Politicos : Have your meetings after 8pm
(a solution to sudden road closures)

Shenali Waduge

We all understand that the security situation in the country warrants road closures to make room for motorcades carrying VVIPs to reach their destination safely. But the constant road closures are causing an immense strain on the people – the very people who carry the burden of propelling the economy of Sri Lanka & more importantly the very people who sustain the opulent lifestyles of the politicos & their cronies. Our politicos seem to conveniently forget this no sooner they place themselves in the threshold of power.

Many have to spend hours caught up in traffic blocks and the time lost affects their productivity. The life of any working person revolves around keeping to deadlines, ensuring targets are met, being punctual, accountable for ones job role, maintaining good attendance etc – our politicos do not have to worry about any of these. They do not have to worry about catching the bus or train or even budgeting for their monthly petrol costs.

I am therefore suggesting that in the interest of the entire country & possibly for the safety of the politicos themselves, that all meetings be held after 8p.m. so that the road closures and the annoying motorcades do not cause any more hindrance to the people who really matter – The Public. All the merry men and women can even end up with a sumptuous dinner together thereafter.

Today the public have to sustain the waste and corruption of the politicos and their cronies so even if the public may be burdened with an additional cost for overtime of the drivers and other administrative staff the cost would be something worthwhile to stomach as they would not have to waste hours doing nothing stuck on the road waiting for the VVIPs to pass and reach their destination.

I sincerely hope the authorities explore this suggestion seriously.