Columns

We visited Singapore in 1969. At that time, there were no drainage systems for toilets there, but only the “bucket system.” Singapore developed its economy by trading in gold. In those days people from here went by sea to Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and Africa to do jewellry work. The father of Singapore, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, was earlier employed in a Jewellry Company run by Sri Lankan businessman B P de Silva. At Penang in Malaysia, Buddy Wettasinghe’s family started an electrical manufacturing business.

Even today economies are judged in the world in terms of gold, silver and gems. Earlier, the most lucrative illicit business here was the gem business. Today items of food for which expiry dates have lapsed are being imported and sold here under new labels. It is a thriving illicit business taking place on a large-scale here. The more the taxes are imposed the more the illicit trade. The Government is losing revenue. Readymade garments, footwear, handbags and semi-luxury items are being imported illegally. Not just vehicles like lorries and buses, but many banned items are coming here. What is the big idea of having customs duties, if we are like duty free Dubai? If the VAT is properly implemented, many illicit businesses can be controlled. We can implement a proper tax scheme then. Prior to the elections, the talk was about a Goods and Services Tax (GST). Now it is off the shelf.

Statistics show more and more people are being thrown into poverty and are seeking foreign jobs. Will they return rich? Surely not, they will be poorer. Their families will suffer more. Today finding suitable labour is a major problem. Foreign investors bring their own labour. As such our unemployment problem will increase. The daily wage of an unskilled person is higher than that of an educated person. There is no proper control of this. Trainees spend this money on unwanted things. Government is not getting much benefit and the workers also feel insecure.

Illicit acts and acts of violence often take place for money. Though we have thousands of religious places, evil thrives. So there is little law and order and even the safety of children is at risk. In the public sector, there are many regulatory bodies, which exist only on paper. They are like scarecrows. What could be done to rectify this? Sometimes a walking stick can help a blind man. But here we have blind people without even a walking stick. Often we hear doctrines being preached and people, the rich and the poor, listen to these doctrines, but it is bearing little fruit.

These days there is lot of talk about what was said by Anagarika Dharmapala. But will this help in a country where deceit and fraud are rampant?

Agricultural produce is low in quality. With unhealthy foods, and sick people around, will tourism thrive? What are we doing about unhealthy foods? There is a new culture in place to get most items from abroad, even common salt. We had the best salt here. Today salt is being imported from India. I met a person doing this business. The co-operatives were set up for the poor. But today they have become dens of thieves. I heard that there is a subsidy of Rs. 15 or more for production of a can of tinned fish. I heard that there are racketeers who import tinned fish, attach a local label and sell them. They are robbing the cooperatives of the income. When we have racketeers and opportunists like these how can we have sustainable development in the country?

We went to the Tansiba region in Tanzania. We saw the collapse of five star hotels and the general bankruptcy there. At the rate we are going, there may not be a good time for tourism here, either. First of all good health, food, culture and discipline are failing and effective steps are not being taken against indecency, dishonesty and waste. The more the Government increases taxes on liquor and cigarettes, the more these will be brought by sea and air in an illicit manner without paying taxes. Those who are well to do are up to this.

We have forgotten the value of the common plantain leaf, the areca nut and other once familiar items. We have given up our age old ways of recycling. Instead we are running behind what is foreign. The independent media need to highlight these but many journalists appear to be afraid because they feel there is a powerful mafia behind fraud and corruption. Please do not be afraid. Come forward. If you are unable to do so, please write to us, even without identifying yourselves. But be accurate and honest.

The Landmaster, the hand tiller, was introduced by a Sri Lankan, late Revatha (Ray) Wijewardene. He was a grandson of late Madam Helena Wijewardene. Most countries started to manufacture hand tillers after that. From the hand tiller it is possible to pump water and generate electricity. If we can make use of it and make it available to the poor people without taxes we can put both the people and the country on the path to progress.

Since the clay industry went into decay the tile industry suffered. But as the people in the North and East began using clay, the tile industry has got a new lease of life. The sand industry too has suffered because of the Mafia connected to it. Imported cement comes with taxes. Today a bag of sand is more expensive than a bag of cement.

Have our leaders forgotten about the sand industry mafia? These are more important than human rights problems.
We have said enough with regard to our living standards. To put the country on the correct path, we have to start with the price of betel, a sheaf of which is more than Rs. 30.
I give below excerpts from a letter sent to me recently by D.M.S.D. Dissanayake of Welivita, Kaduwela.
“Anuradhapura Ruwanweliseya Temple
Rev. Sir,
You had built a large Pilgrims Rest at Kataragama to cater to both Sri Lankans and tourists, who come there for religious observances. Due to the skills taught to students at the Gangaramaya Technical Institute, many job opportunities have been opened for them. We admire these great services.

I request that a pilgrims Rest be constructed for devotees going to Anuradhapura.
They worship there under the hot sun. On a particular day, wet gunny bags were laid out for people to walk because of the heat. At Kataragama around 10 am devotees go in the hot sun to worship. But the fountains of water there are a great relief to them. A Sri Lankan king had built fountains whereby underground water gave relief to pilgrims at Ruwanweliseya. I request you to construct a few water fountains at Ruwanweliseya. The facilities at Atamasthana, Solosmasthana, and Somawathiya are far from adequate for pilgrims. Though these facilities should be provided by the Government, it is not being done. As there are vast numbers of devotees flocking to these places, I humbly request you to do the needful.”