Government failed again to contain dengue

Sunday, 08 June 2014 

It is a shame that the government has failed again to contain adequately the spread of dengue in Colombo area said by the Dr. Wickramabahu Karunarathna in a press statement. Full text of press stataement as follows.

Last few years, every May- June period, dengue raised it head creating big fuss. We are told by experts that dengue can spread, only if fresh water collections spread unnoticed. Secondly, those who fell sick should be allowed the maximum rest, including a ban on heavy diets. In monsoon periods, Ratmalana with heavy showers becomes a dengue positive area. What has to be done is well known and failure of the government shows callus disregard of the regime for the poor.

One deputy minister has been noticed for driving fast in the southern high way. He has lost his temper and abused the traffic cop. Later some crowd of thugs have come near the police officers house and burned his car after assaulting him. Obvious conclusion is that minister has organised this attack but he denies. Pro government elements now accuse that the police officer has engineered the whole thing aimed for asking asylum in a European country! This is an incredible story. This government accuses any body who has complained about violation of human rights or breach of law and order, to be a paid agent of a foreign country. My experience with traffic police is just the opposite. Whenever vehicle I was traveling was stopped same thing happened again and again. Once they recognize me, the police officer will smile and after advising the driver to be careful let us go without activating the law to the word. I am sure, if the minister kindly introduced himself, he could have got away with only a warning to the driver to be careful. This happens only when the breach of law is pardonable. Of course if we come to a demonstration prepared for a street battle, police will take the law and order seriously and smash our heads. Then those bourgeoisie courtesies will vanish. I have been locked up in 11 police stations and remanded four times after being assaulted brutally. That is different; but in this civil law breaking, police tends to take a soft hand with politicians.

The new lord of India, Modi sent a letter demanding Mahinda to respect the promises made and to implement the 13th amendment completely. Also the letter added that for a solution it is necessary to go beyond the 13th amendment, as agreed. However Mahinda, terrorized by the chauvinists in the government -Weerawansa and Champika, also by the announcements of the JVP on presidential elections, slammed Modi by refusing to implement the 13th amendment. He is prepared to give the powers to PCs, only the form but not the content. This is a blow to the left opportunists Vasu Dew Tissa trio too. It is clear that Mahinda is preparing the ground to contest presidential elections with a Sinhala chauvinist political platform. Ranil also was told by the minister Peiris that 13th amendment will not be implemented.

Ranil has come out as a new Vijay Kumaranatunge, not only defending devolution but also with a frontal attack on the IMF. He condemns the IMF delegate Todd Snider for defending the government. It is a mockery for the IMF to defend Mahinda regime by telling untruth. We are not speaking of the general national expenditure on education. Of course families both rich and poor spent on education; some send money abroad to foreign universities. Tuition, fee charging training institutes role in money. We know all that. But we are asking about the money spend on free education; the open path for the ordinary child to go up the ladder. IMF wanted to reduce the budget deficit. One aspect of that process is to reduce the government expenditure for social services. Education was chopped for this purpose. This glaring truth was concealed by the rouges of the IMF. Can Ranil play the role of a Kultur Vijaya in the coming period? We doubt.

TNA and other leaders of minority nationalities should turn towards the democratic and left leaders in the south fore a struggle for liberation. Indian Hinduthva intervention will strengthen the chauvinist forces here and it could lead to a sordid blood bath. In this scenario left has a serious rolr to play and should present the way out.