Points to remember when trying to address economic crisis

Both the Government and the Opposition parties have diverted their attention to the financial and economic problems affecting the country.

Whatever the remedies suggested, two factors inhibit their practical implementation. The fundamental problems are national reconciliation and large scale corruption and wastage especially in the government sector.

I appeal to both sides to consider the following suggestions and incorporate them in their programme of work:

To address the Tamil and Muslim communities with practical programmes of reconciliation and rehabilitation in the Northern and Eastern provinces aimed at a massive party membership drive. The programme should not only be based on their constitutional and legal rights as citizens, but with a view to integrating them socially with the Sinhala community.

A programme to educate their Sinhala youth members on the Hindu and Muslim religions and cultures so that they can organize webinars and meetings with Tamil and Muslim youth. Such activities will help them understand the local and global problems they all face.

K.S. Ekanayake Pannipitiya