Financial Times

Wise Old owl
Tsunami value - pluses and minuses
The Wise Old Owl perched atop its favourite tree just completed observing a two minute silence, at 9.30 a.m. this 26th day of January, in memory of those unfortunate people in Sri Lanka and in the region who lost their lives as a result of the tsunamis. He starts to ponder on what was visible in the last one month, a period of great enlightenment for the owl. The owl observed and heard of many persons and organizations, who through their initiatives added value or reduced value to the nation and its people, especially those who were affected by the tsunami.

The most impressive positive observation comes from the leadership of the Post Graduate Institute of Management, who closed the Institute for a month and asked all its graduate students to engage in active and dynamic research and management initiatives in the field, supporting tsunami relief and rehabilitation. The leadership team itself set up camp down south and actively engaged in their chosen facilitation areas together with the students. An example of leading from the front this team is worthy of a salute.

The Colombo hotels that cancelled the previously planned 31st night dances, the leading telecommunications company that lived up its earlier recognition with a CSR award and cancelled its VIP banquet allocating the budgeted costs for tsunami relief and a family of much wealth, power and status that cancelled a wedding reception, got the focus of the eye of the owl. Whenever the owl looked around at people helping with the packing and loading relief lorries it saw a fair share of foreigners. By last week, the young foreigners lending a hand were in the majority as the local emotions are now on a decline.

On the other side of the fence there were media men reporting for the foreign media on the disaster, writing malicious and unfair stories of criticism of those who genuinely add value. They also failed to report positive news from the tsunami. The old mariner who hooted and shouted and saved 5000 lives in Galbokka was highlighted only by a foreign correspondent. The journalist fraternity -- it is time to come of age and be professional. Why don't these journalists amongst their stories of gloom, misery and poor leadership commitments, also project the heroic acts of those who showed genuine bravery, care, compassion and equanimity in the face of the disaster?

Why are the usual press releases, suggestions and recommendations for the way forward missing from the leading Chambers of Commerce? Why are some other Chambers in the face of this crisis of such severe magnitude asking for a deferment of arrears back taxes not yet duly settled (trying to get another amnesty with retrospective effect!), that forgets the need for a level playing field against those who paid in time? What is the rationale for another Chamber to demand that risk carriers must pay whether contracted for or not?

What happened to the conscience of those who are having weddings and receptions with champagne and scotch flowing? The nightclubs and casinos are starting to fill up with young and old and also the tsunami supportive help industry and care institutional visitors to our land who travel in on business class to do relief business? "Are local and foreign individuals busy setting up NGO's with new options for personal livelihood arising from this crisis" asks the owl seeing what is happening around? "Are some sharks busy looking for money laundering and tax relief options dressing up initiatives within relief and rehabilitation "asks the owl again seeing things in a different perspective through the sharp eyes that shine at night? The owl also spotted outside a relief receipt and sorting centre that takes care before dispatch of the items to the poor and needy, stacks of tinned food, milk products and drugs all with expiry dates already past the deadline.

The politicians, the powerful and key officials are surrounded by well meaning but ill equipped for the task network partners, who inevitably try to please their bosses turning a blind eye to errors of judgement and policies and actions that subtract value.

The sharp ears of the owl did not hear a decline from any of the invited leaders for key task force leadership roles, nor did it hear cautionary and dissenting views outside the favourite thoughts and dreams of their powerful bosses. Of course the "Komis Kakkas" are working themselves into the favourite hot spots that will give them and their partner buddies a fat pay back.

The owl closes his eyes as it recites the sutras that bless even the wicked and the greedy and hopes for a nation tomorrow filled with plentiful fields, timely rains, contended people and just rulers.

(The writer, a respected business leader, could be reached at - wo_owl@yahoo.co.uk).

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