Let’s do our part; shouldn’t we?

By Athula Jayasekera

It is sickening to note that Sri Lanka is going through the worst of times, may be for the first time in the last two centuries of its existence. The severe economic crisis that the country is undergoing now is a direct result of poor management of external and internal changes that occurred in the recent past. It is not only the managers of the country; the citizenry should also take part of the blame themselves. The years of conspicuous consumption, coupled with living beyond the means have also contributed to this situation. 

Our mindsets were shaped by the creation of unnecessary needs and wants which has resulted in us trying to achieve mental satisfaction by acquisition of worldly possessions just to please our egos. We imported top of the range vehicles to the country to be used for our daily travels to and from office/place of work. The running costs of these vehicles are much higher and we enjoyed the comfort of the drive for 1 to 2 hours a day only. Most of the time these vehicles are in the parking slots occupying valuable commercial space for continuously 22 days a month. 

The cost of these are indirectly passed on to the consumers by way of prices of products or services. 

The hard-earned foreign exchange is just wasted to give comforts to a privileged few in the country. Sometimes we don’t like to use common lunch rooms, washrooms because we think that using common facilities will bring our status down, and it will affect our jobs too. Therefore, we construct separate lunch rooms and washrooms for the so called elites in our organisations, and utilise good commercial office space and then spend our hard-earned money for maintenance of such exclusive facilities. 

Tough times require tough action

The unsustainable lifestyles that we have been engaged in, during the past, also have contributed immensely to this debacle. For example, people were used to extravagant spending which resulted in depletion of personal savings and ending up with heavy borrowings. It is high time that we introduce personal finance planning and proper controls of our personal budgets. This is the time that all of us must use all our energies to be productive and efficient. We must increase our working hours, engage in work other than the work we are entrusted with.

 Analyse the expenses and be conscious of what we spend on, carry a thinner purse than a thick one, this will improve our purchasing ability and ensure that we spend only on necessities. 

We should be mindful of what we spend on, we must always try to buy locally manufactured items against those that are imported. Never should we do things or buy stuff which are not necessary and things without which we can live a normal life. We need to eliminate waste and aim to achieve zero waste levels. 

This should not only be practiced at work places but at homes too. Maintaining zero waste should be inculcated back into the Lankan culture. We must remember the fact that ‘tough times never last but tough people will’.

We are trend followers 

We have been following many trends; and have become trend followers than setters, the recent trend is cycling coupled with photoshoots. Cycling definitely is good. It is good for your health and on the purse, but it all depends on how long one will continue this good mode of transport? Is it till we get our fuel levels back to normal, or till this trend dies a natural death, like in our effort to have home grown vegetables. The price of a bicycle too has gone up due to high demand. 

We became home growers of vegetables; this trend was followed by many and there have been instances of photos and videos appearing in Facebook of these enthusiastic home gardeners using their backyards for home gardening. 

It is a very good act of turning idle garden space into a productive space. Home gardening is rewarding and gives one a good mental health and relaxation. 

The question is whether we continue these good hobbies or allow it to die a natural death due to lack of continued interest. Can we use this crisis to change our way of living and set a trend that we aspire for a contended living which will promote eco-friendly life among Lankans, which some others also could follow? This could be one contribution that an ordinary citizen can make. 

Change our thinking 

This world needs more human beings and not human animals. It is necessary that people should act as good Samaritans and not as selfish individuals. We should be generous, and must give a chance to others, for example we must allow people who have not got a chance to fill their petrol tanks when we have sufficient fuel in our vehicles to run rather than topping it up every time a bowser reaches the shed. We must be conscious about this fact. 

The car/vehicle has only a utility value, and so people should never attach any significance or prestige in using one. No status or stigmas should be attached to any job or profession. Stop hero worshipping and giving undue respect to egoistic, pompous persons. 

Making undue profits at a time like this is a very bad deed by whoever does it, whether they are three-wheeler drivers or corporates. Increasing prices as they wish due to artificial scarcities created can be the worst thing that a man or organisation can do. If any corporate/individual businessman can reduce the price of commodities under these circumstances, it will be a real generosity and out of the box thinking. 

This type of act needs to be highly appreciated. There was a praiseworthy act by an owner of a private bus fleet who offered his services of three buses plying on the Kottawa-Pettah route free of charge for one day. This is a magnanimous gesture by a gentleman in the transport industry. This is the time that we all Lankans should practice good human values.

(The writer is a Life Member and Past President – TMC Board of Management.)