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The primacy of the economy

Considering that economics drive politics, it was most appropriate for President Mahinda Rajapaksa to dwell on the subject of economic equity in the course of his address to the country on the occasion of Sri Lanka's 64th Independence anniversary. The long 30 year conflict has been ended with the resounding defeat of the LTTE, but the task before the state now is to usher sustained development on the basis of equity, the President explained.

The President admitted quite clearly that the government has no excuses from now on but to get ahead with the primary project of countrywide development.

As he rightly pointed out, past governments could have found excuses for not delivering on the development front by citing the conflict, its rigors and the demands it imposed on the country, but his administration could not avail of this excuse because terror is no more.

The present government cannot look to the conflict for excuses for not performing to the satisfaction of the people and the development process must not only be persisted with but made to yield the benefits people look forward to from it. Whereas in former times, residents of villages such as Kebitigollewa requested the state for bunkers and rifles, what they need now are houses, electricity, safe drinking water, sustained food supplies, livelihoods and the like which comprise their economic and material needs.

This is a highly sober and commonsensical way of looking at Sri Lanka's issues. It is economic equity that gives stability and, ultimately, harmony to a country and the number one challenge before our polity is to single-mindedly work towards this goal. It could be seen that economic equity or justice is also the key to many of the issues facing our communities. Some could object to this line of thinking by stating that 'identity' issues play a predominant role in the questions our minority communities in particular have been grappling with over the years, but it is the failure on the part of past governments to usher economic justice countrywide that prompted sections in the North-East to raise the thorny issues of discriminatory treatment of them by central administrations and of the latter's inability to guarantee equality of opportunity and condition for all sections of the citizenry.

As we have consistently pointed out, it is the perception of being discriminated against that drive some sections to raise the question of ethnicity. On being seen as discriminated against consistently, these sections come to believe that the discriminatory treatment meted out to them has its roots in their perceived ethnic identity. Thus, does ethnicity come to dominate the politics of a country.

Accordingly, now that terror is out of the way, there is no choice but to make steady headway in the war against want and deprivation.

This simply and easily digestible message must be got across by the government to all its coalition partners and other relevant sections which are at the helm of the country's affairs. The number one priority from now on should be economic justice and equity and those forms of empowerment which are enjoyed in Colombo and Gampaha must not only be enjoyed in the deep South but must be made to be experienced fully in Jaffna, Kilinochchi and practically every geographical area of Sri Lanka. When this is achieved fully, 'ethnicity' could be found to wither away.

Simultaneously, our polity needs to work towards progressive democratic development. This is particularly true of our provinces. One measure of democratic development is the increasing inclusion of people or who are considered the masses, in the relevant decision-making processes. For instance, we need to see more and more people's participation in the decision-making process at the village, Pradeshiya Sabha and provincial levels.

To be sure, periodic elections are held to governing bodies at these levels, but this process must be intensified and expanded. If we want to see increasing identification with the state on the part of once disaffected groups, then, increasing popular participation in decision-making is the answer.
 

Rural people should be given the results of giant development works – President

Addressing the 64th Independence Day celebrations at Anuradhapura on Saturday President said that we would be able to utilize the giant development works built by us for national development only if we can bring up a citizen equipped with modern, scientific, technical and language skills and who could be on par with anybody else in the world.

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Deyata Kirula awakens Raja Rata

Marking the 64th anniversary of Independence:

The Deyata Kirula 2012 exhibition at Oyamaduwa, opened by the President on February 4, will continue till February 10. A special feature on this occasion is a special programme (parallel to the exhibition) on developing the infrastructure facilities in the Anuradhapura District at a cost of Rs. 21,742 million

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Dinosaur footprints discovered in Beijing

Paleontologists say several hundred fossilized footprints in a Beijing suburb are those of dinosaurs. The footprints, unearthed in a geological park in Yanqing county, are the first dinosaur traces the city has found, according to Zhang Jianping, researcher at the China University of Geosciences.

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