Letters to the Editor
View(s):Holding unproductive elections a severe burden for taxpayers
The Chairperson of the National Elections Commission (NEC) has declared that arrangements are afoot to hold the ‘Local Govt. (LG) election’ by March/April 2023. He stated that the last LG election held in 2018 produced 8,600 LG members at a cost of Rs.4,000 million and that the cost of the next election would be double–Rs.8,000 million!
Even a little child would agree that it is preposterous to rush such a costly and unaffordable countrywide mini-election at this juncture.
The voters’ broad expectations from the ‘Interim Govt.’ are i) to provide remedies to burning problems affecting the lives of the people by adopting necessary system changes ii) to design a road map with ‘System changes’ for a sustainable long-term economic recovery and debt restructuring with assistance from international agencies and iii) to effect urgent ‘system changes’ to lay the right ground for a new electoral system leading to a representative democracy and a people-based new Constitution sans the Executive Presidency.
For such ‘system changes’ to materialise before March 2023, it is essential to forge a strong national and legislative consensus among all parties in Parliament for which an ‘All/ Multi Party Interim Govt’ as initially proposed by the religious leaders, some political parties and civil activists. Unfortunately, what we witness now in the political arena is a selfish and unending battle of wits by parties and collectives to gain power.
The following steps should be taken to be effective for any future election:
1. Ensure countrywide democratic ‘equality of vote’ as per UN convention.
2. Ensure nomination of genuine, ‘country-first’ ’ ‘political professionals’ based on merit, by mandating standardized minimum eligibility criteria and a structured interview marking system for all parties.
3. Ensure Women and Youth representation (20% each) in Parliament/PC.
4. Stipulate mandatory criteria to nominate 29 National List MPs.
5. Ensure the ‘5-year Party Election Manifesto’, is a regulated, prosecutable document and convince the voter to make it the primary determinant for a wise voter decision.
6. Fix a ‘common maximum expenditure limit’ for all ‘party campaigns’ to ensure a ‘level playing field’ and also create an opportunity for eligible applicants sans financial strength.
7. Ban ‘cross overs’ to ensure an ethical and consensual political culture sans ‘corrupt deals’.
8. Complete all pre-requisites to ensure abolition of Executive Presidency.
In the event, the Supreme Court specifies clauses in the above requiring a referendum, such clauses also can be included for approval at the referendum for abolition of Executive Presidency. Pending such approval, the General Election could be conducted.
Bernard Fernando Via email
Beware of the ‘born again’ clan!
Whatever was achieved or not achieved by the Aragalaya, it did apparently lead to a lot of soul searching among a number of parliamentarians and politicians. The Aragalaya highlighted the sufferings of the people: the economic crisis, shortages and high prices of medicines and the political crisis – poor governance, corruption, cronyism etc.
This catastrophe has led several parliamentarians to review and revise their allegiances.
Breakaway groups, splinter groups, independent groups have emerged – of course creating enormous difficulties for Parliament’s administrators to find appropriate seating. We notice that almost all breakaway groups are offshoots or splinter groups of the governing party, the SLPP. Since 2019 they were comfortably ensconced in the new government enjoying the confidence of 6.9 million voters. All of them and more (a few from the opposition parties too) voted for the 20th Amendment – for the massive tax cuts that only benefited big business; supported the hurried and lunatic switch to organic farming; downplayed the sugar, garlic and other various scams– And the country became bankrupt!
Now post July 9, these same individuals have become penitent with hearts bleeding at the misery of the poor, ordinary citizens. Now they are born again! When the next parliamentary election is mooted, there will be many more ‘born again’ politicians and parliamentarians who will start singing their ‘born again’ verses, gathas and hymns.
Citizens! Beware of the ‘born again’ clan. Among them are professors, doctors, lawyers, revolutionaries and to complete the list a few murderers, thugs, extortioners, kasippu brewers, deal makers and a few septuagenarians to boot, totalling almost 225!
Henry de Mel Via email
Future retail outlets
For better or for worse
You will be the viewer
In the middle of a stall
A pinky girl sells charcoal
“Charcoal! Charcoal! Charcoal!”
By the side of the street
A handy boy sells a bale
“Bale! Bale! Bale!”
Near the pillar of a jail
The butcher sells a cockerel
Once a richer, now ‘on the road’ pauper
Bargains with the veggie-seller
“Mister vendor, what is cheaper?”
Brinjal!Brinjal! Brinjal!”
“Oh my God, nice rice-puller,
what’s the price” asks the pauper
“One nut, worthy of one dollar.”
“What dollar?” a dead faint,
The pauper fell down hither.
H.D. Jayasooriya Himbutana
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