18 March 2020 12:27 am Views - 3597
We remember those five years where alleged financial corruption chocked the country’s economy. Now what’s suffocating the people is a virus which has the potential to spread far and wide within the island nation. This will happen if Sri Lankans don’t act more responsibly and comply with government regulations. There are some who say that this is a golden opportunity for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to underscore the importance of infusing discipline in the islanders. Just over three months into this presidentship, Gotabaya is showing that he has the grip on the first challenge that has come his way while being the first citizen of the country. We see only traces of a military background in his speeches, but those following his orders are working like military men.
Some people who voted for the present president have already opined that a two thirds majority at the General Elections followed by the abolishing of the 19th Amendment by a probable 20th Amendment to the Constitution would put the people of this nation under the rule of a tyrant. The way in which those returning from abroad were not willing to undergo the quarantine process and an affluent businessman not following the state regulated medical process of checking into a government hospital and instead seeking treatment at a private hospital, after he returned from abroad, suggest that this nation overall doesn’t deserve freedom in large doses.
And a president like Gotabaya will come to power through the votes of people who have to be disciplined. If this nation was disciplined and the citizens were pious, invariably there won’t be much of a chance for a person with a military background to be voted in as president. Sadly the majority of people in this island are not that! Hence we have Gotabaya!
This virus like others in the past too shall pass away. We read in the newspapers that as many as 60 families in Chillaw have been put under house arrest because some of their members have just returned from Italy; one of the nations most effected by this pandemic. The shortcoming with most Sri Lankans is that they are selfish beyond belief at times. We also hear of how some migrants returning from South Korea used social media to degrade the efforts of the security forces in maintaining quarantine centres and the services provided at these institutes.
A man with a military background would be a little extreme in his thinking. In this sense Gotabaya is not alone. Former Member of Parliament and Field Marshal Sarath Foneseka wants all citizens of this country quarantined. Though this might seem a brutally extreme thing to do if that is what could stem the rot then be it!
China handled its quarantine process very well and so did Japan; hence the land of the rising sun has dropped out of the top ten countries worst affected by this pandemic.
Sri Lanka has come in for praise for its efforts to control the pandemic, but it seems we’ve misjudged the fact that ‘fearing’ the virus doesn’t amount to taking ‘precautions’. Citizens will be considered as having taken precautions when they are following guidelines prescribed my medical experts and educating themselves by reading up literature on this pandemic. Sri Lanka’s efforts to fight this virus could be considered as wasted when we hear of news items where as many as 35 citizens having gone missing after returning from several countries; without following the quarantine process.
COVID 19 in Sri Lanka tests the capacity of our new president, checks whether our medical staff is willing and able and whether the country’s citizens will bet on myths and beliefs instead of following sound medical advice.
Geneva, where the United Nations headquarters as well as the World Heath Organization are housed, is a place associated with democracy and fair thinking. But this city took harsh steps to ban non-working gatherings of more than five people. Meanwhile in Sri Lanka a government minister, while announcing on television the holiday on Monday, had to caution employees not to use the holiday to embark on fun trips. This in itself shows that Sri Lanka needs a leader who can discipline the majority of these islanders.
Most Sri Lankans are selfish beyond belief at times. We also hear of how some migrants returning from South Korea used social media to degrade the efforts of the security forces
The strict regulations imposed by the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) to combat COVID 19 has however done a world of good for children. The Ministry of Education has announced the cancellation of as many as nine exams and extended the deadlines for applications for several exams; among which is the GCE Advanced Level Examination. The world health authorities have identified very elderly citizens and young children belonging to a group most vulnerable in falling victim to COVID 19. In this backdrop it was alarming to see a school cricket encounter, boasting of a history of well over a hundred years, attracting a massive public gathering despite the state authorities warning that the life threatening virus was at its peak around the world. For the record fans employed at private companies and were present at the venue which hosted the cricket big match have been informed to undergo a 14-day quarantine period before returning to work. There had been a first officer of SriLankan Airlines at the match who was later diagnosed with contracting the virus.
There are many in this nation who wish to use the pandemic to gain political mileage. The Leader of the newly formed party Samagi Jana Balawegaya Saijith Premadasa has already called for the postponement of the upcoming General Elections; scheduled for April 25.
The leader of another newly formed party, New Lanka Freedom Party, Kumara Welgama, is another person who warned against a person like Gotabaya occupying the hot seat as president. The politician operating in Kalutara has shown concerns of military officers being appointed to head state institutes.
Given all that talk about the demands for democracy and fair play and the presence of a blatant disregard for calls to behave like responsible citizens during this pandemic, it seems the presence of a military man as the country’s president at this juncture can be justified!