Explosive devices and growing mistrust of the state - EDITORIAL

A few days ago, Christians were shocked to hear an arm of the security forces claim, they had discovered a bomb/grenade at ‘All Saints’ Church’ in Borella. According to the police, the bomb was discovered on a tip-off from an anonymous public source. The police also took into custody the Sacristan (caretaker) of the church and a 13-year-old boy.  

What was and continues to be sad however, is the fact that hardly anyone gives credence to the police claim. The head of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka pouring scorn on the claim, literally accused the police of dancing to the tune of political powers, and taking into custody innocent persons on trumped-up charges.  

It’s not new, similar charges against the police have been made time out of number and will continue as long as spineless men in uniform bend backward to lick the bootstraps of their political bosses for petty personal benefit. Many people see the action as part of a drama to take the people’s minds away from the pressing economic problems being heaped on the public.  

In some sectors the cost of living continues to outstrip wages which have been frozen since the time the pandemic hit the country. Private sector employees have seen their wages halved. Many daily paid workers and self-employed have lost their employment. They have joined the growing ranks of what the World Bank refers to as the new poor.  

Government’s attempts to change agricultural practices – banning petroleum-based fertilizer overnight, apparently without sufficient plans to bridge the void - ruined the last planting season and forced farmers to leave their fields and take to the streets to draw attention to their man-made problems. This group too now adds to the growing numbers of new poor.  

The sudden policy change (agriculture) has led to a shortage of agricultural products like rice and vegetables in the market. The resultant shortfall has led to skyrocketing prices of basic food needed to keep body and soul together.   
The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in the loss of income from the tourist trade and expatriate worker earnings - the two largest sources of foreign exchange earnings.   

The drop in earnings from these sectors has decimated the foreign reserves of the country, leading to a ban on imports including medicines and milk foods. In turn, it has put these essential items beyond the reach of more than 70% of the population.  
In addition, the drop in foreign reserves has raised fears of a possibility of the country being unable to meet its foreign debt repayments.  

The near-bankruptcy of power and energy ministry caused by non-payment of outstanding electricity bills (especially by government departments), and its inability to meet the unexpected increase in fuel costs has led to power cuts. The Minister of power, however, insists that power cuts have not been imposed!  
In like manner, the Governor of the Central Bank, keeps repeating that the country will have the ability to repay its overseas commitments. He however does not let us know how he would be able to do this, in the light of the foreign exchange crisis in the country.  

It was in this background, the ‘discovery’ of bombs/grenades were made. Not strangely a majority of people remain skeptical. There is also a trend of thought which believes some persons are attempting to raise the spectre of Islamophobia in an effort to take attention away from the fact that the reports of commissions appointed to investigate the Easter Sunday bombings have not been made public yet.  

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has witheringly pointed out he believes the investigation into the ‘discovery of bombs’ at ‘All Saints’ Church’ is an eye-wash as investigators have ignored CCTV footage of the incident in its entirety. According to Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, the recording shows the person who left the explosives at the church.  
The Muslim community is once again living in fear that they could become race-hate targets. It’s time the government intervenes to clear up the mess created by little-minded people attempting to cover up mismanagement by raising discord among the communities. Premier Rajapaksa with great difficulty ended an ethnic conflict caused by rousing racism and different phobia in the country.  
We do not need a repeat performance just as the country is beginning to raise its head after a near 3-decade war and the ravages of Covid-19 pandemic.