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It is not wrong to say that in the final analysis, the success or failure of a country depends on its President, Prime Minister and Ministers. State success is measured by its economy and social well-being, which in turn depend on law and order, people’s confidence in the state, fair and just systems, people’s productivity, development of industries, socio-political stability and economic sustainability.

Our political leaders have been good speakers, but none has been a true statesman with a vision for the future Sri Lanka (cf. Singapore). At best, our politicians have opened a few structures, laid foundation stones, offered flowers at temples and helped their supporters and kith and kin, but they have hardly helped to develop a sustainable economy or contributed to state discipline.

Our state-management skills have been far inferior to those of past colonialists and present neighbours. From one of the richest countries in Asia, we have become one of the poorest, in 55 years. From a peaceful nation, we have become a fighting nation. Thugs and drug lords run the show whilst state discipline has declined, some law-enforcers take the law into their hands, beating prisoners to death, or allowing them luxury in prison cells. Journalists are killed, but the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General’s Department are helpless. It is difficult to find a professional politician who is totally free from thuggery, corruption and nepotism. Some use the northern conflict, a national issue, for their narrow political advantage.

In dealing with the LTTE, Sri Lankan governments have shown no consistent policies, while the LTTE has had one clear aim, that of Eelam. From a small group of bandits they have obtained equal status as the democratically elected Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL Vs LTTE), because of their skilful manoeuvre. The UNP dismantled an intelligence unit and Tigers killed many officers. GL’s package undermined the united and unitary Sri Lanka, as it gave away defence and international commerce.

The current President wanted to sack the Norwegians and get the Indians as facilitators. When the Indians refused, he took an about turn and welcomed the Norwegians. The Opposition Leader, unable to distinguish domestic politics from international politics, complained to the Indian High Commissioner that the President is stealing his men. A leading UNPer resigned, because MPs cannot keep caucus secrets.

People have grown weary of politics, for they voted in a three-wheel driver as Colombo Mayor. The legal system should have disqualified the under-aged candidate, but not the whole party. There are times when the highest authority needs to intervene in the interest of the nation. Unfortunately, that duty was lost with the abolition of the Governor General. In his absence, political professionalism demands that national issues such as the economy, law and order, ethnic problems and terrorism be above party politics and be in the realm of the Attorney General’s Department.

We are still waiting for a professional political leader who can salvage Sri Lanka. First we need to get our policies clear and consistent. Primitive concepts, such as religion and race in state governance have to be replaced by advanced concepts such as equal rights for all its citizens. The catchy hypothesis that the Tamils are discriminated against in education and employment needs to be tested by facts, finding the percentage of Tamils in universities and jobs compared to the Tamil population in 1983.

Terrorism should be eliminated by forceful argument or strategic attacks. The LTTE is proactive, creative and forward thinking. If we want to end terrorism through talks, then we must be consistent, forceful and follow through energetically. If we want to follow the war path, we need superior intelligence, internal security, motivation, discipline, high technology, excellent plans and accurate attacks.

As for intelligence, the forces must know exactly where the LTTE leadership, camps, cadres and resources are located, as well as the location of their routes, tunnels, boats, guns. As for internal security, a hotline and an office needs to be created, data recorded and each street kept under the surveillance of 1-2 committed volunteers. Politicians as well as forces must be motivated so that they consider what they do as a profession, not a business or taking revenge. In discipline there are no short-cuts. King Parakrambahu the Great knew it. Military strength, international involvement and economic growth through agriculture were his achievements to make Sri Lanka a powerful nation.
We hope for a leader of such professional calibre in politics in the future, who can liberate Sri Lanka from its present evils.

The new parking rules enforced by the police as ordered by S.S.P. Lafir of traffic have inconvenienced the elderly drivers in Colombo.

Why have the Police blocked parking even on ‘parking bays’ introduced by the same Traffic Police, some months ago? Even near the Super Branch of the Borella Bank of Ceylon, the parking bay on Baseline Road now has a ‘No Parking’ board by order, SSP, Traffic. The bank premises can accommodate only about four or five vehicles. Where can the other customers park their vehicles when the bay just opposite is barred for parking?

Imagine the scenario where an elderly lady comes in her car to buy some essentials from the boutiques on upper Baseline Road. First she has to drive around looking for a parking place and then walk back to the boutique.

Thereafter, with her load of provisions she has to trudge back to where she parked her vehicle. Or else she has to hire a three-wheeler to go to and fro from her parked car. Sometimes I think this may be a move influenced by trishaw importers or by the Trishaw Owners’ Association (which includes our Mayor).

Some years ago there was a move by some organization to limit the inflow of trishaws, which are a necessary evil. What happened? Every road user has to bear with the necessary evil that trishaw drivers are. How many accidents are caused by these drivers?Most of the time they meet with accidents due to their own reckless driving, but invariably put the blame on lady drivers forcing them to pay huge amounts as compensation.

Every new S.S.P. makes some sort of traffic change which to me is nothing but an “un thattuwa”.

Prophet Mohammed (SAL) said that if you eat three dates a day, you will not get any diseases.

This is a well known saying but it’s a pity that Muslims do not practise this. The date is a wonderful fruit. It is said to contain protein, carbohydrates, fat, all the minerals, all the vitamins in the correct proportion required by the human body.

The sugar content is such that even diabetics will not be affected by eating three dates a day.

Dates can be taken any time, before or after meals.

Whatever the Prophet (SAL) has said is true since he got his instructions from the creator himself.

So why not try this? After all, it is harmless anyway.

Justices of the Peace are appointed annually by the Ministry of Justice. This is done after scrutinizing the merits of applicants who are recommended by distinguished people in different fields. In addition, a Police record on the conduct and behaviour of the applicant is obtained. Unfortunately, when applications are recommended by certain politicians for their henchmen, this criteria changes.

We often observe the despicable manner in which some of these so-called Justices of Peace who wait with their letter head pad and their official seal, discharge their duties near the courthouse premises or Divisional Secretariats, when clients come to get an affidavit or other document attested. They place their signatures on these documents sometimes even without reading their contents. They appear only to be concerned about a small ‘santhosum’ for their so-called social service. They bring disrepute to all JPs who are honest and command the respect of the public.

However, it is heartening that the Ministry of Justice, even at this stage is probing alleged irregularities in certain JP appointments and complaints from the public regarding corrupt JPs.

It is my view, that any applicant seeking an appointment as a JP, should at least have a minimum educational qualification of G.C.E. O/Level in addition to integrity of character. The other important factor is that those who recommend such applicants should act without bias taking into consideration the eligibility of an applicant.

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