Making this country, the best:

Towards a new Sri Lanka

Professor Roshan T.A. MAYADUNNE

Continued from yesterday

I admired the response from the President when he reminded the nation and the monetary bodies that we had friends in the region who will support us and we will not negotiate nor depend on such handovers. Nivard Cabral also did well under the powerful guidance of our foreign policy of the Government. When did such things happen in Sri Lanka?

Have we taken a count of the number of people who felt good with this response? Why because we are now proud Sri Lankans. We all know what the outcome of this saga was: We got more from the IMF.

Then there was hilarious claim in the UN Human Rights Council. The web spun by the UNHRC’s N Pillai together with many powerful nations to say that our Force and political leaders were murderers. We all know in our hearts (including the opportunistic Opposition Leader) that we did not deliberately kill our own innocent people in the North.

A bunch of friends watched the submissions live, late at night and early in the morning on the internet when the sessions were open, the submissions delivered by Professor Rajiva Wijesinha, Mahinda Samarasinghe and the then UN representative Dr Dayan Jayatillake.

We were so proud to have our own blood, represent our country the way they did, and most of all the way the sessions were prosecuted, the strategies used and most of all the way we rallied some of the most powerful nations close to us (China, India and Russia) and won our counter motion with a resounding majority.

Was that not the sweetest victory of all and when did any country as small as our manage to get so many countries rally behind in support and when did such things happen in the history of Sri Lanka?

The key was to use the right people for the right job and the leadership has made us proud. For those who said we have antagonized the West, I say so be it, we have made many more close friends who are and will be there when we need them.

We need to cultivate the culture of nationalism. We need to cultivate a culture to be accountable. We need to change the attitude of people to work hard for prosperity.

Nationalism is important as we need to learn to say this is our country, this is our people and those come first. During one of my visits I was having dinner at a reputable hotel in Sri Lanka. We were three Sri Lankans. The level of response we received was quite poor, nevertheless, there was not enough of bending backwards for the guest at the next table.

Four white people possibly from Europe. There was one staff member practically standing beside the table to serve the four, none for us waiting as much as 20 minutes to get served on one occasion.

After much debate with my two friends, I had to call in the restaurant manager of the hotel to explain to him that we as Sri Lankans need to learn to look into the needs of our own people, serve them first before we serve foreigners, as that is how we get treated when we live in those countries.

What I found during both trips to Sri Lanka after September 9, our people are very friendly, willing to help and will go the extra mile, and we are almost there if we take a little bit pride being Sri Lankans.

Accountability is very important.

A post election news headline says “Don’t lead the masses in the wrong direction, the President urges the politicians.” Is it not the culture of our politicians to find fault when it is stark clear that it is the correct thing to do? Is it not the culture of our politicians to take from whereever it is available?

Is it not the culture of our politicians to do nothing if there is nothing in it for them or ask for more before even a project commenced? I am not in the game of blaming the politicians, but it is face that a child learns to behave like their parents. Corruption, commissions taking is not limited to Sri Lanka. Even Western politicians the so-called democratic countries are masters at helping themselves.

In high probability no country will and have been able to eliminate corruption, but those countries who were successful, like Singapore has been able to limit it. I think it is more important to be accountable for what anyone does.

If the focus can be directed at doing the job to the best of one’s abilities, or even better, or even a bit more better, that is strive/push to be better every time, eventually the culture of accountability will set in. And herein comes the attitude.

We need to culture the feeling among our people to want to do a better job every time, not do a job because one has to do it or need to do it for other reasons. I once was talking to a contract in a company in China and he in a flash said “sorry I have go now to talk to my god.”

I was bewildered. This was China and my understanding was that religious xx was not that great in China. I said “god?” and he said “oh I am sorry we call our clients god. The attitude and the dedication I’ve seen in China is amazing and has to be experienced to be believed.

They say that every time a new President is elected in any country people who vote do so with great expectations.

Most of all people have hope, primarily for their betterment as we need not forget that we are all human beings, secondarily for a better environment, a better country to live in.

Is it not why many emigrate to more prosperous countries, for better personal gain, with many sorry to leave but have no choice? Can I know one person who is rich in Sri Lanka who wants to leave Sri Lanka?

Does that not tell a tale, that Sri Lanka is heaven for many of us if we had a decent living standard, only if our country was rich and prosperous, had the means to support our own people, had enough money to bring about development etc.

Mr President we have had many Presidents in recent times, in my time, I’ve seen starting with the first President J.R. Jayewardene. You are now the fifth President of Sri Lanka after JR and people have given you an opportunity, and placed their trust in you as the best out of the lot to lead our country.

There are many who have the capacity to make a difference, who are crazy enough, who are maniacs but do not have the opportunity, like you have today. I appeal to you; make this beautiful, able country the best in the whole world.

During one of my recent visits to Sri Lanka (January 2010) a journalist asked me Do you think Sri Lanka can make it,” and I had two words, ‘without doubt’, and I strongly believe this time that we can do it. Take the chance.

Concluded.