The fundamental reason why all the basic problems, including the communal problems, facing the people of Ceylon remain unsolved is due to the neo-colonial nature of the country’s economy and its deepening economic crisis. The country has been in a continuing state of economic crisis for years. This economic crisis is due to our inability to produce the consumer goods needed by an ever-expanding population, or to import them in exchange for the prices fetched by our export crops. The cause for this state of affairs is the fact that the prices of Ceylon’s export crops – mainly tea, rubber and coconut – on which the prosperity or otherwise of our economy depends, is decided by the vagaries of the imperialist - controlled international market, over which Ceylon has no control.
This situation, in turn, is caused by the excessive dependence of our economy on tea and rubber, and because the commanding heights of our economy–a greater part of our plantations, which still produce the larger share of our national wealth, the majority of our banks, the major share of our export-import trade, shipping, etc. – are still dominated by foreign imperialists. For decades, now, the imperialists have systematically depressed the prices of our tea and rubber. Equally systematically they have increased the prices of their exports to us, like fertilizer, machinery, etc. Thus, Ceylon is being bled on both sides. A part of this loot is syphoned back to us in the form of aid or loan, for which we have to pay interest, and also feel grateful. Despite 23 years of so-called independence and so many changes of government, no government–be it UNP, SLFP or UF–has con2 anything to basically break this stranglehold of foreign imperialism on our economy.
Every time the crisis takes a serious turn, all governments have been adept at transferring the burdens of the economic crisis on to the shoulders of the people. In 1953, the UNP government removed the rice subsidy and increased postal and railway rates, and deprived the school children of their mid-day bun. In 1962, the SLFP attempted to reduce the rice subsidy, but was forced to retreat. In 1967, the UNP devalued the rupee, and halved the rice ration. At the same time, it resorted to heavy borrowing from the U.S. imperialist-dominated World Bank. In 1971, the United Front government has increased the railway, bus, electricity, telephone, postal rates and increased the prices of petrol, cigarettes and many other essential consumer goods, and curtailed free health services.
Most of these measures were taken by the respective governments at the dictates of the World Bank as a pre-condition for the grant of loans. Ceylon’s future has already been mortgaged to the World Bank. Empty talks about socialism have been accompanied by increased burdens on the people with no corresponding sacrifices from the affluent. The most ridiculous performance is by those who talk about building socialism while the plantations, which are the country’s biggest money spinners are left in the hands of foreign imperialists! The latest admirer of the United Front government’s attempt at building socialism is Mr. J. R. Jayawardene, leader of the Opposition, deputy leader of the UNP, and one of the most astute leaders of the capitalist class in Ceylon. He has not merely expressed support to the government, but is even expected to join it as a Minister. From the interest of his class, he realises that this government is delivering the goods for the capitalist class much better then the UNP could; and that it is the best bulwark against revolution and should, therefore, be propped up!
Despite nearly forty years of adult franchise and 23 years of so-called independence, no fundamental problem facing Ceylon has been solved. In fact, they have got worse. Unemployment has reached unmanageable proportions, while the cost of living has sky-rocketed to unimaginable heights. There is no solution in sight. The reason is quite simple. A solution to the economic problems facing Ceylon can be found only through the liberation of its economy from the stranglehold of foreign imperialism. This cannot be achieved through bourgeois parliamentary democracy–no matter how many governments are changed.
All this goes to prove that so long as the imperialist–feudal big bourgeois economic framework remains unbroken, and so long as the bourgeois, repressive state machinery that protects it is not smashed by force, no matter whichever be the government that comes to power by means of the farce called bourgeois parliamentary democracy, the fundamental problems of the people will remain unsolved.
The only answer is the path of revolution illuminated by the radiance of Marxism-Leninism-Mao Tsetung Thought.