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| Sunday, 4 July 2004 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Mystery : 'Nothinggoes-right-in-the-country' claim by Wendell N. Solomons I wanted to get to the Ministry of Science and Technology at its new location. I reached Colombo 5 on a tip (the phone book does not have the address as yet). The taxi drivers at the wide Narahenpita junction could not direct me to the Ministry and so I was forced into the old times when you were advised, "Ask a Policeman." I located a signboard with "Police" on it. There I was directed to a room with several police officers; they bore stars on their shoulders. I asked the way to the Ministry. The response I received was "Who Are You?" I was taken aback... This was not "Ask a Policeman" of the old days. I managed to bleat out, "I have to get to the Ministry on a small job of social service." An officer's voice cracked through the room. "Nothing Goes Right in this Country!" - You would recollect this as the disclaimer of responsibility through which a professional edges off these days. I tried "Take Muralitharan and our cricket team.... We know they perform at an international level. We cannot do everything in a small country... but we need to use our resources and produce a few things well. Of pharmaceutical items alone, we need to import over 1,000 preparations today." Another officer's voice than rang through the room. "That's what the JVP said during elections!" Another officer's voice shouted, "We must focus on products for export!" I responded, "That is what I want to mention at the Ministry of Science and Technology. We must focus. Peals of laughter burst out all around the room. I was given directions to get to the Ministry. It was nearby and the Minister gave me a little of his time... My solution: I looked at the larger picture. Dame Margaret Thatcher trained as a chemist. Therefore, social philosopher Alan Walters was installed at No. 10 Downing Street to mentor her. The PM consequently exclaimed. "There is no such thing as society. There are only individuals and families." So much for FRCS, FRCP and other learned societies that Britain and the Commonwealth depend on for benchmark professions... The last three decades became distinct in history because mass media messaged several countries on the virtues of liberating the individual from social choices. However, Sri Lanka's neighbour India, home to dozens of languages, escaped social dissolution and contention under the 30-year opportunist, false belief system. India's development of its internal resources is visible in the many trucks, buses, cars and motorcycles running in Sri Lanka's streets today. Singapore, Sri Lanka's neighbour to the east, too escaped the shift to social dissolution. Between 1960 and 2000, the resource poor city-state surpassed Britain for GNP per capita. In contrast to opportunist contention, you can see the influence of social consolidation in Singapore Airlines. It grew successful as a government entity from the blueprints of BOAC and Air Ceylon. Author invites response at: (lexicon10 @softhome.net) |
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