Sri Lanka: We watch helplessly

by Dr Sarath Obeysekera

( November 8, 2016, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) This may be the last opinion I may write about the state of affairs in the country.

I just watched an episode of a series in Netflix about Paolo Escobar, who was heading a drug cartel in Columbia. He killed the editor of a leading Columbian newspaper which has been critical of the illegal activities and assassinations carried out by the drug cartel and the government, for inaction. The series also show how corrupted the whole system and the country were at that time.

We know that a Chief Editor of a leading paper in Sri Lanka, who was critical of leaders, has been killed in cold blood and no action has been taken against the culprits. We also see how the national wealth has been robbed and government and judiciary is unable to take control.

We also see that the government has miserably failed to suppress corruption by punishing the culprits and eradicate corruption and crime in the country.

Investments are not taking off due to fear of some government officers against CIABOC or BC haunting them for any decisions they make.

I cited a clear example of a Ship Yard in Galle harbour, where a Cabinet Committee has clearly instructed the Secretary to the ministry of ports allow us to proceed, but the officers of the Ports Authority fear to take a decision, due to fear of undue influence from the political leaders above them.

We are in the dusk of our life span, and I cannot see any light of hopes in the horizon

What keeps ringing is the word “Yahapalanaya”, misdeeds of “Mara-Palanaya” and nothing more.

Only solace so far is that I do not have to S face the fate of the politicians and journalists during Paolo Escobar’s time, because Yahapalanaya is somewhat functioning in some areas!