From greatness to crisis

By All Rounder

Email is a wonderful instrument that communicates many valuable information among networked groups irrespective of geographical barriers, an interesting presentation that’s doing the rounds these days provides food for thought or a wake up call for a nation in slumber. We bask ourselves with glory on our high literacy rate, culture, history etc, but we remain among the poor countries in the world and move from crisis to crisis in conflict in all possible ways. Today conflict has become a weapon of mass destruction tearing apart our society.

Craze and greed for power by politicians in the past have deprived the global link language English to our younger generations resulting in the country not being able to find even teachers to teach English today.

The presentation simply analyzes the distinction between rich and poor countries after eliminating the likely attributes such as natural resources, education, history, scholars and culture that would be ideally common to rich countries it proves that in actual fact richer countries like Singapore, Switzerland, Japan, etc does not possess most of these attributes. The conclusion lists the following common factors that are evident in richer countries with higher quality of life i.e.: Honesty, responsibility, respect for laws, mutual respect, commitment to service, and desire for excellence, punctuality and discipline. Need we say more about our nation once a granary in the east still left with ruins of a great ancient civilization now falling in to depths of unimaginable levels?

Education in crisis
What was limited to a privileged few in education under colonial rulers reached the masses through the free education policy of the visionary education minister, the late C W W Kannangara; the central schools formed the backbone of this revolution providing inputs to the universities. Craze and greed for power by politicians then deprived the global link language English to our younger generations resulting in the country not being able to find even teachers to teach English today. If this crisis was not enough a subsequent government through a school’s take over limited the setting up of new schools by private institutions.

The government schools however managed to survive mostly through support of the past pupils as the government could only meet the salary costs and some of the physical resources obviously due to government revenue limitations. It was the past pupils who financed major projects such as swimming pools, playgrounds, libraries and other such benefits that are needed today for complete education. Such support helped government schools to offer facilities not different to private schools.

We now hear that the government is now formulating a new admission policy by removing a concession that was available to past pupils, thus cutting away the valuable feeder line provided by the loyal past pupils of the respective schools. The expected outcome obviously would be a drop in quality in government schools thus shutting the doors for many children the essential facilities. Perhaps the children of these education authorities who come with these proposals may well not be educated in Sri Lanka. This could be yet another step to a crisis adding to many such creations by inept, shortsighted politicians who some years back introduced the famous two mile rule that is now more than a joke, being breached to the full through series of bogus documentation. Where is the honesty, commitment for excellence?

Traffic and safety
Traffic probably is the most discussed issue today next to war. Closure of roads, uniflow system, etc have added new issues to an burning problem Added to this is the total disrespect for automated traffic signals by the traffic police who add a lot of confusion in to the roads unknowingly. Meanwhile, trishaws the most common and economical public transport continue to be unsafe and indisciplined in addition to levying arbitrary charges without any basis. The government has adopted a total no care attitude to this growing crisis.

The accident service records of the General Hospital speak volumes for the unsafe and hazardous driving causing misery to people.

Corruption and lawlessness
Corruption cannot be totally eliminated but certainly a degree of incidence can be curtailed through investigative and quick prosecution mechanism. However in our country corruption seems to racing towards unprecedented heights. Though mechanisms are available to eradicate this menace it’s a pity that such are not put to good use. The recent COPE findings are more than shocking with instances of serous irregularities being reported in some of the largest privatizations in the not so recent past. The politicians and even the private sector have been accused of causing heavy losses to the state. Even at this stage it is hoped government will act with courage to punish the wrongdoers.

Economic buzz words of Foreign Investment, Economic growth, Eradication of poverty and free and just society may remain only dreams for many more years unless the nation and the leaders wake up from the slumber and take a look at the world... Are we to remain a poor country for ever only recalling our glorious past and the work of our ancient kings and gradually move in to deep crisis or rise for the betterment of future generations?