Sri Lanka needs real progress whereby the 74% of the population comprising mainly farmers and fishermen are empowered and enabled to develop through a model of economic governance, whereby they cease to be exploited by middlemen who are often the stooges of politicians, or simply greedy exploitative human beings. A farmer or fisherman should have the means to become an entrepreneur, instead of someone who does the hard work only to have middlemen cream higher profit than he does through his labor. None of the leaders of SL after independence have facilitated real economic progress of the masses. There is a general feudal spirit that is both administered blithely and accepted unquestioningly. Hence the bulk of the population lives in conditions of relative and obvious poverty, while a few are inequitably rich. It is our political and economic model that has determined this. We are happy to dole out a pittance to the less fortunate, feel thats adequate for them and keep them economically enslaved. This is precisely the mindset of our current and previous rulers. I do not believe that there is a leader with the vision and will to change this. It requires courage, determination and a different mental outlook. It requires tremendous effort to dismantle the mentality that drives the current status quo and even more to push through dramatic change required to make this a tangible reality. Lee Kwan Yew implemented draconian systems of governance in Singapore and in effect established a family and crony based dictatorship, without the visible decadence and evil of the Middle eastern dictatorships. From talking to many Singaporeans during my recent stay there, it is evident that our own rulers here seek to establish a similar system in SL. Yet, they fail to see the relative economic equality of the 5M Singaporeans living in a city state. This was achieved through control and strict measures of governance. Yet Sri Lanka cannot become a Singapore just because we have two beautified cities- Colombo and Hambanthota, or roads and highways which are regularly accessible to the favored few vehicle owners. Voters need to ask, why am I as a farmer not driving a car and living in a nice house, when I represent the bulk of the population? Why do my rulers live like kings, and I like a serf? How do highways benefit me when I cannot afford the bus fare to use them? How has my economic lot improved in the last 66 years since independence? Somebody needs to educate people to think and question their economic circumstances. They need to stop being swayed by 11th hour pre election hand outs and promises. While they dont need to focus on the higher issues of governance, they must take charge of their economic future. It is the passivity and servility of our masses that has perpetuated generations of politicians who are exploitative, corrupt and ineffectual.
Posted on: Sat, 06 Dec 2014 07:40:06 +0000
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