Open letter to presidential candidates on good governance

Sri Lankans face a Presidential Election that will dictate the destiny of one of the most naturally blessed countries in this planet.

Unfortunately, our political leaders, having gained independence, did not steer the course prudently, focusing instead of shallow political gain. They did not enhance the legacy that we inherited from our colonial masters by not being visionary. They failed to exploit a gifted, united population of many races that studied and co-existed together in an education system which used English as the common medium of instruction.

Pause a moment to imagine, if all Sri Lankans could read, write and communicate well in English, how far we could have progressed as a nation.  

Were the common and the rural underprivileged masses given the same opportunities that the affluent enjoyed? At least the gift of being proficient in English would have opened many doors for the poorer masses. Better job opportunities, dignified overseas employment, unity among races, and a whole host of other ripple benefits that would have been gratefully accepted to live with pride and sufficient economic stability. All our leaders, past and present, provided their offspring with a sound education in English. One revered leader made the blunder, the other near-dictator who was elected to correct and guide our country to prosperity, plunged us into more strife and disunity. 

We would have been a far wealthier, and a very much more united nation, if our more recent leaders rectified the selfish, self-centred decisions made by their predecessors. This condensed prescription for good governance starts with the importance of nurturing a population that is excellent in English. We all know that this would, without doubt, bring about more unity, eradicate dissent and frustration of well-educated graduates who lack fluency in the primary language of the world. The language which is understood by most and widely the commercial language of the world.

This ideal situation reduces revolutionary uprisings drastically, since the educated youth will find gainful employment in the private sector, or seek greener pastures overseas. It is only idle minds that are drawn to rebel against authority, and fall prey to drug addiction or criminal activity. Addressing this salient drawback takes a period of time. The developed world will readily assist the Ministry of Education to train teachers to make this transition.

Meanwhile, each Ministry should have a ‘Think Tank’ which consists of advisors, experts and modern visionaries. 

They should be the engine of the Ministry guiding the Minister on the best way forward, plotting policy, eradicating waste, and making use of the allotted funds wisely. Forward plans for the next 10 years have to be blueprinted and implemented by any Government that is elected. 

This is how a developing country ascends to prosperity. Guiding the future generations is as important as any other initiatives taken by a Government. Each student should be monitored closely by their school, right up to the time they leave school or drop out. 

There must be a system in place where students who are interested in other vocations are registered immediately at these vocational centres.

A file should be maintained on their progress, until they are gainfully employed and able to live independently. We would be an example to the world if we launch this initiative. It is of vital importance that dropouts are not allowed to drift aimlessly, as they might experiment with drugs and go on to be addicts. Life imprisonment or the death penalty must be imposed for not only drug dealers, but for anyone who is in possession of these illegal substances.

We have to pass legislation that Members of Parliament, elected by the people, cannot pole vault to another political party during that particular term. This precipitates weak Governments who are forced to concentrate mostly on survival rather than development. To govern astutely, our next leader should appoint a progressive Prime Minister, who is focused on building a future for the coming generations. Ministers should be dedicated to hard work and give ear to their professional advisors. 

Tourism, exports and foreign employment must be given the necessary encouragement and assistance to exploit these primary foreign exchange avenues. Building an efficient civil administration devoid of political appointees is vital for a thriving private sector, and for investors to be fast-tracked. 

The warning bells have been sounding incessantly to preserve our environment and, it is time that our next administration takes decisive action to arrest deterioration.

Our next President should be a benevolent decision maker who does not fear or hesitate to make decisions that will benefit the country. 

He will always face opposition from certain quarters that would always put themselves ahead of their country. 

Finally, and most importantly, we should all act ethically and with tolerance, where every Sri Lankan is treated equally and we are inspired to live together as one united nation.