The Wastrels do it with impunity – we just watch and say nothing

It is absolutely preposterous that the President of Sri Lanka had the audacity in the midst of a state visit to Thailand, of flying back to Sri Lanka and returning to Bangkok costing the state an additional Rs20M to attend a wedding of the daughter of Mr Arumugam Thondaman. In case you were wondering where I got the figure from, it is the cost of 7 hours flying time on one our nation’s aircraft, along with the opportunity lost of income from the plane not being used and the depreciation of the aircraft.

All these are costs we must bear for this type of flying and the fact that MR does not understand economics or doesn’t care is no excuse when the country’s resources are being wasted. I point out that the wedding reception he attended would not have cost as much and also that we are a country with desperate problems that need to be solved, especially now with the impending drought and to see the head of state playing games of state with the people’s money irks me that no case against the person for treachery has been brought in the courts also manipulated by the same person.

It is important the citizens of Sri Lanka are made aware of the gross uncaring acts of its firsts citizen who at the same time is the first servant of the state and therefore owes a duty of care to ensure state resources are not wasted.

When the head of state wastes state resources on a huge security, huge entourage when he travels overseas and just plain wastes in everything he does, the citizens must rise up and put a stop to this tragic state of affairs, as otherwise this is just the tip of the iceburg as he will feel he has the public assent to further waste funds we do not have at our disposal.

I am appalled that the so called free press has not picked upon this as a worthy point to publicize to the people who are blissfully unaware of the goings on. It is their duty to report such matters and the people to make up their minds as to its acceptability.

Tin pot dictators act in this way is a disrespect to the nation as a whole, as it becomes the laughing stock of the civilized world. I don’t care about the world of other tinpots as it does not form part of the real world, so I appeal to the people to make a stand, as one too many is just too much.