More bright remits for an Administration on the move

WHEN troubles come, they come not single spies, but in battalions. Sri Lanka seems to have a sufficiency of such intruders these days.

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From dengue and chikungunya proto-epidemics and literal heavy weather causing havoc islandwide to the looming possibility of more national woes on the horizon if the economy falters, the socioeconomic prospects of our isle are not too sunny right now.

There are however some bright spots on the socio-political horizon. Some of these may redound to the political will of a government that has done well to create a conducive space for enquiry and accountability to flourish without the process deteriorating into the customary witch-hunts.

The other pull factor to complement the administration's ethos is the ongoing push provided by critically positive civil society engagement with the powers that be to keep nation, state and country on the right path.

One major light at the end of a long dark tunnel is the growing number of judgments and indictments in the pipeline. Signalling that this time round, political and public sector miscreants from previous administrations are not going to get a free ticket to ride.

For optimists, this is hope that a much vaunted system change is in the works, while pessimists still cry foul at state selectivity in prosecuting justice. The realists may see that it is in fact the long delayed down train express, mowing down egregious trespassers on the fast track to securing their ill-gotten gains.

The slow train

That express we (dare I say, 'all') hoped for is — the truth be told — the slow train. When the National People's Power came into office after a campaign high on hype and promising the moon and stars, we (again, 'all') expected the bad pennies of the past to be locked away pronto and the key thrown away where the sun doesn't shine.