Scrap APC and thrash out matters in Parliament

 2022/03/25

 

I have a feeling I shall go mad. I cannot go on longer in these terrible times. I shan’t recover this time. I hear voices and cannot concentrate on my work. I have fought against it but cannot fight any longer.

That was a moan from the heart of Virginia Stephen Woolf, greatly admired by Cassandra, also her husband, Leonard Woolf, who left serving the British Civil Service in Ceylon because he did not agree with colonial policies for its dominions. True, Virginia was prone to mental imbalance but her brain and creative writing were exceptional. What she said is echoed by thousands of Sri Lankan women today, yours truly included, railing against most terrible times brought upon the land by the hand of rulers, from many decades ago but compounded by this government.

Cass does not need to elaborate on this. TV reportage makes the desperation of the people clear, visible plus audible. Two deaths from standing in queues have already been reported. The prevailing humid weather compounds matters but the wrath, desperation and being at the end of one’s tether is all justified. And what are our leaders who govern us doing to alleviate people’s problems?

This way and that

They, our highest government leaders, to Cass’ jaundiced eye and maddened mind, are running around like headless roosters. We are in the worst financial crisis ever, and we find the Minister of Finance rushing to India to beg. It has been announced that the IMF is being consulted and asked to assist, but The Island of Tuesday March 22 announces in bold black letters “Discussions with China underway to resolve economic crisis” with USD 2.5 bn funding. Cass is a rather brainless chick but her head is firmly attached to her neck. She wonders why this Chinese hand of help while the IMF has been consulted. Also, if China is so in sympathy with SL, why did it not step in to prevent a Chinese fertiliser company from demanding payment for a shipment of contaminated organic manure. That company should have paid Sri Lanka compensation.

The Leader of the Opposition too has been acting like a a headless rooster. Maybe his head along with his brains were blown by the huge crowds his Party were rewarded with in their recent protest march and gathering opposite the old Parliament. He boldly told the Prez to resign and hand over the government to him and his Party. Good gimmick for the gallery but fell short of thinking people’s approval. Does he not know the Constitution? Has he a shadow Cabinet in place to take over if there is an upheaval? He should court other parties; intelligent, wise, honest, incorruptible persons and then declare he is ready, willing and competent to take over running the country and salvaging it from utter ruin. Such a wonderful country of solid resources, mainly manpower of brains and brawn, pulverized to begging. The pulverisation was because of no planning, incorrect decisions, cronyism and corruption where the greatest consideration was given to how much a VIP could earn illegally.

There are some wonderful women in the wings who will most definitely help to haul the country out of the pit it has been sunk in. Cass makes bold to mention just three of the many women who have proved themselves to be outspoken, unafraid and concerned about the country and its Ordinaries: Dr Harini Amarasuriya (JVP), Lihini Fernando of the Moratuwa Urban Council and Hirunika Premachandra (SJB). They are up front, but there are hundreds of capable women who will and can dedicate themselves to lifting the country out of its present mess.

Inexplicable

Cass could not understand and explain what MP Namal Rajapaksa recently said. He must surely have had words of wisdom dropping from him being an Attorney–at-Law and Son and Heir, but Cass could not fathom what brand he meant exactly. She is not feather brained nor mentally affected by the troubles we are battered by, and the prevailing heat, though of course emotionally scarred.

In a boxed news item by Sanath Nanayakkare on the front page of The Island of March 22, he reports that “Minister Namal Rajapaksa said yesterday that as countries in the world were going through an unprecedented global crisis, their political brands might face its impact but each nation would ensure that its own national brand remained strong….We should strive to keep the brand of Sri Lanka untainted no matter what.”

Thus, she resorted to Internet and got this definition for country branding: “There are many benefits from branding of nations. Country branding refers to a process in which a country claims a distinct brand position in the minds of its citizens, international stakeholders and the global customer.” Nation branding “aims to measure, build and manage the reputation of countries.”

Commenting on this Cass feels she is on quicksand, not only because the VIP involved is given a treble V in front of his name and is no ordinary ‘young of the country.’ However, though the quick research she did gave her the correct definitions, in the case of our country – Resplendent Isle, Paradise, Serendipitous Land et al – the brand names, more so its political brand that come to mind are corruption for which we are known worldwide. It is also the brand of family bandyism. Additionally, it bears the brand of laziness and love of lotus eating of the majority race. Incidentally, a much-flouted brand boast is its more than 2500 years of cultural heritage? And now a succinct branding: queue up for anything and everything.

Can and should Cass ramble on Fridays?

This question pops itself up very often when Cass sits to word processing her Cry. Certainly not through modesty but because she wonders how she dares comment on the state of the nation or on politics. She justifies herself as the voice of an Ordinary for the country’s Ordinaries and also expressing opinions and views held by women. She also justifies herself as echoing what Knowing People have pronounced, especially on TV talk shows or panel discussions like Face the Nation.

She listened to the Monday night programme of March 21 with Shameer Rasooldeen anchoring. Excellent opinions and suggestions as usual, this time on the economic situation of the country. Cass will not mention names nor ascribe what was said by whom but merely summarise spot on conclusions:

Do not change the leadership as of now; political instability or upheaval will only exacerbate the dire situation we are in. However, the President must take responsibility for what went wrong and also responsibility to harness the IMF, brains both in-house and foreign and lead in making changes, imposing restrictions etc.

Remedial action must be taken NOW, urgently and within a short space of time. Delay will send matters beyond redemption.

Youth who wish to migrate to be encouraged to stay back and help lead the country back to stability, if not prosperity. The old have led long enough; new blood is needed.

The smaller businesses which seem to be wiped out now can come back since they are agile and can transform themselves and accommodate consumer needs more easily than large commercial companies.

Less urgent issues must not be placed on the back burner, such as information which calls for IT. People must be made aware of exactly where the country is economically and what is planned and what is being done to remedy matters.

Cass adds an idea of hers. Why call for an all-party parley and get rebuffs with political parties refusing their participation? All parties are represented in Parliament (with the mighty UNP reduced to one single MP). Thus, no need for magul bera and processions; the decoration of a venue, and speeches at a podium. The Prez can come to Parliament and an All-Party Conference held within with no fanfare but only serious business attended to. The suggestion to hold a conf seems to be another delaying tactic. Get down to business where business is discussed – the Parliament of Sri Lanka.