Tasks over tamashas

A pesticide-free Sri Lanka is a laudable goal and one that is close to the heart of President Maithripala Sirisena, but public policies have to be implemented with public funds for the benefit of the public and not frittered away for senseless events. 

Granted, the Government is well within its rights to organise functions to create awareness of important policies and inviting President Sirisena to speak on chemical-free food adds extra weight to the message. However, spending an estimated Rs. 80 million over three days on one programme, which neither provides little assistance to farmers nor improves the logistical framework of the local agriculture industry, is wastage that is impossible to justify. Undeterred by the expense the Government continues to organise massively wasteful ceremonies.    

According to the All Island Farmers Association, an event at the BMICH on Wednesday under the theme ‘A people free of poison and free of kidney disease’ saw even more money being spent. The extensive bill included Rs. 7.5 million to transport farmers to Colombo, Rs. 8 million for lighting and sound, Rs. 6 million to feed the participants, Rs. 2 million to feed special guests and another Rs. 2 million for invitations, decorations and assorted publicity material. The more frivolous items include Rs. 500,000 just for decorations and a last-minute reversal of a decision to give a plate with the President’s face engraved on it. Organisers decided against the plates after thinking it would be dishonouring the President if the farmers were to eat rice from the plates. 

Excessive spending on tamashas was normalised under former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to an obscene extent. A disgusted public voted for President Sirisena, in part because he pledged a difference in the way he would conduct himself, this included wastage of funds on presidential events, which could then be used for far more useful things. 

Even though the Government can attempt to explain away the expense by insisting it is far less than what was spent under the previous regime, it is hardly the point. President Sirisena as the leader of this country has to lead by example and humility along with sensible decision making is at the core of his role. There are many, many other areas where the Government has to direct resources to ensuring that Sri Lankans remain healthy and those in need of medical assistance are provided what they need.

For years research organisations have been urging the Government to establish stronger legal guidelines for pesticide import and usage including bolstering the testing and conformity assessment capabilities of local institutions/testing laboratories both private and public through investments in equipment and human resources to complement and enforce regulations. 

In Sri Lanka, the task of ensuring food safety is conducted in a rather ad hoc and piecemeal manner, tasks are dispersed to a number of government agencies and departments such as the Department of Agriculture, the Consumer Affairs Authority, the Sri Lanka Standards Institute, Atomic Energy Authority, Sri Lanka Customs – Quarantine Department, and the Ministry of Health, based on their respective areas of expertise. 

Food safety is however a more cross-cutting issue and effectively tackling the issue requires collaborative effort by all agencies concerned. In this light it is envisaged that an overarching independent body/institution along the lines of the European Food Safety Authority or the Food and Drug Administration of the United States to better identify and coordinate actions to address perceived food safety risks.

Sri Lanka has a long way to go in effectively tackling consumer welfare and precious resources wasted on pointless ceremonies will not take it any closer to its goal.