This analysis was quasi-substantially based on a dialogue The PTF Chairman Basil Rajapaksa had in a TV discussion
Best Maxims
Covid 19 is struggling to reach the apex of its curve in Sri Lanka. Yet, the Presidential Task Force (PTF), with the SLPP National Organizer Basil Rajapaksa as its Chairman and the health sector with Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, are standing strong in its way. Here we discuss the Basil Rajapaksa Vision (BR Vision), and the PTF modus operandi. The fundamental maxims of BR Vision, which appealed to the people of Sri Lanka, associated with its modus operandi are: (1) Give your sicknesses to us. We shall heal them (2) Entrust your problems to us. We shall solve them (3) Seed your pain and frustration in us. We, out of them, shall produce delight and happiness (4) But, please do y one thing, that is, continuously and intelligently observe the rules, respectfully requested of you to be observed, by the best engineers of health, serving the crisis-inflicted Motherland.
The BR Vision gratitude
The appreciation of the PTF is its successful management of any crisis, apart from the covid-19 epidemic. The one ethical trait, the BR vision is overflowing with was taught by the best Wisdom Teachers of the world, the Buddha and Christ.
Thus, the Chairman of the covid-19 Presidential Task Force, triggered a bullet, across the heads of physiognomies, engaged in politics, yet, brutalized in to ingratitude. The People of Sri Lanka are courteously requested, to remember forever, the following statements: “ Any oxen or horned cattle can wage a war” and “Saying they are going to Alimankada, but visiting Pamankada.” Therefore, while paying honest tribute to the medical practitioners working day and night, the PTF chief, Basil Rajapaksa invokes the public, not to forget the enormous humanitarian duty, the members of the forces execute, without demeaning to the low level of some corrupt and ungrateful UNP and JVP politicians and their cronies, who, just before the last Presidential election, degraded the war-heroes as criminals.
BR Vision strategy
Some strategic components of BR Vision are: Quick to assimilate facts, slow to blame. The leadership execution inception is up-front, the schedule must be full with tasks today so that tomorrow there can be no crisis. The objective of crisis management is not producing good vs bad always, but the prevention of the bad from getting worse. The crisis management is impossible without the right crisis communication. Hence, building the right relationship with the right stakeholders is a must. A crisis should not become an excuse to raise taxes, which would only undermine the economic growth, required to regain the prosperity strength.
No politics
Initially, the BR Vision was a doctrine of political pragmatism, structured, particularly for Sri Lanka. The original objective of its formulation was, to save the people of Sri Lanka, from their political shelterlessness, engendered by the brutal betrayal of two power-greedy and revengeful SLFP protagonists of unending vindictiveness. Nevertheless, BR Vision is not a dogma, designed to be static but a well structured aggregate of profiting principles, powered with dynamism and intended for transcendence through transformation. In the covid-19 crisis management, the BR Vision is operative in a refined depoliticized trajectory, involving neither nepotism nor cronyism. It is above ethnic esoterism and beyond the estranging of religious segregation. Instead, it nurtures professionalism and the erudition of intelligence with humanitarianism as its destination. The qualified staff of the PTF is the best example of it. Hence, the statements made by the UNP and especially, the JVP hypocrites is not relevant here. The leadership of BR Vision in the PTF modus operandi is an existential demand, commanded by the need of the hour. It espouses the welfare and the well-being of humanity as a whole.
Capacity crisis
The BR vision is well conscious of the capacity crisis the covid 19 may produce. The destination it anticipates is, to force the corona curve to run downwards, without allowing it to move in to higher altitudes from the level it is fixed in right now. This is the blunder many developed countries, including some super powers have made and failed to realize early. The BR Vision will be very much circumspect in the battle with the capacity rival and do its best to contain the number of corona patients, not allowing it to exceed the volume of facilities available for those, indisposed with covid 19 .
Unprecedented curfew dimension
Basil Rajapaksa was seen making a humble request from the public, to rightly interpret the curfew and to treat it, not as a government or police curfew, but as a coronavirus curfew, which has compelled us into observing it. Compared to the normal, the covid 19 curfew contains a threatening difference. The thrusting power of the curfew, the master of the actual virus is invisible. Further, it generates ill-health and then, death. It is infectious and disallows people to gather together. Hence, the only option left for the public is isolation from each other. The public is humbly and respectfully requested to follow this isolation rule, as requested by the best medical brains of the country.
Service distribution methodology
In the TV discussion, the PTF Chairman detailed the service proliferation methodology, according to the community category. Thus, the following categories have been identified: (1) Those who regularly earn money (2) Those who do not earn, but, have money (3) Those, who don’t have money in hand, but deposited in the banks (4) Those, who earn money on a daily basis (5) Those, who don’t have money.
Besides, the farmers in the agricultural sector have been allowed to continue their work, without gatherings. The estate sector with plantation community has been permitted to be engaged in their tasks, again with the rightly recommended distance. The fishing community and producers of eggs have been bestowed the same liberty. Those who are employed in the essential services have been issued with curfew passes to move around. The Samurdhi community categories, qualified to receive crisis-doles too have already been determined. The pensioner’s project has been entrusted to the Army with to and fro transport being procured for the purchase of their medical needs.
Food security
The BR Vision bestows priority for the domestication of agriculture as against total dependence on the import of food, with a full stop on the UNP introduced open economy principle of wild-ass-freedom-based import of food items, which, particularly could be grown in Sri Lanka. The public will be able to relish truly nourishing food, not chemicalized with various poisoning substances. Thus, in a global crisis of the said nature, the Sri Lankans will not experience the fire of hunger and hunger ignited anger -a much appreciable aspect of the BR Vision, no government could entertain from 1977 up to this day.
PTF modus operandi components (MO)
The following PTF MO components are envisaged by the Basil Rajapaksa vision to battle with the island-wide virus crisis: (1) Direction, coordination and supervision of the delivery of continuous services for the sustenance of overall community life, including the supply of food provisions direct to the community. (2) The 40-member Task Force includes Provincial Governors, Secretaries to Ministries, Commanders of Tri-Forces, security chiefs including Acting Inspector General of Police, Chairmen of Departments, Corporations and Authorities and District and Divisional Secretaries (3) Provision of facilities required by farmers for farming activities for the production of paddy, cereals, vegetables, fruit, fish, meat, milk and eggs, as well as plantation products such as tea, cinnamon and pepper (4) Organization and operation of the Lanka Sathosa cooperative network, Cargills, Keells, Arpico and Laughs retail network to supply products direct to customers (5) Operation of the distribution mechanism, to supply farm products, received at Economic Centers, to consumers in those areas as well as in towns at household level (6) Coordination with Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Sri Lanka Customs, Corporate Banking Sector and other Government regulatory agencies and take necessary action to facilitate the import of essential foods and drugs as well as the export of tea, sanitary clothing etc (7) Provision of fuel, security, banking assistance for transport of rice, coconut, tea, animal feed, domestically produced sanitary clothing and food (8) Provision of health and sanitation facilities to drivers and assistants of vehicles such as lorries, three-wheelers, buses and motor cycles transporting essential services and goods to consumers, and keep selected fuel stations of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation open during curfew hours to supply them fuel (9) Direction and provision of facilities to the Agriculture Department, Agrarian Services Department, Samurdhi Authority, Cooperative Farmer Societies, Farmer Organizations, and private seed production organizations to supply seed, seedlings, fertilizer and machinery for farming activities (10) Direction of officials engaged in rural projects to encourage seed farms, popularize organic fertilizer use and encourage production of home crops, and as far as possible, popularize home gardens for self-consumption (11) measures to provide required loan facilities to farmers via Bank of Ceylon, People’s Bank, Regional Development Banks and Samurdhi Bank branches (12) Implementation of appropriate measures for waste disposal in rural and urban areas and maintain continuous electricity and water supply services (13) Taking steps to focus special attention on women, low-income families and persons directly at risk when undertaking the above measures (14) The execution of measures for all bank branches to remain open for a minimum of 4 hours a day utilizing minimum staff to provide essential banking services to customers.