsibility for foreign aid and external resources directly under his own Ministry of Policy Planning and Development', assuming doubtless that he too could help ensure that these were used productively.

What has happened since those sunny days of April 2002? Milinda seemed to have been sidelined in the Peace Process, in favour of GL, doubtless because of the latter's experience in this field under Chandrika.

Incidentally, as though to make it crystal clear - contrary to expectation - that that Process does not require intense concentration and effort, GL also has some economic responsibility in that his official title is Minister for Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy & Investment Promotion & Constitutional Affairs.

Conversely, poor Rohitha Bogollagama who looks after Industries is not in the Cabinet, and has comparatively little money with which to produce the goods.

With regard to Foreign Aid, the best comment on the incompetence that besets us was provided by the Tigers, in their trenchant criticisms of the government's failure to do anything tangible for the people of the North and East.

That is their most cogent reason for demanding total control of the administration in those Provinces, whereas Ranil could have ensured a much broader impact of what he terms the peace dividend had he allowed someone like Milinda or Ravi to oversee Rehabilitation.

Milinda, I suspect, understands the basic problem. Many months ago he referred to the example of Mahathir who 'cut the size of his Cabinet. And only after he had substantially reduced the privileges of his ministers, did he tell the people of Malaysia, "All of you must make sacrifices for two years so that we can turn the country around."

When the Cabinet was announced in December 2001 he must have realized the writing was on the wall. But, unfortunately, despite his ideals, neither he nor anyone else will raise such issues in a manner that ensures the Reforms we so sadly need.

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