Editorial

No. 8, Hunupitiya Cross Road, Colombo 2. 
P.O. Box: 1136, Colombo.
E-Mail:  editor@suntimes.is.lk
Telex: 21266 Lakexpo CE
EDITORIAL OFFICE Tel: 326247,328889, 433272-3
Fax: 423258, 423922
ADVERTISING OFFICE Tel: 328074, 438037
CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT 10, Hunupitiya Cross Road, 
Colombo 2. 
Tel: 459725, 448322, 074 714252
Fax: 435454

While the UNP-PA political theatre is old hat, it's amusing to watch the JVP too joining the same pantomime. In the end, the JVP too seems to give out the same message which is that the party is only interested in how much of political clout it can eke out for itself from the exacerbating national chaos.

The President of the country it seems, is upto her old tricks again. In a familiar act of extenuating herself, and her party from the political volatility that surrounds her, she has asked the business leaders to coerce opposition leaders to agree to a "political consensus.'' But, it is quite pointless pretending that political partisan-ness is only within the purview of the opposition. The President it seemed used previous "secret '' meetings with the opposition to score political points.

How consensus can be reached amid such an atmosphere of intense mutual mistrust between the two major political players is baffling. The President seems to thrive in an atmosphere of political skullduggery and plain prevarication. But yet, in a hydra-headed act of desperation, she seems to be asking the opposition to "join hands'' in an act of national reconciliation.

Civil society and the commercial sector too seems to be caught in a rear-guard which is equally, if not more confusing than the situation created by the political parties involved in the cat-fight. Business leaders seem to say that governance should be handed over to them for best results, but it is when suggestions like these emanate from the captains of commerce that one feels like saying "mind your own businesses.''

In this backdrop, it appears almost as if there is a strange voodoo or jinx that is keeping the nation in a suspended state of abject uncertainly, economic chaos and insecurity. Decision after decision that seems to emerge from the President's office seems to be flawed, counter productive and plain retrogressive. The postponement of the Referendum seems to be a decision made in this same stride. All it means is that there will be more insecurity and uncertainly engendered by a dubious exercise not carried to a conclusion. At least a conclusion would have meant that the national angst on that count is done with. But no, the government has to insist on prolonging this excruciating agony. 

Therefore, if we have been beating the drum of despondency in this space in the last few weeks, it is because there is no room for a sanguine thought at all. Not even the most erudite of analysts, among them a political analyst who has said very astutely that "the national elite doesn't even realize it should come together for it's own sake'', indicate that while the nation engages in this self-flagellation, it is going down the road of economic annihilation.

Regionally speaking, we are approaching Sierra Leone levels of anarchy and uncertainty, while regional neighbours such as Bangladesh and Maldives who were several paces behind us are now poised to overtake, and ensconce themselves as regional business leaders. Already, the country has recorded the lowest growth rate in the region, and this will get worse now as a result of the latest kidney punch to the economy which was the airport attack. But, even the fact that all this was a direct result of military incompetence and political leadership that's not held accountable, doesn't seem to strike any of the political players involved in the street –theater of dog eat dog politics that goes on.

The Political Column

Editorial/ Opinion Contents