After several years of horribleness, the 8th of January last year brought about a welcome change. Like a breath of fresh air after a long hot summer or a bleak, cold winter of discontent. We awoke to a long awaited most welcome freedom to speak, to write, to worship as we wish to do. It brought new hope that we were no longer doomed  to live in an era of unprecedented corruption and family rule. Now there are no white vans which were a feature of that regime; there is an absence of disappearances, no  intimidation or murder of journalists who dared to speak out in honesty.We had  witnessed an era of extravagant spending of public funds on personal glory, grandiose pleasure, a flamboyant lifestyle by rulers and even funding of monuments to family at state expense.



But, as people tend to have short memories, there are those among us who took all the atrocities of the previous regime in silence,  now shouting their heads off,criticizing far from constructivism, the present government. No-one can deny that there are faults and frailties, as none of us are infallible, being mere human beings and not gods. But these faults fall far short of what happened earlier with a blatant blindness, deafness and a ignoring of the views of the people by the rulers we had. 

There are none so blind as those that will not see and in this respect one recalls the words of no less a person than Einstein,’The world will be destroyed not by those who do evil, but by those who watch without doing anything about it’. Among those shouting loudest is the bright spark who once said that a family could live on Rs2,500. Fortunately, no-one with an IQ over zero, believed in his arithmetic or his judgment! Another  who spent public money as if it was his own, spoiling his children with luxuries and encouraging them in high spending habits like night racing despite protests by highly respected members of the Buddhist clergy;the children were indulged and encouraged to lead a life far removed from what they had been used to earlier while abusing power. He too is now attacking the amendments to the Budget. 

Amendments were brought because this government was willing to listen to the people who voiced their views without fear, as the government was open to discussions , lending a patient ear to the woes of the people and considering their opinions.

No government has done so much in such short a time to lessen the burdens of the people as this government. The prices of many essential food items, including milk food have been reduced, as has the price of gas and petrol. Salaries have been increased,the woes of senior citizens have been taken into consideration and we now have an independent judiciary once again after a long lapse.Both the President and Prime Minister lead simple lives,no large delegations of cronies are taken abroad at government expense.

The lament of UNP supporters is that many who supported the party through thick and thin with absolute loyalty have not been rewarded with posts, but that those who came in to help at the last moment, when it was obvious that the tide had turned and were earlier gunning for the PM have been given posts. This speaks volumes for the PM’s magnanimity and his ability to forgive. 

But it is certainly discouraging for those who remained steadfast in their loyalty, although we must remember that it is not a UNP, but a coalition government. It amuses me somewhat to see that those who argued with me , attacking the PM and wanting him out are now even writing articles praising him which they never did at the worst times.  Those who were once at his throat are now at his feet. 

Those who said publicly a few years ago, that the PM would be soon in the political wilderness and organised marches demanding his resignation have also been proved wrong in their predictions and actions.  

My steadfast support for the PM, through thick and thin was never for personal favours or perks, but purely because I  believed that he was the only statesman among all politicians of the present era, who had the experience in good governance, the integrity, the intellect, a sense of history and the vision to lead the country forward. 

He has built up a second line of educated, honest bright young politicians, who are far superior to those in any other political party. Although they should be warned not to be taken in by those who made millions during the previous regime and are now trying to hang on to some of our young MP’s and ministers. 

They should not waste their time with these wheeler dealers but  should spend more time in their electorates telling the people about what the government has done at grassroots level. 

I am glad that my faith and my loyalty were never built on the shifting sands of victory and defeat.  

Now, in the calmer waters of my sunset years, I would like to say yet once again to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, that I will always believe in him.