How are State manipulators going to spend the Rs25 billion raised by EPF?

The past few blog entries have looked into Monetary Policy being run by the use or more correctly the cynical misuse of the Rs1trillion and growing EPF money of the private sector wage earners of this country. I have explained that the use of their stock holdings and sale of which ONLY to foreigners, was a ploy to get much needed foreign currency to prop up the rupee, but that has failed in that objective.

Now the Rs25billion and growing money raised from these sales can be invested in many ways. They can either be used to buy Treasury Bills, which if interest rates rise further will FALL in value. They could be used to buy shares of the CSE to initiate a rally that is not driven by fundamentals, but again on speculation. They could be used to buy property as a long term investment, much in the way Pension Funds in the UK are some of the largest property owners, both of Farm Land, Commercial Buildings, and Residential Property that is rented.

I ask, do you honestly think the present management considers the long term rate of return for the owners of the EPF namely the workers who contribute to it? Short answer is NO. That is because this fund is not managed professionally and only politically. In the latter method it is open to massive fraud and corruption.

Just as I have stated in the blog a while ago how, the EPF instead of purchasing 1,600,000 shares of Central Finance at Rs800 each from the Govt. owned Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation, bought it a few weeks later at Rs1,200 each from a private individual, who had purchased it at Rs800 only after he had got assurance that EPF would buy it at the enhanced price. It is the same all over again. In that instance EPF was effectively defrauded by billions without investigation, as Govt. appointees and politicians were directly responsible for the fraud.

We hear now that the brokerage from the sales has been spread over all the stock brokers in Sri Lanka. What that does is the retirement fund is paying money to the stock brokers to keep them quiet and not question the ethics of the transaction. That is the way govt. buys silence as only money talks in Sri Lanka. This tactic is reprehensible as there is a money gravy train in the offing, to say nothing of the speculative gravy train about to be unleashed with insider trading emerging in a huge way when this money is reinvested in the stock market to buy undervalued shares.

I am willing to bet that the insiders, that is politicians and their corrupt henchmen will be now informed of the shares the EPF will buy. They will then purchase these shares on their own account, and then sell it within a matter of days to the EPF with a premium of say 25% profit for a few days work. There will be NO action taken by the SEC on them and again the retirees savings are used to make the fat cats of the Govt. brigade more wealthy and loyal to them. Remember I said money talks. It is easy then for them to share the spoils with the Politicians and there is only one set that benefit in the end. There is no word for this other than treachery of the first order, the worst form of crime that is committed against a state.

So the people are fooled yet again by the traitors who run this country into believing that their interests are preserved. It is interesting how these individuals make money at EVERY step in these series of transactions, with the EPF being the loser at each of these steps. The first step no doubt is the price at which these shares were sold to the foreign funds. Kickbacks are in Swiss or numbered accounts overseas so we will never know the extent and amounts involved.

It important that ONLY professionals with complete transparency and ethics of the highest standards are given to manage Sri Lankan’s largest investment fund. Otherwise the people are contributing their earnings every month to a fund that is used by a few a for their own ends, a case of the wage earner monthly paying a tithe to the rulers for ruling them, instead of the rulers being servants of the people.

I sincerely hope that sane citizens of Sri Lanka can reach for an element of common sense and decency to point out the aberration of practice in Sri Lanka, and are able to lucidly explain to the people of the country how their assets are being robbed under their own noses, in a manner of daylight robbery by the very persons who profess to safeguard their country, security, and well being from foreigners and other powerful groups outside this country, when in fact it is the very people making the statements who are committing this crime.

It is time that the people of Sri Lanka know what has been happening in the name of patriotism, by a group of people, who only have their personal interests at the center, using the machinery of the government to spread lies, falsehoods and agitate people over non events, while stealthily robbing the life savings of all who live here. This is done with the connivance of many whose silence is bought.

The people’s EPF retirement savings is used to prop up Balance of Payments

Following on from the previous related blog entries of the past few days, I note that a further sale of a chunk of another Conglomerate, Aitken Spence was made to a foreign entity as it was another case of doing whatever was necessary to get some more exchange into the coffers in a day the Governor of the Central Bank made his usual brash statement that ‘the Rupee would bounce back shortly to previous levels.’ It actually dropped to Rs 130 to the US$ today.

The stock market is in the dumps, the government is selling the EPF funds that are managed by the Central Bank only to overseas investors who will bring in foreign currency. So they are selling these assets at rock bottom levels, and as the rupee has depreciated, they look even cheaper if you are a foreigner as you only have to put out fewer dollars to buy this stock. I do not know when it will end, and if the govt. is selling all the investments of the EPF in the stock market as that is all they can sell for dollars?

Please think of this logic. The EPF MUST be independent of the govt. as it consists of the pension funds of the private sector workers. The govt. has NO right to dispose of this in this fire sale manner as it will only affect the final amounts available to be paid out to the pensioners. This action therefore is against the people of Sri Lanka and as these workers are unable to comprehend the nuances of investment are unable to agitate for restoration of their rights that have been usurped and stolen by the Govt.

It must also be remembered that if there is a grave balance of payments crisis, I have pointed out that the rupee would drop further to the 150 level, at which time foreigners can move in and take up the stock market picking up shares cheap and in the process drive up the market to an extent. When this happens these shares would have been sold cheaply, further aiding my argument that the savings of the private sector is being squandered to help the govt. get over crisis of their own making and not by those whose money is being robbed.

My argument is that the Govt. should bring in direct investment partners to invest in Sri Lanka, and thereby attract foreign funds, by making investments attractive. Sadly this was caboshed by the Act to take over private underutilized assets, so it leaves the govt. with fewer choices, but to raid the EPF to save their bacon.

In conclusion it is obvious to the rational observer that political appointees (either Nivard Cabraal or PB Jayasundera_) MUST not determine the manner in which the EPF is managed and how they invest their funds for the benefit of the millions of Sri Lankan pensioners. It MUST be immediately handed over to professional managers even from overseas if the independent talent does not exist in Sri Lanka so that the working people of this country are not hostage to disastrous economic policies of those in power that are merely directed at staying in power and not of developing a country with good governance and sound financial principles.

Morons Rule - CSE - SEC - STOCK BROKERS so Investors Suffer

The Crisis of Investor Confidence due to the introduction of the CSE’s ATS7.1 System Upgrade to the computerized trading desk.

The performance in 2012 of the crisis hit Sri Lanka Stock Exchange has been disastrous and many small investors have lost their life savings, taking up shares based on recommendations of Brokers who have helped many large investors, to pump and dump. There has been no one whose license has been suspended due to this kind of action, adding further proof that it is heavily weighted against the small investor who should invest using fundamental principles of stock market investing.

Added to this the CSE has introduced a disastrous new trading system, that has left even Brokers in despair due to the lack of commonsense in its new functions. It goes to show that those who developed it do not understand stock market dynamics, and most of all the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) does not understand that either, as it was they who introduced it after spending an obscene amount of money, which even they are embarrassed to disclose. Most of the top brass would have to resign for such brazen lack of financial conservatism. It is not their money, so they do not care attitude!!

In other countries the Board would take responsibility for the mess, and resign and also fire all the staff directly involved in permitting the introduction of the ill fated system, as they are playing with the hard earned money of hundreds of thousands of small investors, the people most vulnerable in this sort of disastrous introduction. BUT NO, NOT IN SRI LANKA that does not happen as higher ups make sure they warm their seats for as long as they can get away with the charade or until they are found out. Most people at the top are their by chance, and NOT competence.

I note below an extract of the comments made by the CEO of the CSE taken from a recent issue of the Island newspaper and I quote:

She also said that the brokers were consulted at the time that the system was upgraded from ATS 4 to 7.1 for which their approval was provided and also from the Rules Committee and the Boards of the of the Colombo Stock Exchange and the Securities and Exchange Commission. "It was at that time that it was decided that the normal lot and the odd lots will be on the same board unlike in the manual system. That is why many people are upset and brokers and investors were concerned about the share trading and the fragmentation of the share," she said.


If one accepts this statement, then I implicate all brokers in this as well as both CSE and SEC. What does this mean? It simply states that our whole stock market related experts are incompetent. No one has accepted responsibility, naturally as they are all seen as donkeys. I would say they are all asses. This is a terrible indictment of the people who run, manage and regulate the Stock Market of Sri Lanka that they know nothing about the purchase and sale of stocks. We expect to attract foreign in Investment! you've got to be kidding!

In a highly illiquid market, when one allows trading odd lots, (even a share trade of 1 share in the system to automatically allocated from a say 100,000 shares put for sale at Rs1) then the ridiculousness of the system is apparent, when even the seller has to incur trading costs (due to minimum charges) of 20 times the value of the share put up for sale! How on earth was this permitted? And passed the scrutiny of our so called experts?

I would say sack the lot of them, including fine all the brokers Rs5M each for not pointing this out. It is only then that future proposals will get the knowledge of capable people to inspect, disect and comment sensibly on a proposal using basic common sense. It appears to me that common sense is not one of the capabilities of our financial services industry. Does the public realize that they rely on financial information from their advisers who have now proven to be incompetent at their jobs.

It is time we set up independent advisory firms specializing in giving unbiased information for a fee, and who should be held accountable, and against whom there would be recourse to the law for misleading and suspect information. I somehow doubt this will happen in my lifetime, but it is nevertheless worth a stab at proposing, implementing and shouting loud about it so the investing public are aware of the shenanigans taking place under the noses of a bunch of incompetent buffoons who appear to run the Regulatory Industry aka CSE!!

I am aware how a transaction of one share can affect market cap, and all the trading statistics incorrectly, enabling mischief makers to constantly manipulate the stock indices to suit their own purposes. This has been made even easier since the introduction of the ATS 7.1 version. In fact it should have been made more difficult, so even the proposed upgrade is regressive and not progressive.

I appeal therefore for common sense,(‘Kalpanakaranna’ a recurring theme in this blog) in introducing an upgrade to the trading desk platform. Otherwise the damage it will do is incalculable, apart from the damage that has already been done. It is with regret that I note that few financial journalists have commented on this vital news, as I suspect even they are incompetent in understanding the problem, not well versed in how stocks are traded. All this leaves the poor investor SCREWED.

ALL EPF STOCKS ARE FOR SALE ONLY IF YOU ARE FOREIGN: The Malaysians just bought their stake in JKH a few hours ago for Rs14B

I just cannot understand how two faced this Government is! Just think they go on and lie to the public that they will not privatize or sell any assets to foreigners and guess what. EPF are under instructions to sell as much of their stock holdings as possible ONLY to foreigners. We locals are not allowed to buy this. These deals are negotiated ones, so they may even sell at below the current already depressed stock prices, giving the foreigners a BARGAIN. I do not trust this govt. so I will not be surprised that there are backhanders galore in this sale to foreigners.

I just noted that EPF have sold an 8.8% stake of JKH to a Malaysian Sovereign Wealth Fund. So now it is another sale of part of the largest Conglomerate in Sri Lanka sold ONLY to a foreign govt. owned fund. The Malaysians already own Dialog, and SLT did you know that? The latter sale was also a questionable deal as it was also the Japanese Stake that was bargain price sold to the Malaysians.

I have no problem with assets being sold to foreigners, if the Govt. came clean and told the public that it is OK for foreigners to own companies that the Govt. fools the people as being Sri Lankan, like SLT for example. Ask any Sri Lankan who owns SLT and Mobitel (have you seen the ADS?) and they will tell you it is the Government of Sri Lanka. It is really one of the Malaysia’s richest businessmen who owns it, one whose family were ethnic Tamil from Sri Lanka who made their fortune in Malaysia.

I am cool with the actual sales, the Govt. needs the dollars to save our bacon, having squandered all our money into their personal pockets, so now they want to sell the other assets of the State and the people such as EPF and take a share of that too, due to the severe foreign exchange shortage they have got into. So this traitorous act by the Government of President Rajapakse must be highlighted as it is discriminating against the citizens of Sri Lanka due to the ruling that the shares must be sold ONLY to foreigners. The latter reason being that they desperately need foreign funds. But what about the foreigners who sell their other Sri Lanka stocks and buy these shares. Then there is no net inflow of funds. The logic by the govt. of the latter is that this will prevent the money from the sale of shares being repatriated abroad, further worsening the balance of payments crisis!!

It all sounds a load of bunk to the uninitiated but trust me that is the case, and all the evidence is there to prove my case convincingly. Let us hope the people of Sri Lanka will wake up and realize that this Govt. is only cloaking their treachery well

How do we explain this regular phenomenon in Sri Lanka? Mob revenge

I was just reading a blog article by the ‘Sri Lankan Doctor’s Comments’ today where he was asking how we explain the happenings after the killing of the doctor in Karandeniya, where the suspects homes were set on fire and various acts of revenge took place, and also of the more recent Kahawatte murders, where the home of the brother of the accused was torched and burnt. In similar fashion, I would note that if a vehicle knocks down a pedestrian or a cyclist, the fault is automatically assumed to be that of the driver of the vehicle, and direct vengeance is meted out on the driver. In the latter case as a driver, I know how irresponsible pedestrians and cyclists can be and they are just as capable of causing the accident in which they are killed or maimed, and then the driver is lynched by an enraged mob, as it is assumed that the bigger vehicle was responsible.

I am sure a psychologist will be able to explain this phenomenon, but it happens in countries where people get highly emotional and end up causing a lot of damage. It is in this similar light that innocent Tamil homes were looted and torched, as well as the insane murders that took place 1983 because people were assumed to be Tamil. A bizarre form of questioning was used to determine if one was Tamil, before they were subject to torture or death, even though the person could be a foreigner being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

How do we as a civilized society prevent people, usually unrelated to the issue, taking the law into their own hands? Is this part of educating people that the law should take its course? Or is it that the people have little faith in the justice system and Law and Order to allow proper punishment once the crime can be ascertained?

It is important that all steps are taken to educate the public that such responses MUST cease as it is not the practice to kill or maim people just because someone in the audience has made the conclusion that the person is guilty. There MUST be due process of law to ascertain guilt, and the punishment should then fit the crime. The liability to compensate must be swift, as an injured party often needs immediate redress, and not have to wait till the slow pace of justice takes its course, by which time the aggrieved may have suffered massively one way or another due to delay.

A further point must be made that this kind of Kangaroo Court may administer swift justice, but it will not under any circumstances assist the aggrieved party to obtain justice or compensation that is rightly due. Society must have confidence that the real guilty will be punished in accordance to the law to stop this practice.

It is important to be able to address this senseless violence where the law of the jungle applies, to inflame the pack instinct into people hiding under collective guilt to commit crimes in the guise of acts of revenge. Otherwise we as a nation cannot pretend to have a sense of balance or rational thought. Something to ponder on.

Comments more than welcome.

The sinister war we have forgotten – that still rages on with political blessing

Now that all the triumphalism is past on elimination of the LTTE as a threat in Sri Lanka we must seriously do battle with the war on drugs, which with the latest drug busts as evidence, is taking an ominous turn, where Sri Lanka is now an entreport in the drug trade with massive amounts of drugs entering and leaving this country from production source and on its way to destination.

Due to the greed and lure of big money, there is LEAKAGE into the country, and much of it is carried out with the blessings of well connected people, most especially those in high political office who have the power to call off raids, busts, and prosecutions, all of which are necessary to ensure the free movement of this society crippling trade and EVIL.

Why do we need to wait for this to become one of epidemic proportions before we do something about it? The numbers of addicts in Sri Lanka are already staggering.

We have plenty of evidence of what this has done to many countries in the world. Just look at the United States whose prison population is one of the highest in the world due to the mandatory sentencing of those caught peddling drugs. If I am not mistaken, 80% of those in prison there are on drug related sentences. I do believe a great segment of the prison population in Sri Lanka is also on the same wicket, though the availability of drugs in prison is also one the authorities have failed to tackle. It is therefore becoming an issue which we will NOT be able to handle.

In drug offences there are many related crimes which are hideous. You do not want a loved one to be killed just so that someone wanted Rs500 for a fix! That is all that it will take an addict to kill you for. Now take the recent Kahawatte double murders. What I can gather from the Press today is that a mother and daughter inadvertently stumbled on a stash of drugs in a neighbor’s home. The peddlers a senior government minister’s Coordinating Secretary, a PS member and his brother amongst others have now been implicated. Remember to be so blatant one MUST have political support and all politicians need a lot of money to carry out their campaigns and to pay off campaign related debts, so they get into all sorts dubious fund raising schemes including drug dealing to satisfy this craving to win.

We MUST IMMEDIATELY take all steps necessary as we now have the Armed Forces, to STAMP OUT the drug menace in Sri Lanka once and for all, as we are doomed, despite winning the war on terror. We would certainly have failed our citizens even more if we do not win the WAR ON DRUGS.

Unprecedented but Unbowed and Under the Ulterior motive of Uncle Sam

The government now plays a game of blaming the US for bringing about a HR resolution. The nationwide protests that have continued and will persist, does not impact on the international community at all. Few in those countries are even aware of this activity. So it is only playing to the local audience strengthening the hand of the government in covering up the unprecedented series of price rises emanating from mismanagement. It is an act of manipulation of the mind from the need of the hour, a solution to survive from day to day.

I look on this as escapism in time of crisis, where reality is ignored and set aside with ideas and practices to cover up unpleasant thoughts. Protesting against absent non-existent propositions is a convenient tool to make people forget their problems and instead focus on a completely unrelated topic to vent their anger. This is a very clever move, and psychologist might argue is essential for people prone to depression to engage in. It is a form of psychotherapy called behavior modification, that the state has unwittingly thrust on its people.

So what action must we take against kill joys who want to remind us how bad it is? Self appointed patriots call them traitors. I ask do we owe a duty to our citizens to tell the truth or like the best form of democracy mislead the people on a grand scale to imbibe in self flagellation and not even feel the pain because they are in a trance that give them supernatural powers. This is the latest form of Governance.

This dilemma of ‘to inform or not’ is a difficult one to rationalize, when the recipient of this admonishment and warning of things to come would rather live today to find an imaginary villain of the peace, so they can go about beating him instead of the real culprit. So ask yourself, which side you prefer in this debate?

Once you answer that question you are free to agree or disagree with my opinion of what awaits us. One has to go back a few years in my blog to predict today’s outcome as being inevitable and not a flash in the pan or caused by any external shocks or influences. It was expected. Running a country is no different to running your home finances, but a little more detailed and few more compromises must be made to manage with the available finances of a nation. Many realistic decisions on what to spend on and what to cut down are taken daily. Those affected by the cuts are those who feel a personal stake has been compromised or robbed.

Let’s not forget that it makes no difference if the US or Western powers exist or not. Nothing will be CHANGE. Our issues are our own and not anyone else’s. So let us face reality and do that which is needed to continue to live as well as we can.
Let us try and put to bed this US resolution as nothing to get hot under the collar about. After all the Govt. issued the LLRC report and has not done anything about it. As soon as they go to Geneve, Mahinda Samarasinghe says they are implementing all the recommendations that have not already been implemented. The US resolution is only requesting that the proposals be implemented knowing full well that if they do not say that, the SL govt. will just delay and stall for time. So this is all a waste of time as the Govt. of Sri Lanka despite the misleading statements to the public has cowed down to the threat and agreed to all conditions.

It is clear to UNHRC that their action has already borne fruit. So it is a sorry state when an excessive team of 52 people including Douglas Devananda has gone to Geneve. He is the main culprit implicated in the paramilitary operations in the north that were highlighted as an important step to be solved long before the final report was issued, and still has to be acted upon. We watch with interest to see if the LLRC report recommendations will in fact be implemented and if so when?

So how can the Govt of Sri Lanka be so disingenuous as to tell the people that they are not going to be bullied by the US when they have already agreed to all their conditions. This sort of double standard is why I have a problem trying to find any more excuses for their behavior. After all even without Parliamentary approval they go to Geneve and agree to all the LLRC recommendations! Why? Is the Govt. frightened to get parliamentary approval because it may not be given? Or do they not care a toss under the dictatorship for the Parliament? Both require an answer.

It is disgraceful that the Govt. has to be prodded by the UNHRC to implement its own internal report recommendations. That is a sign of incompetence and intentional desire of NOT wanting to solve the internal challenges with all communities to ensure a lasting peace.

The Govt. must stop fighting a non-existent war in order to keep the people engaged in a different focus when the state of the nation and its management is severely undermining the strength of the economy, and there is no clear vision on how to solve the problems of the country.

In conclusion I call upon the Govt. of Sri Lanka to come clean, and be forthright about its actions and not encourage false jingoistic rallies over non-existent threats. They work hand in glove with the US in every sphere and also with the IMF in order that they can get all the funds they require while accepting ALL conditions. The people MUST be told there is no independence and sovereignty. It has been forfeited and so talk of preserving a sold out independence is only pretence.

We live in interesting times not knowing what awaits us – round the corner! - That is what living is all about

Each day is like no other, surprises and unexpected events are a constant, and despite all this we go about our daily lives with quiet determination and expectation of each day being better than the day which precedes it.

As night follows day, we have lost that certainty as even during the day clouds come over to mimic the night. We persist in our endeavors hoping we can get through the day and with all that we have to overcome, achieve and complete.

Time passes too fast to get catch one’s breath, pleasures in life must be indulged in lest they disappear. The pleasure of being able to walk unaided is only appreciated when that pleasure is lost. So do enjoy your walk while you can.

One hopes one day to relive that pleasure, but one never knows. So walk anyway, crutches, hold hands or any other crutch to imbibe in that pleasure. Life’s simple things are the most pleasurable. A back rub a squeeze or a feast of plain food.

Renewing long lost friendships making new ones and forever engaging are virtues that few can appreciate. A long period of seclusion is good for the soul, but must be followed by a train of events, conversations, and engagements.

Alcohol and cigarettes are poison for the mind. It dulls the senses into a state of paralysis from which even carnal desires are stamped out. It is better to drink the water of the King Coconut as it soothes, quenches and fulfills.

The mind is made whole when the heart is left thumping and expectation hits the top note. We call it utopia and you call it orgasmic but it all amounts to a temporary out of body experience. No one can deny.

Every waking moment is sublime which has followed the ridiculous nature of the previous dream. So wake up at dawn and don’t waste a moment of the day. It is too little too short and too precious. It soon goes away.

Memory stays and goes, with no certainty. When you cannot remember you worry you are losing what you have. You rejoice when you suddenly recall what you were trying not to forget. Your list to do is now complete.

We go to our maker not when we choose, but when he chooses, so remember life’s vagaries and indulge in all pleasures as you live as you know not what is in store. It is a great, beautiful, elixir of wonderment don’t let it glide by. You will miss it.

My relaxed chat with the Deputy Mayor of Colombo - Mr Titus Perera

I just so happened to be sitting next to the Deputy Mayor yesterday at a softball cricket match where young people from the CMC were playing. We spoke about many topics and I note below some of them just to put our thinking caps going on how we can improve the services of the CMC in Colombo.

I noted that Government own properties within the CMC limits which include Temple Trees and President’s House, to say nothing of the thousands of buildings that house departments. He is in the process of getting a full accounting of how much is owed in rates for those properties, and it currently exceeds Rs2Billion. There must be some kind of agreement for a market forces based rating system, so that a fair rate is paid for them as they use the services of the CMC. They are in conflict with the UDA about property that is not CMC, but nevertheless within CMC limits. It must be noted that schools and places of worship are exempt from rates, which is a huge added burden on the ratepayers and most of the students who come to the schools come from outside CMC and therefore are not ratepayers. Similarly many who come into the city to the places of worship also live outside.

Another topic was the hundreds of thousands of people who come into the CMC daily though they live outside the CMC. As these people use the services of the CMC, and even throw or leave garbage in the CMC area, they contribute to the thousands of tons of garbage that is the responsibility of the CMC to have collected and disposed of. They pay no rate to the CMC for this burden.

We discussed the name boards and large advertising boards that give substantial revenue to the CMC. They must have some sort of accountability to ensure that the right amount of money is collected. It is important that the CMC is not shortchanged by under reporting and for example a bill board recording a much lower square area than actual, thereby depriving the CMC of revenue.

We spoke about parking charges to reduce congestion, and ensure that people who use spaces within the CMC to park in busy areas, to pay a parking fee. A suggestion for school vans to buy a monthly or annual season ticket for their parking which is now free. It is only a matter of time when this becomes not only fair but vital to ensure that there is some control over the haphazard and blockage these school vans make in the ability of smooth vehicular transport.

He mentioned that he is asking all departments to develop revenue generating options rather than rely on allocations for their essential activities.

It is essential to be able to have a good working relationship with the government as they can be bloody minded by withholding back rates on properties which they many choose to contest and thereby deprive the CMC of much needed revenue.

I expressed my desire in seeing more open spaces for the public like parks, and wished to see the 15 acre property by the Beira used as a park and not the huge buildings the govt. wants by selling the land to the highest bidder. I also expressed the desire to see the 33 acres of the Welikada Prison also to be given over to park land as people living cheek by jowl in the nearby Wattes will benefit from a lung of the city being there, rather than that too sold to private sector for building and further added congestion. I sincerely hope basic town planning rules will used in future evaluations to ensure that there are sufficient spaces in the city for parkland for the benefit of those who live in the increasingly crowded and congested city that have too few places for people to escape to.

I completely forgot to ask about the junket held at the Kandalama Hotel, and how that cost could be justified, based on a cost benefit analysis.

Back to Education – “Reopening of 1000 Closed Schools” – another spanner!

Due to the emotive nature of the closure of local schools, especially those with less than 50 students the Govt. has decided to take reverse measures by reopening previously closed schools. This to me is only a reaction to bad publicity and is a retrograde step, taken to boost sagging popularity by emotive moves.

I have noted earlier about why so many schools have had to be closed, as it is very difficult under the current system of state education to firstly attract good teaching staff to mainly primary village schools, due to teachers having to commute from homes far away with minimal accommodation facilities in the rural areas. In fact I was informed just two days ago of a co-worker whose wife, who taught in a local school in Payagala (local to her home) and was just transferred to a school in the interior. She has to walk the final 3km after taking two buses, as there is no bus service to the village at that hour. She is trying all it takes using influence with the Chief Minister of the Western Province to get herself transferred back or at least to somewhere she can get to with less pain.

I presume this school would be one according to my criteria, which will soon have to close as parents lose faith in the teaching staff’s competence and dedication, and put their kids into more urban schools at a greater distance from home. How can the govt. keep this open? The news also referred to considerable sums being spent to repair, and do the necessary capital expenditure to get these previously closed schools back to a state to accept students. It is an UTTER WASTE of money UNLESS good teachers can also be attracted to the schools. No parent wants to send their kids to understaffed schools where the quality of teaching is not up to par. The money thus spent will be wasted. Cost of keeping them open is colossal.

It is therefore NOT the look of the school and its facilities, it is the Teachers stupid

Unless good teaching staff can be recruited, it makes no sense to waste money on this fruitless exercise. It is important that the money is spent wisely in giving the schools the necessary teaching tools, and basic facilities like toilets at existing schools many of which are thoroughly neglected. It appears that common sense evaluation does not take place in this proposition. All the factors of keeping a school open must be looked into along with population, age statistics also, the forthcoming census will give further accurate information for this evaluation.

Current thinking is devoid of a master plan, meant to address all problems, but is a collection of decisions, based on gut reactions at the cost of wasted opportunities.