Sri Lanka, A deteriorating nation
Several decades ago Einstein discovered the relationship between matter and energy leading to the formula E=MC2. Great as the discovery was, it led to the production of the atom bomb. It was Bandaranaike who in 1956 discovered the formula for getting votes easily and winning elections. A comparison of the winning formula used in 2005 bears close resemblance to the formula used in 1956.
The country is in a bad situation economically. The factors required for economic development requires changes; creating the right set-up to produce competent scientific and technical personnel, as was done by Nehru in India, creating the right climate to get foreign investments, building a nation where all citizens feel equal, maintaining law and order, recognition of talent and people’s contributions to the country’s growth.
Bangalore and not Silicon Valley is considered the IT Capital. Colombo could also have reached that standard. Instead we find medical students representing the cream of our student population assaulting pressmen, ignorant of the fact that a free press is a necessary bastion of democracy. That is another illustration of the level to which this country has sunk. Imagine the cream of Lanka’s youth becoming followers of Mervyn Silva.
This is Sri Lanka today, our motherland. Today the human rights situation, the way elections are held and won, the state of the economy all point to one fact — from being a developing nation we are now a deteriorating nation. God help us.
- By K.S. Rasa
A Letter to the Editor, Published the Sunday Leader.lk Oct 5, 2008
