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Monday, 12 December 2011

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Managing economy

We read in newspapers, articles painting pictures of doom and gloom about our country’s economy and it was reassuring to read the factual state of the economy from the ‘horse’s mouth’, Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal in an interview with an Island Special Correspondent on October 20 answering the several critical issues of trade deficits; current account deficits; exchange rates, and balance of payments. I like to highlight some of his answers reassuring us ordinary citizens of the factual situation of the country’s economy.

The governor exposed these critics - pothe guras when he replied “very often sweeping statements and vague generalizations are made by persons who do not see the long-term trends or the big picture. Managing an economy is not an exercise which ends at a year end, or at the end of a quarter. On the contrary, it is an on going process. For those who manage economies of countries on a long-term basis what is most important is the direction of the economy.”

Replying the critics of fiscal deficits, the governor says “at one time certain governments wanted to reduce the fiscal deficit by drastically cutting revenue expenditure by sending half of the public servants home. They also curtailed public investments which lead to widespread unemployment. Some even negotiated with terrorists to barter away our provinces because they thought it would be better to save money even though the economy was reeling and people were dying with bombs going off at every junction”. (my emphasis).

As a self respecting citizen, I want to quote what the governor said when asked about the statement by the IMF rep in Sri Lanka about ‘being utterly foolish’ for not finalizing the CEPA. The governor said ‘I think it’s quite unwise for anyone from outside, particularly when that person represents a global institution to suggest that entering or not entering into an agreement by sovereign nations is ‘utterly foolish’. I personally feel that the governor was rather polite in dismissing the IMF statement but courageous enough to disregard the fact that the IMF has still to disburse the last instalment of the agreed loan. Let us hope that all our administrators will have the courage to stand firm of their convictions and not allow outsiders to interfere with the sovereignty of the country. We have to negotiate the best terms for our country and not to please politically motivated interference.

We have been told by opposition economists that the government has borrowed large sums at different interest rates and has made even unborn children indebted by about Rs 200,000 and the country is heading for bankruptcy. They have conveniently forgotten that the JR government in the 1980s borrowed large sums for the massive Mahaveli Development and today these loans are almost settled and the liability have now become a huge national asset even of unborn children. I do not know what these critics would do or say if they only knew the amount the USA citizens’ indebtedness.

Those who want to earn some brownie points and hoping to bring down the government by trying to scare the people, should know that it has always been the rural masses that changed governments and not the Colombo elites. The last municipal and other elections clearly show that the rural people voted overwhelmingly to support the present government except the rich and poor of Colombo who really resurrected the UNP leader by voting the UNP to power. I say resurrected because if the Colombo Municipality was also lost like all the others, it would have strengthened the case of those who wanted to change the leadership of the party. So now the leader should show his gratitude to the unfortunate slum dwellers by providing them decent houses without displacing them!

There is no doubt that we need a strong opposition who must offer some concrete policy alternatives instead of slogans and mere criticisms of the government. I wish to reiterate that the UNP made a huge mistake, still reverberating in the minds of the people as shown by their election defeats, for not heeding the advice of their former deputy leader Rukman Senanayake to support the war effort of the government.


What advent should mean to laity

Today the preparation for the great birth of Christ takes on materialistic and commercial forms and norms. The great feast has been so commercialised that the true nature and spirit of Christmas is entirely lost. We are drawn into the vortex of entertainment, enjoyment, fun, merriment and gormandizing to the detriment of the spiritual aspect. We are caught in the whirlpool of the glamour of the festival and forget the reality of the event - a babe born in a stable as there was no room for him at an inn “just as there are elderly mothers and fathers relegated to Elders’ Homes as there is no room for them in their own children’s homes” among lowing cattle, on a cradle of straw wrapped in swaddling clothes.

Advent is a period of anticipation, expectation and contemplation of this great event of God made man. Just as much as we prepare materialistically, we must prepare ourselves spiritually as we prepare in the season. A true contrition of heart, a joyful anticipation yet a charitable disposition, a readiness to forgive and be reconciled would surely be in keeping with the spirit of advent. Understanding how the other half of the world lives and reaching out to them – they who do not know it’s Christmas time at all!

It would be an appropriate precursor to that joyful Christmas morn and would enable us to enjoy a truly meaningful Christmas.


Pots on balconies pose a danger

When I visited the National Hospital, I saw people waiting till it’s opened.

I saw big flower pots on the balconies of the first floor and remembered my colleague’s mother’s death after falling a flower pot on her head.

I wrote to the Administrative Officer of the NH and visited the place again after a couple of days. Those vases have been removed by the authorities.

Now the purpose of writing this letter is to praise the authorities concerned, specially the Ministry of Housing and the Colombo Municipal Council, to make aware of their flat dwellers to immediately removed flower pots and vases from their balconies. Private flat and apartment owners too are kindly requested to follow suit.


Discipline is essential

When we live in a civilized society, we should give priority to discipline. A society without discipline will never exist as a peaceful and harmonious one.

All the founders of religions who were born into this world preached the vital importance of virtue or morality.

Today, the electronic and print media constantly report the incidents of violence in public places. These pathetic situations are reported not only from the universities and schools but even from the Parliament too. As responsible citizens, we can never approve the misbehaviour of people’s representatives in public places.

This is high time for the religious dignitaries and social reformers to take measures to create a law-abinding society in our country.


Tarred road needs to be repaired

It is disheartening to find that the tarred road from Hemmathagama to Mawanella remains unsuitable for transport. Hope the authorities will think about the needs of the daily travellers from Hemmathagama to Mawanella and take expeditious steps to make a better road to the people of Mawanella electorate.

 

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