The party-system has been the subject of debate since multi-party democracy was introduced. Many of a country's domestic problems are placed at its door.

That a country like Sri Lanka has so many parties, while big democracies like the US and Britain have just two major parties is an irony. India is constrained by a plethora of parties due its regional complexities, but even there, the eventual contest at national level is between two main political parties. China, of course, is a one-party state.

The party system is seen as democratic but divisive, splitting a nation into a Government and an Opposition, and the people into "our people" and "their people".

Many are those, especially in recent times, who have exploited this system for personal gain. Today, the Government is driven by those who were elected on the Opposition ticket, and front-liners in the Opposition today are those who were once its bitterest critics who had engineered their downfall several times over.

All these divisions, however, seem to disappear when it comes to certain common issues such as common perks and privileges for themselves. There is unity and there is bipartisanship of the most excellent order. There is bonhomie that would make their voters want to cry. From duty-free imports of vehicles to fuel allowances to subsidised food at the cafeteria, there is perfect unity, amity and serenity.

This week, a daily newspaper reported that plans were afoot to give an honorarium for not just politicians killed by terrorists as is the case now, but for those who pass away due to natural causes.

Some years ago, the local councils were meant to be the nurseries for national politics. Former Presidents J.R. Jayewardene and R. Premadasa and several others of a bygone era cut their political teeth in municipal politics before entering Parliament. Since 1987, the Provincial Councils have replaced them as the training ground for higher things.
If the country is to go by the conduct of many of the Provincial Councillors, there is little doubt that there should be some concern for the future of this country. Last week, this newspaper ran the story of how as many as 101 Western Province Councillors were 'taking off' to China on 'joy-rides' euphemistically called 'training programmes'.

That it was called a 'training programme' also is interesting. The monies for the trip came from the Council's 'Training Vote' Fund. This Fund is meant for the training of public servants and even sports persons. The monies spent cost the Western Province tax-payers (both direct and indirect tax payers) Rs. 30 million.

The trip was unannounced, as if they wanted to slip away and come back without anyone knowing. They are not alone -- it has become a practice for these Councils even in other provinces to indulge in these jaunts as if it's priority number one when elected to office.

It is only the Western Province Council's JVP members who declined the trip asking their colleagues what devolution they wished to learn in China that had no democratic Provincial Council system.

Some Councillors argued - on their return after seeing the news had hit the streets, that the trip was "extremely beneficial to them". Of course it must have been. All trips of this nature are beneficial. Travel broadens one's horizons, and it is necessary that we Sri Lankans, especially our elected representatives don't have that 'island mentality' - an isolation induced ignorance of the others' cultures and lifestyles. It is good for them to see the economic development of China and try and emulate those successes in the Western Province.

But, the underlining principle here is best put in the local idiom "Handa athey thiyanakota kagen ahanna-da" (whose permission are you waiting for to serve yourself when the spoon is in your hand) and whether this applies to those entrusted with the handling of public money.

It's not that they went to China, that's the issue, but their attitude to public funds that matters. The spirit of sacrifice is missing.

Elections under Proportional Representation (PR), equitable and just in many ways, have thrown up a system where no candidate, however qualified he or she may otherwise be, can contest without a few million rupees to throw. The electorate has been corrupted by monies being pumped in at election time. Only a candidate who can exploit the vast resources of the State can be equal to the task. Some candidates end up dead broke or with large IOUs to others as a result.

At the last Western Province Council elections, a high percentage of voters - 40 % or 4 in 10 either spoilt their votes or did not vote. That there is disillusionment is as clear as clear can be.

Newly elected councillors need to take heed or their conduct may soon prove voters being not wrong in their assessment.