|
|
Let s not politicise the future
Saturday, 30 January 2010 - 9:40 AM SL Time
 Share On Facebook
|
|
|
According to the International Monetary Fund, Sri Lanka has walked itself out from the league of poor nations and has gained the middle income status. It seems that what we were taught in school about Sri Lanka is likely to change. We were taught that Sri Lanka was a developing country and we were frankly afraid that our children would also be taught the same because our parents had also learnt that Sri Lanka is a developing country.
It is no doubt that the end of the disastrous war with the LTTE in the mid last year has helped the country to reach this landmark point. It is pretty amazing to see how fast a country can grow when it s devoid of issues such as civil conflicts.
As you very well know, it was not at all an easy task to end a 26-year-old war that had disturbed all aspects of our lives. There were many choices we had to make. Numerous sacrifices were made by those in the highest to the lowest social strata.
So, whoever that comes to power in this Presidential election should clearly have this in mind and need to have an untainted view towards taking the country forward, instead of dragging it back to where it was.
With the end of the war, there was a song many whispered in their hearts sung by John Lennon, titled Imagine. The country was fed up with all types of divisions and segmentations that had hampered the making of a great nation. All we wanted is to unite and make an attempt to live the life that we once thought never meant for us and dared only to dream.
Today we have expectations. In fact, one may call them great expectations. Whoever that assumes power needs to comprehend this and govern according to the aspirations of the people, which now apparently have changed.
Earlier, from child to elderly person, the wish was peace. People were dreaming of a day where the country is free from the clutches of terrorism. But, with the end of the LTTE, the apprehensive restlessness we saw in the faces of the people in Sri Lanka was gone and they now portray hope and optimism.
It is only when the sentiment is positive, the indices of any money market go up. The same can be adapted to the macro economy. The economy booms, only when the people are optimistic and ready to invest and spend.
At this juncture, the economists are talking of a taking off of the economy. This is the time people expect to reap the dividends of the peace that was long anticipated. Industrialists are hopeful and the country s stock market is now among the best performing stock markets in the world.
So, it is no doubt that this trend should continue. The time is right to create our version of Singapore out of this beautiful island, which some of our leaders talked about but failed to achieve.
For that, we need something we never had. The country is badly in need of national policies, as now what we want is a strong foundation on which it can grow. These should be too good to be changed even if the governments changed.
Politicians should realise that the time for petty party politics is over. If someone is planning to engage in minority politics, let s make it clear that Sri Lanka is not the place for that. Whoever that lives on this island despite their race and religion are Sri Lankans and hereafter they should only engage in national politics to create national policies for the country to prosper.
You may say I m a dreamer, but I have to tell you that I m not the only one, as John Lennon said in Imagine.
|
|
|
DONP
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 66
Member Profile
|
 30 Jan 2010 23:33:09 GMT Report for Abuse
|
'Politicians should realise that the time for petty party politics is over. If someone is planning to engage in minority politics, let s make it clear that Sri Lanka is not the place for that. Whoever that lives on this island despite their race and religion are Sri Lankans and hereafter they should only engage in national politics to create national policies for the country to prosper'
Well said!!
'You may say I m a dreamer, but I have to tell you that I m not the only one, as John Lennon said in Imagine'
I am a dreamer too. |
|
Search All News and Discussions