Bring Ceylon back, the pearl of the Indian Ocean

Since I am one of the longest surviving Ceylonese, 88 plus, I can say with certainty, how this pearl was transformed into this corrupt den of thieves, unknown and unfelt by its citizens in just over 70 years.

Six million people, happy, some being labourers in the port, helping manually to unload and load. Bullock carts with firewood and cinnamon sticks made an honest living for themselves.

Vendors on a three wheel carts selling fresh roti and beef curry. Some women in Kochchikade in front of the harbour had hothot rice and curry for the labourers.students, boys in blue shorts and white shirts. Girls in white uniforms. In the outstations this was not enforced. Farmers went about their business, sowing and harvesting. Coconut pluckers, rubber tree tappers, all went on with their small contributions to the economy.

In the tea estates, the best tea in the world was plucked. I remember Brooke Bonds the leading tea exporter sent their tea to the Buckingham Palace. The estates were maintained and looked like green carpets.

After 1956 our expectations were blown to cinders. Tea, coconut and rubber plantations were taken over, on an acreage basis, manipulated by politicians.

In one case 50 acres was selected in the middle of an estate, giving birth to corruption with impunity. The management was in a muddle. The government tried many methods to keep these plantations going. But the collapse of the administrative system in choosing politically-aligned companies to arrest the downfall of the plantation sector never worked. Even today many large estates are crying for help.

Then came the change in the political scenario. We had parliamentary elections, with a handful of parties. Our politicians were modestly honest, but unfortunately after 1956, the scenario changed.

Due to inconsistent policies, the Prime Minister, wavering, left room for interference from non-parliamentarians, eventually culminating in his murder.

The changing face of politics vanquished people like W. Dahanayake who returned to his electorate by bus, having lost the elections.

Then crept in the third class politicians who found ways of making money, giving plum contracts to buddies.

They dismantled the civil service. The first non-civil servant to be appointed was Ananda Tissa de Alwis a longstanding friend of J.R. Jayewardene, who began the corruption of the civil service and the diplomatic service.

With one stroke, the government created the so called administrative service of second class, administrators politically-picked that is the Sri Lanka today.

Please bring Ceylon back

WALTER FERNANDO