Postponement? No, polls should be held as promised, BT respondents say
View(s):The following were comments received in the BT email poll:
On whether 100 days is enough to resolve all these issues:
- After making an election promise, it is up to the public to decide or not whether 100 days is enough.
- Yes. Unfortunately no action has been taken with regard to corruption apart from recording statements. It’s highly unlikely any action will be taken to mete out justice to the real culprits. The sprats will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, conveniently leaving the sharks out. The interim budget did grant relief but did we actually need a price reduction for the likes of sardine? Was the method of raising funds for these concessions really thought out? For example why was the mansion tax threshold changed? What about the hybrid tax increase for those who had already opened LCs and the vehicles were on the high seas? Was the 100-day action plan another election gimmick? If not, 100 days should be enough to fulfill the promises.
Respondent Hasantha Gunaweera says this time period is sufficient as Ranil and Maithri are mature politicians and this is not a youth parliament.
- It’s impossible to undo a decade’s worth of mistakes in 100 days. While the 100-day plan contains some notable aspects, it’s extremely unrealistic in terms of timelines.
- This was not proposed by the voters but by the politicians. Thus it is the responsibility of the government to fulfill the expectations of the voters.
- Respondent Kumar David says one must be reasonable about what can be done in a short time.
- Reforms to clip presidential powers need to enforced as soon as possible and at the same time legal action against corrupt elements in the former regime is essential to prevent them contesting the next poll. Until this is resolved, people are still afraid to speak. In such a situation full freedom is still elusive.
On whether parliamentary elections should be postponed:
- Respondent Hasantha Gunaweera gave an emphatic NO saying he believed this is aimed at buying time for the ‘buddies’ of the former dictator.
- I do not think the SLFP has a right to postpone elections. Holding an election is a must to overcome present uncertainty and ensure stability.
- The Government came in with a mandate to have general elections early. A postponement would raise questions.
- Postponing the elections will only lengthen the ‘comedy’. The people have been laughed at for too long. If they can’t do the job then someone else should take over.
On tackling corruption:
- Respondent R.M.B. Senanayake said this has been Ineffective saying they must call for the explanation of the Secretaries to Ministries on the allegations as they are the Chief Accounting Officers and bound to observe the Financial Regulations. Ministerial orders unless in writing are not an excuse. There must be a law making Ministers liable for any loss or damage caused to the government by their failure to follow the Financial Regulations. Laws are necessary to hold Ministers and the Executive President responsible for financial losses. It should be made retrospective from 2002 at least.
- Respondent Hasantha Gunaweera says there is a need to set up a more effective and efficient legal systems to make the process more effective.
- Ineffective. There’s been a lot of media attention of smaller players being caught while the bigger fish are very much still at large and seemingly kept under wraps.
- There seems to be a willingness (by the authorities) but ineffectively done possibly to save some of their friends on the other side.
- Tackling corruption should be the responsible of a system and process accompanied by laws to prevent corruption and ensure a free and fair judiciary.
- Respondent Kumar David says he believes things are moving too slow but also endorses the argument that prosecutions must be built up methodically.
On speedy decision-making:
- Respondent R.M.B Senanayake says there is a lack of administrative experience with the solitary exception of the PM.
- The process is slow.
On abuse of power being minimised:
- There are some instances where the new President appears to have violated the Constitution.
- Yes it has been minimised for the most part but we need to wait and see.
On the cost of living:
- My grocer says sales have risen because prices have come down
- Not really. The fuel reduction has benefitted a few bus passengers.
- Fuel prices have come down but what about electricity costs?
- The intention was good but the trickle-down effect to the consumer is taking a long time.
- While the price of bread has been reduced, the prices at small restaurants remain the same. The trickle-down effect is slow.
| Slow progress on dealing with past corruption is unsatisfactory, RCB respondents say The following is a synopsis of the comments received in the RCB poll: n To reduce corruption within 100 days requires a joint effort by the Government and the |