Maithripala should revitalise beautiful Sri Lanka to boast real development

Saturday, 10 January 2015 03:28 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By K.V. Vignarajah Presidential Election re-vitalised political democracy, bringing in diverse sections and all shades of majority and minority, to achieve most desirable national goals. The SEC/CSE and errant regulators must be reconstituted to re-establish real economic democracy, a market free of the aberrations, manipulations and the mafia. Former President Rajapaksa selected the correct eminent persons to head the SEC but allowed the Mafia to overrule him! That was sad and allowed bribery, corruption and nepotism not only to exist but even to overcome the good decent types and consequently devastate the morale and vitality of good creative, competitive, caring and honest entrepreneurship. The fair, just and efficient management of the ‘Maithri-Ranil’ leadership combined with the honest moderation of Karu and Rajitha, the political vibrancy of Sajith, Anura Kumara, Azath Sally and Mano Ganeshan, the good governance and economic affairs support of Ven. Rathana Thero, M.A. Sumathiran, Dr. Harsha, Eran Wickremaratne and Sunil Handunetti, with the active support and effective monitoring of transparency, by the elected truly independent minority comprising TNA,SLMC, JHU, the “honest Gen. Sarath Fonseka”, guided by the enlightened patronage of Ven. Sobitha Thero and Former President Chandrika, can re-convert Sri Lankan from the not too distant description of a ‘tear drop at the bottom of India’, to the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’ it was and become a true Wonder of Asia in the esteem of the World. Rule not by majoritarianism but with the consensus and consent of the governed. Many thought in January 2014, including the SEC/CSE, that I was too optimistic when I predicted an ASPI of 7,500 + to 8000 and an S&P SL20 of 4,500 by the end of 2014, if the SEC/CSE acted to correct or improve governance. My honest opinion is that ASPI will move up to 10,000-11,000 and the S&P20 to 6,000 to 6,500 in 2015, if the unfettered effort of an honest and open government lends the necessary backing to the entrepreneurship talent of our great nation united in its rich human diversity. New SEC leadership must ensure a transparent liquid market with high public float, high dividend payouts, true valuations to improve shareholder value, etc. The grace that former President Rajapaksa exhibited in leaving his luxurious abode at Temple Trees must be commended. A good Opposition could be led by him, Sarath Amunugama and others; they must find the all too elusive, corruption-free younger members of Parliament. They must of course forward the files of the corrupt for action by the new Government which I believe will reconstitute, inter-alia, the Judiciary, police and regulators and abolish the 18th Amendment. Transparency and fairness of actions and of investigations: SEC/CSE to note. Margret Thatcher (the Iron Lady) as Prime Minister of UK, with an absolute majority in both Senate and Parliament, froze an avid supporter who ardently advocated a vote by saying, “A majority cannot make a wrong a right.” Our famed International court judge C.G. Weeramantry said: “Lord Rama, vanquished wrongdoers very effectively using minimal force.” Martin Luther King (Jr.) stated: “I can understand children being afraid of the dark, but am amazed when men are afraid of the light!”