Editorial

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In a close encounter by a slight margin, the majority opted to close their eyes and vote the PA to office. The people will on Tuesday decide whether the PA has delivered the goods, whether it has kept to its solemn promises to abolish the Executive Presidency, end the war, bring down the cost of living, control bribery and corruption, ensure media freedom, raise the standard of living and have level playing fields among a host of other pledges the PA undertook to implement if it received a mandate six years ago.

If the answers to all or most of these are in the negative the next factor voters will have to take into consideration on Tuesday is whether the failures were a result of circumstances beyond the control of the PA and therefore sincere failures. Or on the other hand whether these failures were as a direct consequence or inaction of the actions of the Government and its leaders and their inability and incompetence to match deeds with words.

Finally, what voters will need to ascertain is whether those who wish to rule us for the next term of office are capable of delivering the goods themselves, given their proven track record or on the credibility of their own sincerity of purpose. 

The common thread is that there is an ever-growing populace that is disillusioned and disappointed with the performance of our elected leaders - and the very system of electing Parliamentary representatives.

Quite clearly most people feel that there are too many electoral representatives in both Parliament and other local government and provincial councils. 

It is clear that too much public funds are expended on the up-keep of all these Ministers and MPs while most of them, irrespective of party affiliations adopt the policy, so well described in the pithy Sinhala idiom "Handa Athe Thiyeddi Kagen Ahannada?"(When the spoon is in your hand why ask anyone whether to serve yourself).

If recent examples are needed we see how virtually all MPs got together cutting across party lines and served themselves duty free vehicles and pay increases. But there's not a single candidate offering himself for election who does not advertise himself as "Honest". This was a kidney punch to Representative Democracy as much as it was an attraction to those who wanted to become professional politicians so that they could plunder and pillage the meagre wealth and resources of a poor country like this. 

A recent opinion poll showed some 30% - perhaps the percentage is higher - believe that there will not be a free and fair poll next Tuesday. This is a terrible indictment on successive governments since the 1977 General Elections, though we commend the courageous attempts by the incumbent Elections Commissioner to ensure a free and fair election.

As we have said before the presence of foreign Election Monitors - as much as they are ineffective - their very presence is a vote of no-confidence by the international community in Sri Lankan elections and therefore a major slur cast on the people of Sri Lanka by those who have claimed to be their representatives over the recent years. 

You have a right to support the party or the candidate of your choice, and others have a right to their choice. Like the Elections officers who have already left to the thousands of polling stations around the country, there is an equally heavy burden cast on police officers to apply the law impartially without fear or favour. We wish them all strength and that the victor and vanquished take victory and defeat with equanimity. 

The face of Parliament is changing. Even the Mother of Parliaments the British House of Commons is moving towards an all-professional legislature. There too, the amateur has no place, and the professional believes he has the field marshal's baton in his rucksack. (See plus section page 5)

It is not whether you win or lose but how you play the game. This may sound old-fashioned in today's trend of winning and not losing by hook or by crook. May democracy however, be the ultimate victor. 

The Political Column

Editorial/ Opinion Contents