Patali calls on intellectuals to help redeem country from predicament launches 43rd Brigade Campaign

By Yohan Perera   

Whilst stressing the need for a fifth generation leadership to deliver the country from the present economic and social crisis, Member of Parliament Patali Champika Ranawaka yesterday called all intellectuals to join in a struggle to bring in much needed reforms.   

Speaking yesterday in Colombo at the launch of the 43rd Brigade Campaign to invent national policies to develop Sri Lanka, Mr. Ranawaka said the objective of the new campaign  was to bring in revolutionary reforms similar to those that were introduced in 1956 by late Prime Minister S. W. R. D Bandaranaike and Late President J. R. Jayewardene in 1977.  “Government has changed ten times in Sri Lanka’s political history. However, real reforms were brought about by the Bandaranaike administration in 1956 and by Jayewardene administration in 1977. The objective of the 43rd Brigade is to bring in such reforms by forming an administration comprising of experts  from various sectors. We invite everyone to join in this exercise,” Mr. Ranawaka said.   

“ There was a first generation leadership in the world during old times where it was a tribal type leadership under which leaders administered through force and by order. Thereafter, came the second generation leadership which was based on command, and third generation leadership was based on assuming power through talking of threats and by forming empires. The fourth generation leaders were those who administered people through management and the fifth generation leaders comprise of clarity, being sensitive to the issues and sufferings of the people and being result- oriented. The 43rd Brigade is launched to produce similar category of fifth generation leaders,” he added.   

He said the total debt services of Sri Lanka for this year  was approximately $6.9 billion and funds cannot be generated even if Sri Lanka sold off the Hambantota Port, Mattala Airport, Colombo Port City and the Coal Fire Plant in Norochcholai.   “Some blame the COVID- 19 pandemic for the economic crisis. However, donor agencies have refused to provide pandemic relief to Sri Lanka, stating that the fall in economy did not occur as a result of it,” he also said.