The Gods have not been kind to our rulers

• According to Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Health more than one in five schoolchildren in our country are affected by malnutrition

During the heady days, in the immediate aftermath of its massive election victories –both parliamentary and presidential- our present rulers seemed destined to take the country out of the myriad of problems we had been facing since financial collapse of our nation. Mind you the Gods did not have anything to do with country’s financial ruin. 

It was those who were often seen running to temples, kovils and churches at the drop of a hat who brought about our downfall. Our present rulers on the other hand promised swift justice would befall those corrupt rulers. The country sighed a blissful sigh of relief. We believed the days of mega scams were done and waited with bated breath for the ‘Sword of Damocles’ to fall on the heads of those who literally ‘done the country in’.

While we still await this big day, a few small fry have been taken into custody, and are out on bail. One of the biggest jokes in the country has been this process of accused drug dealers/pushers being taken into custody, spending a few days in remand prison and then walking free to continue their nefarious activities. 

So it is with our corrupt political elite. While the poor and downtrodden are arrested for minor crimes and spend months/years behind bars, the big fish after a few days in custody walk free, call press conferences, climb on to stages, and claim to be victims of political vendettas.

Meanwhile the government voted into power with such high expectations seems to have run out of ideas as how to overcome even the smallest problems. Prior to winning the elections the electorate was made to believe the cost of living would be brought under control. That ministers would be squeaky clean.

Alack how far from reality are the promises of yester-year. Today it costs around Rs. 120,000/- or more for a family of four (father, mother and two children) to have two square meals a day. Yet the average basic wage today despite government raising wages fractionally hovers between Rs. 55,000/ - Rs. 60,000/-. 

With costs of schooling, medical needs, transport and clothing also to be met, the next generation of children face malnutrition. According to Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Health more than one in five schoolchildren in our country are affected by malnutrition!Today’s reality is that even if both parents were employed they would not be able to provide children with two nutritious meals a day.

Making matters worse trade union leaders are warning of impending price hikes in the costs of electricity, water and cooking gas. According to these sources the cost price of a cylinder of LP gas could rise by more than Rs. 300/- by the end of this week, while water tariffs may be increased by 15 June. However the price rise has not yet been confirmed.

But one can hardly blame the present regime for all of today’s problems. It has been beset by bad luck or the ‘Wrath of the Gods’ from its inception. First we had ‘Cyclone Ditwah’ hitting the country in November 2025. Sadly even today nearly six months later, around 2,200 to 2,400 individuals remain housed in roughly 29 operational safety centres and temporary shelters across the country.

Presently particular areas of the country have been hit by the spread of Meningitis due to the use of polluted water. It has been revealed people in the area depend on natural water sources to meet drinking water needs. Government despite nearly two years in power was not aware of this situation.

Yet Public Health Inspectors claim they had made proposals to resolve the issue, but their suggestions had been brushed under the carpet with every change of government. Now excuses are being made for lapses of those in authority.

There is an English saying, ‘the more things change, and the more they remain the same’. Sadly for the entire country despite all the pre-election promises government has not been able to deliver. It can only be hoped that we do not crash back into the dark era of queues, empty shelves and parents running hither and thither to find food for children.

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