Shameless games our politicos play

No discerning and right-thinking Sri Lankan of whatever political persuasion could be in any serious disagreement with the sentiment that mindless governance has been the hallmark of post indepndent Sri Lanka. Every Government without exception since the country gained political independence can be seen to have been grossly culpable of political opportunism of a high order resulting in mal- governance at every turn with the country and its peoples called upon to pay a heavy price for such political malevolence. Right along it has been a question of self/party before the country and its peoples. Recent political shibboleths such as “rata perata” (country first) have only been the continuing fooling of the people and pandering to their utter gullibility.

A historical glimpse into political misdeneanour

Historically, the first political jingoism might be said to date back to the very first post- independent dispensation of the country, when the “so-called” Father of the Nation would surreptitiously promote his son to succeed him to the premiership of the country overlooking several other senior and more qualified members of his Cabinet, this even culminating, for better or worse, in the formation of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. And shortly thereafter, the country was to witness this new political dispensation grabbing political power on a patently jingoistic cry of “Sinhala Only in 24 Hours”. And it was widely speculated at the time that the very leader/founder of that party not probably having the competence of even writing his own name in Sinhala-such was the limit of political adventurism over the years.

And then, of course, the national unrest following the imposition of the Sinhala character “SHRI” on vehicle number plates and several other unwarranted provocative actions against the minority groups of the country is now history, the country would want to forget. And then, the country was to be witness to two major constitutional revisions in the seventies - the first change in 1972 not only introducing a republican constitution to the country for the very first time but among other things also mischievously and effectively removing certain vital constitutional safeguards against the discrimination of minority groups of the country enshrined in an earlier Soulbury Constitution

The country would in succeeding years pay heavily and bleed profusely and continue to do so consequent to these political misadventures.

The second constitutional change in 1978 bringing in Presidential rule to the country was to wreak even greater disaster to the body politic of the country consequent to unbridled power vested in a single individual by that questionable Constitution. The extreme vanity and boast of the father of that constitution was a claim to such absolute power that would only fall short of his ability to change a man into a woman and vice versa. But then, even this self proclaimed “Caesar” would soon be seen to be possessed of only clay feet when he himself leading a very powerful government was to be caught literally with his pants down by the Marxists and Leninists of the time of surreptitiously exchanging derelict coconut land belonging to him and some of his political cronies with prime state owned coconut property from the renowned coconut triangle of the country. This came to be known as the infamous “Mudukatuwa” deal with a “powerful” President losing effective control of the reins of government The country is yet to get over the undisputed fall out of such mindless and irresponsible politicking.

Politico-economic meddling over the years

Over the years, if political adventurism with the aim of grabbing/retaining political power “per se” was bad enough and irresponsible as such, then politico-economic meddling was even worse. And instances of such irresponsible political meddling over the years touching not only on the day to day life of the citizenry but also on the very victuals of the country are indeed legion. To even reminisce about some of them at this time in the context of their deadly impact on the life of the country is indeed mind boggling. So indeed, even as a grim reminder of such political malfeasance by uncaring politicians over the years, it might be salutary at this time to even briefly dwell on some such irresponsible political adventures (or really misadventures) in years gone by.

In this context, one can scarce forget how our misguided and errant rulers in their folly and bigotry would substitute the universal non-working Sunday with a Poya Day holiday. From the best of my memory recall, this madness in the sixties/seventies would persist for the better part of some years before wiser counsel would prevail in the context of the extensive damage wreaked on the country’s economy by such misguided political manoeuvering in catering to religious bigotry. Ultimately, no doubt, the dire impact on the country’s economy compelled the powers of a succeeding dispensation to return to sanity. The country is probably yet to know the full magnitude of the total economic cost to the country by that sheer madness even though some studies are believed to have been conducted in that direction.

Other equally damning political adventurisms about the same time were the State take-over of Denominational Schools on the one hand and the abandonment of State sponsorship of promoting Inland Fisheries on the other hand. Similar recklessness of a different order were actions such as the vindictive Take Over of private sector plantations/estates; the running down of and eventual closure of the Paddy Marketing Board, the Sathosa Establishment (CWE), the Agricultural Extension Services etc., etc., too numerous to enumerate in this submission.

Political guilt not only confined to acts of commission

So, without doubt, our political establishment appears to have had the obverse of the proverbial touch of a Midas. While whatever the proverbial king Midas touched is believed to have turned to gold, everything our politicos touched invariably resulted in rack and ruination for the country and its peoples. But regardless, there seems to be nothing that our politicos would not want to poke their tubby fingers into - the increase of power and or the allurement of wealth accumulation probably comprise the sole motivation for such unwarranted meddling. Such transgression into even the arena of sporting activities in the country is sufficient testimony, leaving practically every sporting activity in the country in chaos.

It would be noticed that the grievous wrongs of the political establishment against the country and its peoples enumerated in this representation up to now have only comprised irresponsible/unwise actions which have adversely impinged on the welfare of the country and its peoples. But what of the wilful neglect of the obligations cast on a political establishment in the exercise of power? These can be classified as crimes of OMISSION against a polity – no less criminal as acts of COMMISSION and require to be equally decried and with equal vigour.

High on this list at this time would be the almost and total “couldn’t care less” attitude of both the “Honourable” Government and the Opposition parliamentarians in regard to the functioning of the Constitutional Council and the attendant Independent Commissions legislated with great aplomb and fanfare some five years ago. The country can scarce forget the great enthusiasm of the Jathika Vimukhi Peramuna (JVP) the new fangled Marxists in particular in their spearheading of this particular piece of legislation.

At this time however, they too seem to be as guilty as every other member of the political circus in failing to have this legislation functioning. Is it that this once “holier than thou’ political grouping vainly ambitious of grabbing political power themselves would now find it convenient to jettison anything independent and look to savour absolute power themselves? Whatever way one looks at this particular national fiasco, isn’t it basically a matter of our supreme law-makers becoming absolute law-breakers?

Other acts of OMISSION and COMMISSION our politicos in general are guilty of are the failure of the majority of them to declare their assets as required by the law; the wilful display of posters/cutouts during election time in brazen violation of the law resulting in the expenditure of millions of tax-payer rupees in their subsequent removal etc. etc. In a recent press statement regarding asset declarations by parliamentarians, we have Dr. A.C. Viswalingam, President, CIMOGG disclosing that as per a communication by the Elections Commissioner, that only as few as 7 parliamentarians have declared their assets - what accountability at high levels!!

Political aggrandisement

Regardless however of their practically falling flat on their faces in regard to their obligations to the country and its peoples, our politicos think nothing of rewarding themselves at every opportunity. Our very honourable “gentlemen” might not even have heard of an Evo Morales, the recently elected President of Bolivia, a South American nation, probably poorer than Sri Lanka, opting voluntarily to even have a fifty percent cut in both his salary as well as those of the members of his cabinet!! In this context, it would be blasphemous to even mention international statesmen of the likes of the Nehrus, the Gandhis or the Mandelas. Our “honourable gentlemen” on the other hand in addition to having their emoluments increased sizeably with retrospective effect, would even have their attendance allowances doubled. Wonder whether there be any other legislature where the members are paid an allowance for attendance? So, indeed, it has been our misfortune not to have been blessed with Statesmen - but saddled with a lot of very ordinary garden politicians.

Alleged corruption in the legislature

If all of the foregoing grievous acts of COMMISSION and OMISSION capable of being levelled against the political establishment of the country over the years are not bad enough, then that there should in addition be even allegations of corrupt deals in our legislature become even worse. Among other things, how our politicos over the years have made more than a quick buck with the trafficking of duty-free vehicle permits, for instance, has become such common knowledge that the average citizen hardly takes notice of this particular misdemeanour at this time. But then, in recent times, when certain sections of the media have thrown this particular allegation against even some of the “honourable hamuduruwo” parliamentarians, then a seemingly “all too common” misdemeanour may be thought of reaching unacceptable limits - but who seems to care?

Concluding remarks

It is equally mind boggling that such political chicanery could flourish within a society with such great public shows of allegiance to the four great religious teachers of the world - the Lord Buddha, Jesus Christ, Lord Krishna and Prophet Mohamed!! Here again, the cunning and the astuteness of our politicos have been to keep the temples, the churches, the kovils and the mosques quiet with subtle political patronage. And, with the public service/ bureaucracy also successfully held in subservience by devious manipulations, together with a polity with notoriously short memories and a relatively besieged media, our politicos have no doubt assured themselves of a free run, literally caring two hoots for the welfare of the country or its peoples or for public opinion either. The public service and the bureaucracy have been made so docile that we in this country probably conform unmistakably to the best of the nuances of the popular British comedy “Yes, Mr. Prime Minister”!! It is in this context that the writer of this submission had occasion to document his own memoirs in the public service titled “FACT IS STRANGER THAN FICTION” published recently. And, the current situation in Sri Lanka’s public service is undoubtedly doubly worse than what it was during the tenure of service of the writer over twenty five years ago.

The writer in the winter of his own life and blessed with a prodigious memory recall, has thought it fit to recall the grave sins committed against the polity of a country by succeeding generations of uncaring political leaders. The motivation is not with any sense of calumny but with the fervent hope that such exposure would in the first instance hopefully elicit some measure of remorse from amongst the current political leadership of the country and secondly to help bring out a sense of shame and horror (“lajja/;bhaya”) if indeed our politicians could yet be possessed of such sensibilities.

In conclusion, I would like to commend the following behavioural guideline/code to the poltical establishment of this country at all levels of governance:-
To thine own self be true;
And it shall follow as night the day;
Thou canst be false to any man.