An open letter to Eran

Dear Mr. Wickramaratne,

In your interview with the Daily Mirror newspaper on 25 May, you had emphasised that “the former Chairman and CEO of Sri Lankan Airlines had NO airline experience whatsoever”. We know that and that is why we sent them (and their Godfather) home. But please tell me, what airline experience does the Chairman that your ‘Good Governance’ Government appointed have? None. High-flying because of his Royal-lineage old-boy-network is NOT a credential. 

What credential does the present CEO have to be the CEO of a debt-ridden airline nose-diving because of massive losses and trapped with thousands of employees? None. Having sat in an auto-pilot cabin for some years is not a suitable credential and neither is being the brother of a well-known member of the Royal lineage network referred to earlier.

What experience do at least three members of the Monetary Board have on monetary and economic matters to decide on the monetary policy of this country? None. The deepening economic crisis is a good indication of the ability or complete lack of it. And the one who purchased a million rupee jacket and asked the poor people of this country who will never know what a million rupees is quite apart from knowing what a jacket is, lost whatever credentials his Godfather thought he had, in a few weeks into his appointment through what is to us blatant fraud, but continues his antics and may well continue for a new term as well. A French queen was sent to the guillotine for lesser crimes about two centuries ago.

What experience of telecommunication does the Chairman of SL Telecom have? None. Being the brother of you-know-who is not a credential. What experience of insurance does the Chairman of the SLIC have? None. Being the brother-in-law of you-know-who is not a credential.

All that remains of the Budget, delivered sonorously in a six-hour rendition six months ago, are the words, “Mr Speaker…”, but that particular voice continues to spew forth equally unsustainable proposals which are blown away quicker than straw in the wind, while its owner seems to live only for photo-ops. At the end he will have only photos. And designer ties.

A young politician from the hills, who started the revolution to throw out the scum by winning a provincial election against all odds a couple of years ago, has lost his head so much since then that he is now infamous for throwing his arms and legs at other people and recently for using obscene language in Parliament.

Another one whom the public respected and expected much from, instead of blasting the wrong-doers within the Government who are betraying the voters on a daily basis, vented his spleen on a security guard who was only following orders and not permitting couples, legitimate or otherwise, at the Square. Not satisfied with that outburst, he burst out crying when launching an ambulance service. To hell with self-control, maturity and bearing: vital ingredients in maintaining respect.

We are treated to never-ending entertainment which would be funny if it is not so ill-timed, least expected and totally unacceptable. The long and short of it is, Mr. Deputy Minister, nothing has changed. If you are brave enough to now board a train or a bus, like you and your performing band of buddies did before the elections to supposedly feel the suffering of the people first-hand and show your solidarity with them, the chances are that you might meet your Maker before you reach the next halt. 

You-know-who is where he is today, despite being a proven failure time and time again, because you-also-know-who bravely stuck his neck out in January 2015 to stand for what he believed in. If the latter had failed, what happened to the world’s best Army Commander some years ago would have been a teddy bears’ picnic compared to the consequences that would have been inflicted upon him, and the former would still have been what he is best at: playing snakes and ladders you-know-where.

Nothing has changed and at the rate that actions and appointments which shock the public are arrogantly shrugged off with a wink and nod, things will not  improve for us citizens under Yahapalanaya beyond being given occasional sermons of pie-in-the-sky by sonorous somnambulists, about the paradise Sri Lanka will become God only knows when, and the present lot in Government will not take the five or so years the previous lot took, to outdo them both in scale and method, in looting this country.

I am a positive thinker and am a firm believer in the saying that, ‘Cometh the hour, cometh the man (or woman)’ as world history has shown us time and again. We Sri Lankans have proved many times over that we are particularly resilient, compassionate and intelligent and the day will come when an individual with testosterone will place our beloved motherland in her rightful place on the world stage.

In the meantime Mr. Deputy Minister, the only response which I could agree with was the answer you gave to the final question your interviewer asked you: 

Q: Are you happy you are in politics?

A: I never ask myself whether I am happy or not. I came into politics to do what is right and I will quit at the right time.

You were a banker but you quit to become a politician to do what you think what is right. Considering how top management of banks change jobs these days and on moving on, take with them a good part of the senior management and also a considerable chunk of the business from the institution they are leaving into the one they are joining, thereby dealing a body blow to the former and another to the morale of the senior management of the latter, totally regardless of morals, ethics, and professional conduct, you may be relieved you are no longer in banking, considering your penchant for doing what is right.

Can you do so in politics, considering who you are in bed with? Time is running out fast and whatever you decide, please make sure you don’t get up with fleas one of these days.

With good wishes,

Citizen Fernando