First 100 days: A short list of priorities

by Lalin Fernando-January 19, 2015,

Steps to be taken towards national reconciliation should be at the top of
the Presidents list of things to be done in the first 100 days. It is
suggested that the following also be accommodated under the 100 day
action plan that is meant to prepare the ground for the promised future
Reconciliation and National Identity. There was no true reconciliation after
SLs 26-year-old bitter conflict despite the people of the North warmly
welcoming those from the South ever since it ended. Without genuine
reconciliation all other efforts of the government will be worth very little if
not jeopardized. The two minority communities have almost in their
entirety supported the winning Sinhalese leader in the recent Presidential
elections. That was a giant step for people power towards reconciliation.
The prevailing circumstances could not be any better for the new
government to follow up and consolidate that victory. Reconciliation should
hopefully lead to a break with the unhappy, mean and distrustful past. It
must succeed to forge national unity and develop a true Sri Lankan
identity that sadly did not yet exist in 67 years after Independence.

Remembrance of the war dead. The most important step to achieve true
reconciliation will have to be the jettisoning of the ill-advised Victory
parade in May. It must be replaced by a Remembrance ceremony to
commemorate the war dead from 1971 to 2009. It will otherwise continue
the (political) estrangement of the Tamils from the Sinhalese. All
communities should be united in their grief for the 100,000 SL lives lost
and share the grief and pain of those who bore the burden of that loss.
They must promise themselves there will never again be a replay of the
tragic events that began in 1983.
The River for Jaffna or the Arumugam Plan to bring water from the
Iranamadu tank through Elephant Pass lagoon to the Thondamannaru
Barrage, on which work started in 1954, (supported ardently by DLO
Mendis among others) needs to be given priority, restarted and completed
without any more delay.
Rule of law.
The last regime as it hurtled to its end was almost completely lawless.
Corruption was not denied but excused as a global phenomenon. It turned
out to be an act of suicide as a silent revolution took place in the minds of
the people. The impeachment of the Chief Justice showed the utter
depravity of the rulers. Beruwala was the beginning of the end. BBS
unchecked or sponsored as it appears now was the symbol of terror that
stalked the land. Defeat was ordained. The rule of law must now be seen
in the streets, public spaces, residential areas and in Parliament. It must
begin by cleaning up the entire judicial system that includes the judiciary,
the police and the prisons for citizens to believe in the restoration of the
rule of law. Law breakers should be punished quickly.
Weapons - Danger
Weapons in the hands of private individuals are the biggest threat to the
rule of law. There are probably about 60-80,000 registered weapons with
people and probably twice that unlicensed. No one other than those in the
Armed forces and the police should be allowed to keep weapons. Weapons
needed for legal purposes such as sports competition must be stored, at a
cost to the individual, at the nearest police station. A relentless hunt for
unlicensed weapons and their owners should begin immediately.

The police themselves should not be armed, unless for special operations
(e.g.; terrorist hostage situation) and then only if approved by the Interior
(equivalent) Ministry. The army could intervene only if the Police request it
with the approval of the Interior Ministry.
Any armed escorts or bodyguards, should be from the police and only for
VVIPs. Lesser folk should manage with unarmed police escorts in special
circumstances only if recommended by the police and with prior approval
of the Ministry. After all, politicians often boast they are willing to sacrifice
their lives so there should be no obstacle to prevent them from proving
their noble intentions. This will save a lot of our lives on the roads as they
speed through like the clappers of hell
SL must prevent any more police shootings in self defence when taking
suspects to weapon caches and hidden loot. That and the way the
judiciary looks the other way when it happens, makes a mockery of the
existence of any idea of the rule of law.
Interlude. Who knew?
The government contracted a private security company led by a retired
Army officer to take over and hold weapons in a floating armoury for a fee
in hundreds of dollars. These were weapons of international anti piracy
security teams on board ships that were on route from the Arabian Sea to
South East Asia and beyond. South of SL no weapons are permitted to be
carried on board merchant ships.
The weapons were at the beginning handed over to the SL Navy in Galle
for safe custody through the Government owned Rakna Security. It
brought in much needed foreign currency to the Government .The MOD
after some time however decided to give this high risk, immensely
profitable security operation to this private company. It employed retired
flag rank (General) officers. It is alleged that it was involved in unlawful
election activities and has been allowed to store weapons at the BMICH.
Health. It is heartening to note that the new government will make
available all the drugs and medicines needed for patients in Government
hospitals. Injections and drugs for childrens illnesses and for pregnant
mothers must be given priority. Injections for those bitten by animals-

dogs, cats and rats (at least 75 people seek attention every day at the
Kalubowila Teaching Hospital) must also be made available.
Parliamentary meals. A healthy nation is the best motto for the
government to follow. It must start in Parliament where very expensive
and huge meals are given free. It is most disgusting to see that most MPs
are grotesquely obese in a country where malnutrition is common among
many children. These little hippos are indescribably ugly and evil looking
too. As they believe only they can save the nation and so qualify for most
things free, it is all but right that an expert dietician prescribes their
meals-which should then be given free - to make or keep them healthy.
Anything else, (basmati rice, mutton, chicken, seer fish, prawns etc and
desserts must be paid for at the market rate. This will help protect the MPs
health, especially those who said they are willing to sacrifice their lives for
SL but never at the time of the countrys greatest need joined the Army.
Sewerage. The most important requirement for the nations health is the
need for modern sewerage systems in the towns and villages. Outside of
Colombo, the Galle road sea side part of Dehiwala and parts of Ratmalana,
there are no proper town/city and village sewerage systems. As a result
sewerage tank over flows go not so surreptitiously into the road side
drains. This is an utter and absolute well known disgrace and a looming
danger that has been shamelessly ignored -even when SL was the miracle
of Asia. Open drains, seen all over in towns and villages alike, must also be
covered.
Laboratory tests. Laboratory testing should be done in the government
hospitals themselves. Curiously, it is the government hospital laboratory
staff in any case that do the testing (even when the hospital staff are on
strike) at private hospitals for patients in government hospitals for a big
fee. Maybe giving these Lab technicians better pay could help.
Schools. The education budget has thankfully been increased. How soon
will the schools infrastructure include sufficient rest rooms (lavatories) for
the student and staff together with running water? Let all students who
find it difficult to afford a good meal be given a good quality, free lunch
also. Private tuition should be curtailed and soon prevented. Weak
students should be coached in school by the very teacher who judges them
weak.

Public Transport-Air Conditioned. Now that the price of petrol has come
down drastically it is time that public transport be air conditioned as
running costs will be at an all time low. All senior government servants and
their masters in Parliament and various Councils, travel free in
comfortable, luxury air conditioned comfort. They do not pay a cent for it.
The public that travels in the sweltering heat or wet of the monsoon pay
the government for their rides. The cost of travel keeps on increasing but
not the comfort of the passengers. Now that Sri Lankans are the wonder of
Asia if not democracies (by the way SL changes rulers at elections) the
people in this 21 century, must be rewarded with air conditioned public
transport, both road and rail, whatever happens to the price of oil?
Some other 100 days.
USA. The best known 100 days action plan was that of Franklyn D
Roosevelt, who took over as American President during the time of USAs
Great Depression of the 1930s when America faced its biggest challenge
including bankruptcy. It was called the first 100 days. He pushed through
15 Bills in Congress in that period and brought quick relief to the millions
who were homeless, hungry and jobless. It was no surprise that he turned
out to be possibly the most loved President of the USA. However the
Republicans vilified him in the crudest possible way. He closed banks on 5
Mar 1933, sent teams to inspect them and on 9 Mar1930, 5,000 banks
opened. He had 4 priorities: protect the peoples savings, get people back
to work and create prosperity, provide relief for sick and elderly and get
industry and agriculture back on their feet. He spoke to the people on
radio every Sunday (when most would be at home) to explain everything
he was trying to do. It was believed that at least 60 million people out of a
population at that time of 200 million listened.
France. Napoleon returned from exile in Elba on 10 March 1815 and
marched on Paris on 20 March with 1,500 soldiers. King Louis XVIII bolted.
Napoleon then engaged the combined armies of Prussia, Britain and Russia
and after a series of battles was finally defeated at Waterloo (18-22
June).He then abdicated. Louis XVIII was restored on 8 July ending the
100 days since he bugged out. On 15 July 1815 Napoleon boarded RNS
Rochefort for final exile at St Helena. It will soon be 200 years since this
momentous episode in history happened.
Rwanda. The worst 100 days was in Rwanda when about 800,000 people,
20% of the population, were slaughtered between 7 April and 4 July 1994.

Posted by Thavam