Lankan business community hails peaceful presidential poll
Many sections of Sri Lanka’s business community hailed the conduct of the presidential election and its victor, Maithripala Sirisena, saying strategic state institutions finally came good – playing a key role – in a peaceful poll.
“… as for the rule of law the first signs are extremely encouraging – the police, the Election Commission and the lower courts did their job during the election and ensured there were no irregularities,” noted Murtaza Jafferjee, CEO at JB Securities.
Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya firmly dealt with alleged saboteurs; at one point going to the office of the state television broadcaster and demanding an apology over a false news item, among many other matters. There was all round praise for the commissioner and the Inspector General of Police with words like ‘true heroes’ emerging from people.
Asked by the Business Times whether the rule of law will improve under a new president, Gihan Pilapitiya, Chairman of the Ceylon Motors Traders Association, said there will be a better rule of law “with the new system of power shedding by the president”.
Mr. Sirisena, a former Health Minister who stunned President Mahinda Rajapaksa late November by crossing over to the opposition and announcing his candidature as the common candidate, won Thursday’s election securing little over 51 per cent of the vote. Rajapaksa stepped down early on Friday even before the final vote was counted – in a smooth transfer of power – as it was clear that he would be on the losing side.
The smooth power shift, which drew praise and admiration from all quarters, surprised many political observers and business analysts who were anticipating ‘some’ issues if the president lost.
There was calm in the city of Colombo on Friday as people got back to their offices for a delayed start at work. Many had stayed up throughout the night eager to find out the victor of the do-or-die battle between the two main contestants.
Sri Lankan businesses have been deeply divided over the policies of the President with divisions in the industry particularly over growing corruption and lack of governance, among the reasons why Rajapaksa lost. Analysts said this was particularly so over the state of play in the stock-market where a powerful mafia was allegedly involved in pump and down trades leading to the resignation of two, respected, chairpersons.
Trade unions welcomed the election victory with top union leader Anton Marcus saying the new government should ensure the implementation of decent work agenda of the International Labour Organisation and to ensure the rights of private sector workers.
Well-known advertising industry CEO Neela Marikkar said the country would benefit on the long term if the new regime were to establish social growth goals alongside the proposed 100-point plan “which will boost the confidence further, encourage FDI’s and investment by the local business community”.
Meanwhile the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce congratulated the President-elect Maithripala Sirisena on his victory.
It said it was extending its full cooperation to the president to implement proposals in his manifesto and noted that the results of the poll was “a clarion call for unity and harmony amongst our communities”.