Columns

While the most compelling and immediate challenge before the Government remains “putting food on the table” there are at the same time several other issues that the Government has on its plate.

While the campaign to force former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to step down originated in the unprecedented hardships faced by the people in obtaining their basic needs, there is across the board agreement in the country that only a united national effort can at least address the economic issues in the short term. Hence the call for a multi-party government that has received growing acceptance in the country.  

The other near unanimous view among political parties and civil society, and indeed all sections of the community, is the need to abolish the 20th Amendment to the Constitution which concentrated excessive powers in the office of the Executive Presidency and thereby facilitated the downward slide of the economy in the past two and a half years. President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his Statement of Government Policy to Parliament last week alluded to the importance of downsizing the office of the Executive Presidency.

He told the Parliament that at present, the President had the full right to appoint the members of the Election Commission, Public Service Commission, Police Commission, Judicial Service Commission, etc. “I directly say that it is not a favourable condition for democracy. We should change that condition. Presently, it has inherited more power to the President than a previous king of Sri Lanka. It should be changed immediately.

“The President of a country does not have to be a King or a God who is exalted above the people. He or she is one of the citizens. Therefore, separate flags, separate logos, separate honour awards should not be consecrated. I have already taken some necessary measures and will continue to do so.”

Indeed the 20th Amendment did elevate the Executive Presidency to such heights that the holder of that office was blinded by such excessive power that he could not take rational decisions on the economy resulting in the economic crisis.

To correct this situation the President has promised to bring back the provisions of the 19th Amendment although the 22nd Amendment that has been gazzetted does not adequately reflect the positive features of the 19th Amendment. The expectations are that this will be rectified in the Committee stage proceedings of Parliament.

The President’s speech in Parliament last week has also evoked a more positive response than previously with regard to the call for a multi Party government. Although different political parties have promised support for a national effort to the economic crisis, in what form such support will be forthcoming varies from party to party. While some parties do not seem averse to accepting Ministerial portfolios others like the Samagi Jana Balavegaya have expressed their intention to extend their support through Parliamentary Committees like the Oversight Committees.

The key to such effort however will be the Common Minimum Programme that the parties have to work out before any such multi party government is formed. Otherwise given the different policy perspectives of the several parties a multi party government will not only be not sustainable but a non starter.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has himself reiterated the importance of such a common policy framework in his Statement of Government Policy: “Certain parties had declared that they would consider my programme and give their consent to form the All-Party Government. I wish to make my observations in this regard. An All-Party Government is not a government that acts on the sole opinion of one party. It is a government that comprises the views of all parties within a common policy framework and is implemented after decisions are made.

“I wish to reiterate to this House, the importance of an All-Party Government in order to resolve this crisis and establish stability in an expeditious manner.”

The Government’s effort to bring all the political parties together will also face another stumbling bloc, namely, the declaration of an Emergency and the arrests of several key aragalaya activists. These actions of the Government have received widespread condemnation both locally and internationally and may work as a disincentive to arriving at a consensus among political parties.

The sooner the Government can achieve the much needed consensus the better. Political parties may have to put some of their preferred ideological positions on hold in the short term to ensure that Government is able to ensure that the needs of the poor and marginalised are met. In this respect the Samagi Jana Balavegaya has on the authority of Parliamentarian Dr. Harsha de Silva said that it is on the same page as the President on the economic policy articulated by the President in his speech last week.

A national government of all parties in Parliament is in principle never a good idea as there will be no one in Opposition to keep the Government on its toes. Given the dire straits the economy is in at the moment there does not however seem to be any alternative option.

In the circumstances the reluctance of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna to join a multi party Government may be a blessing in disguise as they will be able to play the watchdog function on behalf of the people.(javidyusuf@gmail.com)