Daily News Editorial

Govt. must act fast

17 November 2016

It did not need the President and the Prime Minister to spell it out. That a well funded political project was already underway from the outset to destabilize the government was evident from the very outset. Speaking at the ceremony to mark the 30th anniversary of the Ravaya publication in Colombo on Tuesday both the President and the PM spoke of a plot to destabilize the government and an attempt to cause a major rift between the different communities towards this end with a large amount of funds pumped into the project.

Usually a new government is allowed a grace period, so to speak, to settle down to business. When Chandrika Kumaratunga became the country's leader Ranil Wickremesinghe graciously offered a two year period, to show results, before his party started to take her on. In any event both retired Presidents J.R Jayewardene and Chandrika conducted themselves exemplarily after leaving the scene (D.B. Wijetunga quietly faded into the sunset) with the JRJ being in great demand as an after dinner speaker in the social circuit. In any event CBK allowed herself a decent interval before getting herself involved in the January 8 project.

But from the very inception the Joint Opposition, nay Mahinda Rajapaksa, started to rock the boat. No sooner he was defeated, Rajapaksa started crawling over temples to pick on the new government hardly installed in office. Vajiraramaya was turned into a political office with JO stalwarts virtually pitching camp at the temple. It did not end there. Massive rallies were organised titled Mahinda samaga negitimu (Let us rise with Mahinda) in many cities to rally the people against the government just a few weeks into office.

Even at that time it was apparent that these rallies and demonstrations were being funded by those who were allowed to amass illegal wealth under Rajapaksa. It is now pay back time. It was the constant claim by members of the Joint Opposition that the regime change that saw the ouster of Rajapaksa was funded by western governments with their embassies here doing the spade work. By the same token it would pertinent for the government to ascertain whether there is foreign funding involved in the JO's destabilization project.

For, the President and Prime Minister could not have envisaged any other force behind the current spate of protests and demonstrations. It can only be the JO, whose members are today running like headless chicken jumping from one issue to another, holding daily press conferences, to cause the maximum difficulty for the government. Like the Premier noted it is also obvious that sections of the media are exploiting and manipulating situations to cast the government in poor light. There is one TV channel which has already shed any pretense to balance and impartial coverage, openly toeing the Rajapaksa line. Its TV anchor while reading the morning newspaper headlines does not fail to add his two cents worth to the contents of the news articles, giving his own twist and interpretations that casts aspersions on the government, portraying it as the oppressor and villain.

It is no secret that owners of certain TV channels, during the Rajapaksa era, were allowed to manipulate the stock exchange and obtain high stakes in money spinning ventures. These individuals are still beholden to the Rajapaksas for their mind boggling riches and do not hesitate to oblige their one time benefactors.

The government has been justifiably criticized for its slow progress in investigating the mega corruption of the VIP politicians of the last regime and finding out the whereabouts of the stashed loot. Now it is clear that this money, stolen from the public, is being put to use to destabilize and wreck the government. This, while the government is being challenged by those in the JO to trace any ill gotten wealth. Mahinda Rajapaksa himself is on record saying he would slit his throat if even one dollar could be shown against his name. This is a challenge to the government thrown at its face. Hence it must pick up the gauntlet and go all out to unravel the hidden wealth of these exVVIPs, if for no other reason than to destroy the sources of funding that are being used to destabilize the government.

A commendable decision

The Government's decision to put on hold the proposed increase in the water tariff is to be commended. The 30 % percent increase, if allowed to go ahead with, would have had a domino effect impacting almost all food items in the eateries down to the buth packet. Not only that. The eatery owners would have pounced on the opportunity with glee to increase the food prices out of proportion to the actual increase in the water bills. The President has appointed a committee to study the matter. The Chairman of the Water Supply and Drainage Board says water bills have remained static for the last three years and a hike was due, as is the normal practise, every three years. It is hoped that the committee will arrive at a reasonable solution and not burden the people further.