How power cuts plunge students’ future in darkness - EDITORIAL

The Advanced Level Examination commenced on January 23 leaving candidates the opportunity to dream about the futures they would love to have. That’s of course if all goes well. Unfortunately Sri Lanka is undergoing turbulent times sans a leader elected by the people and to add to that the deepening financial crisis which is threatening the existence of even large businesses and banks as well. Children who are studying and facing exams are a small dot in this equation. 

However, still, that small dot representing the exam candidates is looked upon as the future brains of this country. This is why it’s so vital for them to prepare for their next question paper with some preparation on the previous day. But how can anybody have a proper study schedule when promises to refrain from having power outages are not kept by the authorities?

Following a request made by the Examinations Department the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) had instructed the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) not to have power cuts during the days of the A Level Examination. But all those associated with the exam, including parents of students, were in for a rude shock even on Wednesday (January 25) because there were two power outages. The PUSL has stated that the CEB couldn’t stick to the PUCSL’s instructions regarding power outages because of high generation costs and shortage of funds. 

Many people, especially those with some clout in this country, have expressed their views regarding these power cuts during the ongoing Advanced Level Examination. A leading Bikku organization has opined that the power cuts are a ploy to delay the elections. 
The Human Rights Commission has said in a statement that depriving students of electricity at a crucial time like an examination amounts to deprivation of right to equality. The statement also says that power outages will hinder the right to education too.   

The Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa has stated that having power outages at times like this amounts to putting the children’s future in darkness. This is where we have to start thinking from. We need to think beyond the future of children and think of the future of the voters who have the power to elect and change governments. 
Right now most breadwinners of families, who are earning a basic salary of Rs 100,000 or over per month, are seeing a deduction because the interest that the salary generates inside the bank is subject to a 5% tax. At the rate Sri Lanka is going and the manner in which this government is dancing to the tune of the powers that influence it there is much speculation that this regime will in the near future impose tax cuts of some sort to those who are drawing a basic salary of Rs 40,000 a month. 

When these children complete their Advanced Level Examination parents will have to start funding higher education. Often this stage of education happens abroad because most students don’t get the required Z Score to enter local universities. But can parents spend excessively on children’s higher education, to be done overseas, when their incomes are taxed? Even the interest generated from fixed deposits is subject to a 5% tax; this regulation came into application this January. 

The little hope that Sri Lankans now harbour is to have the LG Polls. Despite hordes of ambitious people immigrating there are those who tell themselves that they must stay back and do their part to bring in change and save this country. For them the concerns are not about the percentage of tax on the interest generated from the income, but the size of the cabinet that has slowly but steadily increased!