My suggestion for discussion:
1. A President elected by the people using the prevailing from of democratic franchise.

2. A Cabinet of Ministers SELECTED by the Presdient from amongst the professional/academics in the country.

3. No slaries paid to Ministers. They will work as volunterrs in addition to their prevaling jobs.

4. Transportation, and other necessary perks may be paid to them for each and every cabinet meeting attendance on a pre-defined scale.

5. Run the givernment like a PRIVATE BUSINESS.

6. Each Ministry must show their profits/returns  and/or achievemnts at the end of each pre-defined period.

7. Bad performance calls for dismissal and appointment of a new Minister.

8. Once apointed the Ministers have the right to impeach the Presdient if they feel he/she is not performing as he/she should.


Any comments, additions, on this idea?

Thanks for the comments Tania. Very encouraging indeed. I thought I was the only one who was going nuts! lol!

When I said, that the government must be run like a private business what I meant was that it MUST be run with the expectation of profitable RETURN and not just an age-old leagcy type reign where everyoen fills his pockets. The objective of the exercise must be with GAIN orientation, not for the Cabinet but for the masses.

The suggestion of paying the Ministers a retainer for their services is a good one. However, since most of them will be employed as professionals (CEO's of private sector companies, Professors of Universities etc.) this need may not be so daunting or even wanting. The fact that they are selected by the Presdient to sit in the Cabinet will certainly boos their status in society and may also be a feather in their caps for the sake of their profile and businesses. Man still lives on his ego, remember?

About the elected Presdient choosinmg his/her own henchmen, Sri Lanka style, is sure a great possibility. However, if we choose someone with INTEGRITY then we may hope that he/she may also show us some gratitude of integrity in return.

Hope springs eternal in the human breast, remember?

Woulds like to see more participation in this discussion. Where are the rest of the pundits?

Excellent Idea!

I am all for another era of Colonization not just for 25 years, but maybe for another 100. Thats the best that can happen to us.

We may, choose to ask the USA to do it this time instead of the Brits?

Dont forget the UNP Media MInister who read his speech back to front cos he had mixed up his papers in his hands?

Vacancies in Parliament

The government is now hiring MP s for the next parliament.

Salary: Rs 22,100/- per month

Other allowances: ( legal)
1 Entertainment Rs 5,000/- per month
2 Fuel allowance Rs 7500/- per month
3 Cell phone allowance Rs 2000/- month
4 Attending parliament Rs 4000/- per month + Daily allowance per sitting of Rs 500
5 Driver's allowance Rs 3500/- per month (can use more than one driver and pay any amount of overtime through Ministry Accounts, specially if driver also doubles as boyfriend.)
Other benefits:
1 Telephone with international connection
2 Photo copier at duty free rate ( Rs 685/-) monthly.
3 Computer at duty free rate ( Rs 1150/-)monthly.
4 Typewriter at duty free rate ( Rs 425/-) monthly.
5 Permit to import a luxury car valued at US$ 30,000 DUTY FREE and sell the permit for Rs 3 million and pocket the cash, free of income tax  too.
6 After 5 years another permit to import another car luxury car and make another Rs 3 million
7 MPs those who selected are living 25 miles from Colombo are entitled 2 story house with 3 bed rooms and other facilities ( Rs 1000 will be charged per month as rent)
Other privileges:
Food at low cost from parliament cafeteria.
breakfast --Rs 6.00 ( 60.00/- elsewhere)
lunch --Rs 15.00 (150.00/- elsewhere)
bed tea (plain) cts 45 (beds provided on request)
milk tea cts 60
Evening tea with two pastries free
5 tyres and tubes per vehicle per year
A free life insurance of Rs 1.0 million
A pension after 5 years. Members who could not complete 5 years will receive 400,000/- to 500,000/- when leaving.
Postage allowance of Rs 7500/- per month
Free medical treatment at the best hospital
At least 5 overseas trips .per annum with all costs borne by the tax payer
free stationery. etc....etc...
Can employ mothers, sisters, sons, daughters, boyfriends and girlfriends as private secretaries and advisors at tax payers expense.
Fringe Benefits: Unlimited opportunities for bribe taking. (Bribery Commission is disabled)

Qualifications Required:

Education : Nil
Age : between 18 and 85
Preference given to applicants who have a big mouth, forked tongue, and a crooked mind, and an ability to shoot other human beings (i.e. anyone who opposes you). Having one or two murderous sons will be an added advantage.
Further, chances of getting a cabinet portfolio is extremely high! All you need to do is adopt a sexual perversion or two

NOW, Do YOU regret having got YOURSELF a HIGHER EDUCATION?

Fazsam: It descends from the sublime to the ridiculous when humorous posts or satirical ones with no foul language, are censored. It goes to show that Sri Lankans have lost their sense of humour (and command of English) whilst foul language emanates on TV from the highest in the land.

Anyway, your immediate defence of the censoring without even having seen the censored items is not a very wise attitude. Unless you are the censor and the webmaster and are defending your own actions. Are you? I wonder

Anyway, enjoy yourself whilst you can.

It will be 53 years of independent Sri Lankan rule on Feb-4-2001, God Willing!

Looking back, (I was born 12 days after Independence on the 16th Feb 1948) all that one can see is a gradual degradation of society in terms of morality, hatred, corruption, poverty, and strife.

Sometimes, onme wonders whether we would have been better off under the British Raj just as much as HingKong has created a climate of economic boom and prosperity? Who knows?

Is there a way out of these murky waters? I am not sure I will live to see that day although I would certainly love to be a part of it if we can get together and make it happen soon.

Please!

fazli