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| The people of this country are today placed in a quandary as a result of politicians making various pronouncements with a view to scoring political points for personal and selfish benefits. They pay scant respect or attention to truth. Some party zealots and those enjoying government-awarded perks and privileges also are often observed repeating parrot-like what their political godfathers say without having even a nodding acquaintance with problems and issues under discussion. Philosopher Rene Descartes edict that one must neither affirm nor deny what one does not know well, obviously, is all Greek to them. |
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by Milinda Rajasekera
(May 03, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) A good opportunity seems to be emerging for our people to get at the truth relating to the supposed existence of bedrock that prevented ships from sailing into the newly constructed Magampura Mahinda Rajapksa Harbour. This question gained currency since the steady arrival of ships at the Harbour, as expected, did not materialize since the ceremonial opening of the Harbour. The opposition parties, following the practice of picking holes in all government projects, found the report about the bedrock to be a hobby-horse to chastise the government.
The controversy started raging with the ruling party politicians rejecting with contempt opposition party criticism in this respect and glamorizing the spectacular achievement of creating an inland harbour. They, as usual, denounced those voicing these criticisms as enemies of the country’s development and progress. It was against this backdrop that UNP MP Harin Fernando highlighted the matter at a media conference. Deputy Minister of Ports and Highways Rohitha Abegunawardena emerging as the main spokesman for the government, challenged MP Fernando to prove that there is a rock at the Harbour. And, following a series of exchanges of epithets between the two parliamentarians, a debate has now been arranged over the Swarnavahini TV Rathu Ira programme.
The event, coming as it does, at a time when politicians’ credibility is widely called into question, would provide the public with an opportunity of judging the reliability of politicians’ statements. The outcome, it is hoped, would also impose a vitally needed restraint on politicians’ tendency to make statements without proper basis, merely for gaining political mileage.
The people of this country are today placed in a quandary as a result of politicians making various pronouncements with a view to scoring political points for personal and selfish benefits. They pay scant respect or attention to truth. Some party zealots and those enjoying government-awarded perks and privileges also are often observed repeating parrot-like what their political godfathers say without having even a nodding acquaintance with problems and issues under discussion. Philosopher Rene Descartes edict that one must neither affirm nor deny what one does not know well, obviously, is all Greek to them.
These people do not have the least regard for the confusion they create among people through such conduct. It is during elections time that one could see them in their element. Some of them purposely distort things even on matters where the true situation could be ascertained by reference to facts and figures, Questions of economics, for instance, are based on data and statistics. Even these are used by these politicians, for support - as drunkards use lampposts – and not for the light they shed. Unfortunately, most people also accept what biased politicians say, if they are from the political party they favour. So, the present attempt to ascertain true facts relating various issues have to be welcomed and encouraged. The advances made in information technology have to be made maximum use of, for this purpose.
As for the present issue of the bedrock, it is not without reason that the opposition parties have raised questions. One of the principal officials involved in the project, chairman of the Port Authority Dr.Priyath Bandu Wickrama is on record having expressed the need for an additional sum of money to blast and remove the bedrock found in the harbour. The sum required for this purpose, according to him, is Rs.4.8 billion. For this and for fulfilling other requirements, a supplementary estimate has been submitted by the Ports Authority to the Cabinet Sub-Committee, according to reports. Details about these matters are expected to come out in the discussion.
Meanwhile, media reported the arrival of a ship at the Port despite the supposed handicap. Minister Abeygunawardena triumphantly announcing the event claimed that the ship, registered in Singapore, named ‘Vanhai 502’, 269 metres in length, had docked at the Magampura Harbour on its way to Colombo from Malaysia while two more ships were expected soon. He stressed that the arrival of this ship at the Harbour refuted MP Fernando’s statement that ships cannot enter the port owing to a rock obstructing them. But MP Fernando was not impressed or convinced. He dismissed the event as a media stunt. He said the ship carried much less cargo than what is normally carried in a ship and that the purpose of its docking at this harbour remained undisclosed.
So, it is under these circumstances that the debate is to take place. The discerning public will no doubt watch this event with great interest to ascertain the true state of things. Both sides would try their best to substantiate their respective positions. It would indeed be better if a panel of impartial and competent judges is engaged to observe this event and make their evaluation after the debate because most people lack the knowledge and ability to sort out the arguments they would present in support of their viewpoints. If the outcome of this exercise fails to bring out conclusive results, further investigations will have to be conducted with the help of new information technology.
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