Letters
View(s):Work towards a ‘people’s government’ through Cabinet representation
It is heartening to note that the pressure brought about by civil society over the years through the mass media has led to positive headway being made to scrap the ‘Preference voting’ (PV) system, seal the loopholes for ‘Parliamentary cross-overs’ and dilute a President’s dictatorial powers. They will surely help to change the existing scenario of ‘confrontational politics’ to a system of ‘consensual politics’.
With the rare emergence of a positive and consensual approach by both the Govt. and the opposition of the day, when dealing with common development needs of the country and its people, we strongly advocate the formation of a permanent ‘People’s Government’ as proposed below, also under the ‘100 Day programme’which upholds the compelling need for good governance, justice and fair play.
Fundamentals of a fair and equitable electoral system
The fundamental principle governing a fair and equitable electoral system is of a) giving an equal value to each valid vote to be cast at an election whether it be in the North, South East or the West and b) giving a reasonable recognition to votes cast for all the losing parties at an election.
In our view, it is the foundation of a true and a vibrant Democracy especially in the present context of consensual politics which is aimed at producing a ‘win-win’ situation for all the voters who are truly interested in our country’s development.
Under the above philosophy, in the first place, we simply can’t justify the operation of the ‘First –past the post’ system which allows appointment of an MP to each electorate having a vastly different voter density than another. For example, as per the recently held elections, Kayts as an electorate with 22,000 registered voters is entitled to one MP whereas Gampaha as an electorate with 147,280 registered voters is also entitled to one MP. This is preposterous! A new delimitation exercise besides being temporary would be exhaustive requiring re- demarcation of boundaries of electorates etc.
Therefore, at the outset, we strongly recommend the continuation of the existing fair and rational Proportionate Representation (PR) system with the larger District as the electoral unit without resorting to the more complex ‘Mixed –Voting’ system. Of course, the PV system has to be abolished and replaced with the ‘Party list’ system. We exhort that in view of the existing, unusually large, three tiered decentralized system of political administration consisting of the central Parliament, Provincial Councils and the local Govt. bodies coupled with an Executive Presidency (with less powers of course!) there is no earthly need or rationale for central govt. MPs to represent local electorates, as according to the hierachy they are law and policy makers and handlers of the country’s finances at macro level. What is necessary is to empower the Provincial Councils and Local Govt. bodies adequately and improve their productivity, visual presence and closeness to the public by giving more publicity to their activities through the mass media. Besides, with the rapid advancements in communication technology, we don’t see any dire need for people to approach any politician at all, especially when we are moving towards a robust ‘good governance’ and a fair and efficient Public service which no doubt should enhance its productivity levels in keeping with the recent salary increases.
Proposal for a ‘People’s Govt.’ through Cabinet representation
With regard to the formation of a ‘People’s Govt.’(Not a National Govt.) , we propose to apply the aforesaid philosophy constitutionally and apportion the specified no. of seats in the Cabinet in proportion to the total number of country-wide, valid votes obtained under the symbol of each contesting party. For example, if we limit the Cabinet strength to 40 ministers by constitution and if party ‘A’ obtains 45% of the total valid votes cast at the election, it will be entitled to demand 18 portfolios. Similarly, if party ‘B’ obtains 40% of the votes it will be entitled to 16 portfolios. The balance 06 portfolios shall be shared similarly by Parties ‘C’, ‘D’ and ‘E’. It would be seen that in order to get 01 portfolio a party should muster at least 2.5% of the total country votes. Accordingly, parties like the TNA and JVP will be guaranteed a couple of seats in the Cabinet. The same arithmetic can be applied to appoint 40 Deputy Ministers constitutionally. While the Finance portfolio will justifiably go to the party gaining the highest no. of portfolios, the balance portfolios can be allocated by consensus among the parties.
As we know, the PR system has stood the test of time for the last 26 years despite being subverted by annexing the PV system. However, to date, it is applied only up to Parliament level.
Now the time is very opportune and ripe to constitutionally extend the application of PR arithmetic as aforesaid in to the Cabinet composition. The result would be an ‘all-party Cabinet’ meaning a ‘People’s Govt.’ where country-wide voters are reasonably represented at all levels of decision making. Such a Cabinet can really moderate and fine tune all its decisions without allowing any extreme or unilateral decisions by the Executive President who heads the Cabinet.
More importantly, this method of equitable power sharing can be counted as the ‘plus’ component to the 13th Amendment (which is again in the limelight after Indian PM Modi’s visit) thereby helping to solve the much elusive national problem. It is also supportive of the proposed 19th Amendment except the complicated and irrational ‘Mixed voting’ system which anyway requires additional time, cost and effort to implement. Also, those who favour the need for an ‘opposition’ should not worry as the present Parliamentary system can continue to function as it is. Thus, it will be seen that this ‘zero-cost’ proposal can be accommodated within the ‘100-day programme’ of the Govt. by merely fine tuning the proposed 19th Amendment.
We urge the media, civil society, the academia and fair politicians who have the country at heart to listen to the voice of the sovereign voter and ensure a future of productive, ‘consensual politics’ in this country of ours.
Bernard Fernando
Moratuwa
Stop this ragging that brings so much misery
It was heart rending to read the news of a suicide of a student of the University of Sabaragamuwa, resulting from torture inflicted in the name of ragging. It is a well known fact that the students struggle hard to reach the required standard at the G.C.E (A/L) to enter university. Parents too make immense sacrifices to help their children reach their goal in education and when a student obtains the required ‘Z’ score for admission to a university, the happiness in the family knows no bounds.
In this instance, after the young lady entered the Campus the situation was such that she could not continue to participate in the activities there. She seems to have been subjected to so much torture, both mental and physical in the name of ragging. She stopped attending university and returned home. After a while, she went back to the Campus probably feeling reluctant to give up her hard-won admission. Again, she seems to have found the conditions unbearable which finally led to her taking her own life.
Her animosity towards the university was so much that in her death note, she is said to have mentioned that she did not want anyone from the university at her funeral. This is indeed a sad situation. Why is ragging permitted in places of higher learning? Why are the authorities hesitant to ban it? University is supposed to be a civilised institution that imparts education and must not have in its precincts ruffians who cause misery to newcomers.
Will the newly elected government adopt tough measures to stop this so-called ragging? The whole country would be grateful if this is done.
T. Kumar
Jaffna
No one seems to be bothered with misspelt ‘Jhoshep’s Street’
When driving past Negombo last Sunday, I noticed a street name board at Thelwatte Junction that read ‘Jhoshep’s Street’. It probably refers to the good old St Joseph’s Street which I frequented during my young days in Negombo
It is preposterous that this misspelt name board should be staring in front of the Negombo Municipal Council whose members are predominantly Catholic. The Negombo town is also 80 % Catholic but no action has been taken to correct this error.
B. Gomes
Ratmalana
Deprived of the joy of baptising their children
A church is a place of worship which is open to all who come in to pray to God for all their spiritual needs. Unfortunately this is not always the case.
I am a parishioner of St. Stephen’s Church Rajagiriya. I was baptized and confirmed in this church. I attended the Sunday school, was in the church choir and took part in all youth and other activities.
My two sons and daughter were also baptized in this church and my two sons were confirmed in this church where they too were quite active members and also served as altar boys.
My elder son was very keen to get his son too baptized in this church. Since he works in Qatar I arranged with the priest in charge in November 2014 for the baptism to take place on January 18, 2015.
My brother and his daughter were also baptized in this church. My niece who lives in Sydney was also very keen to baptize her daughter at St Stephen’s church. The dates were confirmed and arrangements made for the baptism on January 18.
My son and niece came down from Qatar and Sydney with their babies expecting the baptism to take place. Their hopes were shattered and my brother and I rushed around to arrange the baptisms at another church.
They were saddened and greatly disappointed by the turn of events which deprived them of the joy of fulfilling their desire of baptizing their children in the same church in which they and their parents were baptized. They didn’t even pay their usual Christmas visit as they were keen to celebrate the baptism of their children in January.
Sherrine Perera
Via email
Thank you for giving the correct facts about our last king
I refer to thearticle appearing in your newspaper under the heading ‘Remembering our last King’ by Tissa Devendra, and wish to make these comments.
Mr. Devendra has rightly mentioned that our last king Sri Wickrema Rajasinham was a ‘Tamil’ but not explained further that his name was ‘Kandasamy’. Nobody remembers or talks about our last King, and correct history is not taught even in schools today. If you ask any student today, they will tell you that Sri Wikrema Rajasingha is a Sinhalese King. History cannot be changed and in every school, history should be taught giving the facts.
Manel Balasooriya
Nugegoda
People and politicians, see that you don’t fall into same pit twice
It is very sad to see the well meaning new government struggling to achieve the “numbers” in the future elections. All and sundry are talking about ‘winning the election” and “coming to power”. This is all that the politicians are interested in and the betterment of the nation is not even mentioned in passing! The blatant lack of shame in showing the lack of sincerity among politicians is terrible indeed.
If the actual intention is the country’s welfare, giving up the greed for power will be easy. But as we see politicians, except a very few, in spite of many changes of heart and colour, have not changed much actually.
Why cannot the members of the opposition see that all of them together could make Sri Lanka proud in all aspects. There will be fruits for all to share. With the blatant knowledge of what the Mahinda Rajapaksa government did, it is amazing that some politicians – and even the common people – are clamoring to bring him back to power. Do they really think the majority of Sri Lankans will be so naïve that they can forget in such a short time? If we cannot see the truth for what it is then we are in for a greater shock.
Two things need to be done soon. One is to publicize the misdeeds of the earlier government widely and continuously till the common man in Moneragala and the little village hidden beyond Matara knows about them. Do not let the people forget what they have been robbed of. This is not witch hunting or revenge. Facts must be told as they are, repeatedly until they are absolutely and properly understood and remembered. Yes we Sri Lankans have very short memories but that does not mean that it is justified.
Prophet (sal) said “a believer does not fall into the same pit twice.”
Secondly all the politicians need to be engaged in dialogue so that they can see the need to be united in putting the nation on its best footing. All such discussions must be open and made public so that there is no horse trading and bribing so that a country worthy of the good people that Sri Lanka has produced can be built.
Is this too much to hope for?
Dr. Mareena Thaha Reffai
Dehiwela