Source: http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2010/06/27/the-rot-that-are-the-rajapaksas/
The reason given by the new External Affairs Minister G.L Peiris for not accepting the 15 conditions laid down by the European Community for extending GSP+ makes any intelligent person want to puke. The fact is that those conditions should have been implemented by the government without being demanded by anybody, especially an external organisation. All of them are rights that the people of this country are entitled to, especially after the end of the bloody 30 year war.
‘Professor’ Peiris’s real talent is that he has no shame in sucking up to or liking a particular part of the body of his leader whether it is Chandrika Kumaratunga or Mahinda Rajapaksa. The same man who shouted from every roof top in the country in the run up to the 1994 General election about the need to change the Executive Presidency and establish democratic institutions is today promoting constitutional changes that would further strengthen the executive presidency and allow Rajapaksa to continue in the presidency for more than two terms.
No doubt the man is intelligent and articulate but what the man does not have is any sense of self respect. The reasons why his colleagues in the government refer to him as “Namal’s Secretary” is well known.
For the Rajapaksas the fact that at the minimum the country stands to lose US$ 150 million a year and tens of thousands of jobs is of no concern as long as they can treat the people of this country like their slaves and the family can continue to literally, mint money.
The level of corruption the Rajapaksas and their acolytes are indulging in is simply mind boggling. Our political leaders especially in the last three decades have all been corrupt but this regime has taken it to a totally new level that makes Suharto of Indonesia, Marcos of Philippines and the Generals of Myanmar look like mere pick pockets.
To continue with this highway robbery the Rajapaksas must make certain that nobody dares to expose them and that is the reason they fear democratic, independent institutions.
The extended Rajapaksa family was never known for their wealth or their education. One would be hard pressed to name one member of this clan that has achieved recognition in any professional field (unless one can call politics a profession) or in business (unless one calls bribery and corruption a business). Ask the inner circle and they will tell you that the number of the Rajapaksa/Wickramasinghe clan employed by the government runs into hundreds and each one of them with a free pass to fix deals.
True that with the crushing of the LTTE the country got rid of a monster. For that we have to be grateful to this regime. However, what the people of this country has not understood yet, but will do so soon is the fact that we have created another monster much more dangerous and destructive for our country.
The plan to perpetuate the Rajapaksa clan in power will necessarily mean that the rights of the people will be crushed. If the Rajapaksas are hoping that a post war economic boom would allow them to get away with that; they are failing to understand that they are sowing the seeds for their own destruction and that of the country with the unprecedented corruption and the mismanagement of the economy. The reality is when it comes to corruption any economy has an absorption level. Once you tip that balance the economy will fall apart. The current level of corruption is dangerously close to that tipping point.
On top of that the billions that we are borrowing and investing in white elephants will come back to haunt us in the next three to four years. Only a total idiot would believe that the harbour, the new air port, the new cricket stadium, the new international conference hall — all in Hambantota are ever going to give any returns on the investment. These are only a few. There are many, many more projects that are being implemented only to get million dollar kick backs
We Sri Lankans are absolute suckers. Our “elected” leaders are robbing us right in front our eyes and all we do is complain at the dinner table. We must be the only people who “elect” leaders and allow them (or is it beg them?) to treat us like their slaves. From His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa and his clan, to Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and his incompetent hangers-on are all living off us. While our quality of life is diminishing daily, theirs’ is improving by the hour. And all we do is keep electing them over and over and over. No wonder they treat us like dirt.
To continue with this highway robbery the Rajapaksas must make certain that nobody dares to expose them and that is the reason they fear democratic, independent institutions.
The extended Rajapaksa family was never known for their wealth or their education. One would be hard pressed to name one member of this clan that has achieved recognition in any professional field (unless one can call politics a profession) or in business (unless one calls bribery and corruption a business). Ask the inner circle and they will tell you that the number of the Rajapaksa/Wickramasinghe clan employed by the government runs into hundreds and each one of them with a free pass to fix deals.
True that with the crushing of the LTTE the country got rid of a monster. For that we have to be grateful to this regime. However, what the people of this country has not understood yet, but will do so soon is the fact that we have created another monster much more dangerous and destructive for our country.
The plan to perpetuate the Rajapaksa clan in power will necessarily mean that the rights of the people will be crushed. If the Rajapaksas are hoping that a post war economic boom would allow them to get away with that; they are failing to understand that they are sowing the seeds for their own destruction and that of the country with the unprecedented corruption and the mismanagement of the economy. The reality is when it comes to corruption any economy has an absorption level. Once you tip that balance the economy will fall apart. The current level of corruption is dangerously close to that tipping point.
On top of that the billions that we are borrowing and investing in white elephants will come back to haunt us in the next three to four years. Only a total idiot would believe that the harbour, the new air port, the new cricket stadium, the new international conference hall — all in Hambantota are ever going to give any returns on the investment. These are only a few. There are many, many more projects that are being implemented only to get million dollar kick backs
We Sri Lankans are absolute suckers. Our “elected” leaders are robbing us right in front our eyes and all we do is complain at the dinner table. We must be the only people who “elect” leaders and allow them (or is it beg them?) to treat us like their slaves. From His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa and his clan, to Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and his incompetent hangers-on are all living off us. While our quality of life is diminishing daily, theirs’ is improving by the hour. And all we do is keep electing them over and over and over. No wonder they treat us like dirt.
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