Yet, Somehow, the Country Carries On

Sri Lanka continues to amaze me. Despite endless inefficiencies, frustrations, and systemic failures, the country somehow manages to survive without descending into complete chaos, unlike some nations that have struggled under institutional collapse.

The other day, I wrote about my experience with the Consumer Affairs Authority. Ironically, the word “Authority” appears to exist in name only.

Today, I had another reminder of how deeply dysfunction has seeped into everyday life.

I called two of the country’s largest supermarket chains.

The first greeted me with a recorded message:

“Press one for Sinhala, press two for Tamil, and press three for English.”

Naturally, I pressed one. The recording continued without taking me anywhere. I then pressed two, despite not understanding a word of Tamil, hoping perhaps that something might work differently. It did not. Finally, I pressed three for English, still optimistic that a human being might eventually appear on the other end.

Unfortunately, the recording simply kept repeating itself, taking me in circles with no resolution in sight.

The second supermarket chain was no better.

After the usual welcome message came the reassuring line:

“An agent will attend to you shortly.”

That “shortly,” however, seemed to exist in another dimension. While waiting for this phantom agent to materialise, the recorded messages continued, proudly proclaiming that they were “not selling products, but selling experiences.”

In a way, they were absolutely correct.

The experience they sold me was simple: never to call them again.

Some people argue that it is the private sector that keeps this country afloat, not the public sector. My response is straightforward: whether public or private, both are ultimately staffed and managed by Sri Lankans. The same attitudes, inefficiencies, and lack of accountability often exist on both sides.

If you doubt this, try calling these institutions yourself. You may discover that the problem is not limited to one sector or another, but reflects a broader national culture of poor service and lowered expectations.

And yet, somehow, the country carries on.