When will wisdom dawn?

Saturday, 12 March 2022 01:29 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A few weeks ago you published my letter about Ajith Nivard Cabraal with the appropriate caption sent “There is no pillow as soft as a clear conscience.” I did select that as he had the gumption to spin a story that he was entitled to a pension when he served in 2005.

When he opted to leave office as a Minister and also from Parliament to get back to the seat of the Governor with a new salary package, he obviously convinced the powers-that be, that he was able to arrest the decline. As for pension, it’s an incontrovertible fact that those who served as Governor, who drew pensions were State officers who were entitled to draw the pension from the State not the bank when they retired. Those on contract left office with no pension benefit.

He convinced the ruler who was as ignorant as the person referred to earlier that he had a road map for recovery and got back to his earlier seat with a new salary package. Obviously, he trusted him as the country was in a deep financial crisis due to mismanagement and two out of the three who managed the country’s purse had quit office. He assumed duties and our international ratings dropped further and he had to roll his map. He is on record, saying that printing of money does not cause inflation and how efficient his assessment was is manifestly clear today.

There was also a shortage of rupees and it was immoral to draw Rs. 7 million. When the media questioned, he did not reply; instead, he blew his trumpet on his ability to earn more and portray that what he was doing was a service to the country.

As mentioned earlier, the guiding light to any minister handling the critical subject of finance must be a well-rounded person with experience at a senior level and apolitical since his task was to advise the rulers on how the economy was performing.

Adverting to the critical state we are in need is a political appointee who will be trusted and respected by the international community, who could draw investment and not someone tainted as a political lackey.

The media reported that the Cabinet nod had been received for a nine-member Economic Council.

Advertising to the politicians most of them are known failures and need no introduction to Sri Lankans,

Maxi Uduwela