Electing a Legislature for a People’s Democracy

By Shiral Lakthilake

(March 25, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) “The best weapon of a dictatorship is secrecy but for democracy it is openness” therefore making our voice bold and clear at this juncture where Sri Lanka faces elections for the most pivotal legislature is most certainly a timely need. Over the years looking at the legislature that has been in existence in contemporary Sri Lanka (SL) the thought may storm into our minds as to whether the true meaning of legislature is misunderstood by the People; so to make things more clear a legislature is a body of persons representing a State conferred with the authority of making and repealing laws.

Which contemplates to us its significance; but what is even more important is the people who sit in the benches of the legislative chambers? Since these people are the precursors of State policy and societal governance. Members of legislature or more commonly known in SL as parliamentarians are delegated with the utmost task of Enacting Laws, Repealing Laws, Expostulate malfunctions of governance and engage in long sighted arguments on matters relating to state policy. The above mentioned functions bestowed in Parliamentarians imply to us the seriousness of the legislative role, how qualified a person should be to promulgate efficient legislative functions. Therefore it is vitally important for citizens of SL to understand to true meaning attached to legislative power and choose the three most suitable names in front of which their most precious Cross Sign would be marked.

A close examination of Sri Lankan legislatures then and now would be of great use for us to understand where we as citizens stand today in electing our representatives for the noblest chambers within our borders. During the good old days SL legislatures have been colourful and substantial due to its intellectual composition; where highly educated gentlemen with pride, honour and dignity had orchestrated policy formulation whilst the people friendly, radical and revolutionary leftist leaders rattled the chambers with rhetoric vocabulary pointing out the flaws of implemented state policy. Certainly those days can be highlighted as golden memories of SL legislative democracy where staunch leaders like D.S Senanayake, Sir John Kothalawela guided the nation towards remarkable heights; while leftist giants like highly intellectual Dr. Colvin R. de SILVA who used flower intellectual composition; where highly educated gentlemen with pride, A close examination of Sri Lankan legislatures then and now would be of great use for us to understand where we as citizens stand today in electing our representatives for the noblest chambers within our borders. During the good old days SL legislatures have been colourful and substantial due to its honour and dignity had orchestrated policy formulation whilst the people friendly, radical and revolutionary leftist leaders rattled the chambers with rhetoric vocabulary pointing out the flaws of implemented state policy. Certainly those days can be highlighted as golden memories of SL legislative democracy where staunch leaders like D.S Senanayake, Sir John Kothalawela guided the nation towards remarkable heights; while leftist giants like highly intellectual Dr. Colvin R. de SILVA who used flowerlanguage attached to deep political implications and fired thundering lights of democracy towards preserving order in society.

But pathetically the parliament which is in existence today happens to be the complete opposite of the above and lacks nearly all the latter mentioned characteristics. Today we do not find men of integrity in parliament such as Senanayake’s or Kothalawela’s but others who promote nepotism eyeing percentages of commissions from every state implemented project. And also we do not have Silva’s like Dr. Colvin anymore in parliament instead there are Silva’s who still have a doctorate for achievements beyond academics and uses language within parliament which has implications beyond political meanings and relates to utter filth; and in place of thundering lights for democracy we see them firing bullets hindering the democratic process and creating disorder in the societal structure. More Silva’s of this caliber are ambitious to sit on the legislative benches and are seeking a ballot from the masses with a bullet behind their arms and a bag of money which they have earned by means which is known to none.

So it clearly comes evident to us now that the SL legislative process is at an anarchical situation which needs to be remedied urgently. There are great possibilities for the situation to worsen! In looking at the candidates before us a question comes into our mind as to whether they really are here to Legislate? In the process of choosing candidates fame have seems to have come on top of experience and intellectuality. Certainly some leaders in the ruling benches might have come under the conclusion that ‘getting al fools on your side You can be elected to anything’; But of what use would these fools be for the future of our country? So as the old folklore says all it takes for evil to triumph is good men doing nothing! Where an obligation comes before the good men of mother Sri Lanka to make a decision of prudence on the 8th of April.

The whole rationale behind this article is to introduce a candidate who carries dignity, integrity and stands by democracy even for the sake of his life; the person to whom this introduction belongs to is Shiral Lakthilake, who is pithy and vivid he just not utter words to impress but conveys his views which carries implications in every word. He makes a bid towards the chambers of governing authority carrying nothing but intellect. experience and dignity aiming to restore democracy which is at stake.

At present we live our lives in a society where democracy is endangered by actions of all those in the higher echelons of power. SL media is experiencing its darkest hours where during the past six years numerous journalists were harassed and intimidated while performing their respective duties. J.S Tissainayagam was one prey of the power hungry authorities whose actions imprisoned him for over a year whilst many other media men such as Poddala Jayantha, Upali Tennekon and many others were brutally assaulted. The editor of The Sunday Leader newspapers Lasantha Wickremetunga experienced the worst of totalitarianism where he was assassinated on his way to work; the police investigation over these pathetical undemocratic acts are showing constant delays on orders to which they should inevitably abide. Shiral Lakthilake has always been a savior for media which confronts its darkest hours and stood by them at a time where no one else would even dare to.

The high rate of corruption in the country have bought disrepute to our motherland throughout the past six years. The infamous hedging deal carried out by the economic pundits of the Central Bank and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation lost us millions of dollars creating an economical debacle in SL; the same song we heard in a different chorus in the Mihin Lanka, Golden Key and economic malfunctions of other Govt bodies. Amidst all these economical blunders the superior authorities of our nations preached of heavenly comfort to the people who were burning in hell’s heat. So at this point the truth on the economic reality in the country did not reach people’s ears making them clueless on what happens to their tax money; Shiral Lakthilaka as an individual took the lead of exposing the darkest secrets of economic malpractices. He not only divulged details pertaining to these corrupt practices but also fearlessly disclosed names of all those who acts in governing authority working not for the State but for their own interests. The Corruption Watch an independent movement against corruption that disclosed confidential details pertaining to high politics of economic blunders were one of the pioneering contributions by Shiral towards making the society democratic from every opportunity available to him. So now he comes before the people seeking an opportunity to realize this goal of restoring democracy, an aim to bring back true values to society and most importantly lead our nation towards the path of success making it a pearl not only in Asia but in the globe in whole.

The question of Shiral’s eligibility to sit in the legislature is out of context since intellect has been his companion in success throughout his life. Shiral Lakthilaka is an Attorney at Law who obtained his law degree in the University of Colombo and pursued his higher education on legal studies in Temple University USA, University of Bangalore and University of New South Wales Australia. Shiral’s professional career was enlightened on the training he received on Strategic planning & Implementation adding more colour to his political management skills; Shiral recently was elected member of the executive committee of the Asian Social Democratic Party Circle. Therefore it makes it crystal clear to us that Shiral Lakthilaka is one of the most ideal persons to perform legislative tasks in our national legislative body and a consonant representative to be conferred power in return of preserving and upholding people’s rights. A leader therefore is an exemplary figure that stands by the people, walks with them even at the darkest times in the most deleterious paths and Shiral is of one such rare diamond found amongst the rocks in political arena today.

Once more the subtle nature of Politics needs to be reminded highlighting the need for politicians of the caliber of Shiral into the legislative benches. Sri Lankan politics had been confronted with the problem of the ethnic crisis which haunted our nation for over thirty years causing grave damage to lives and property of our society; the war now is over after a valiant effort put up by the military, but the ethnic crisis is yet to be solved. The disparity between the Tamils and Sinhalese in our territory still exist where wounds of racial disharmony needs to be healed not with autocracy or barbed wire camps but with political expediency that caters their diverse needs. Leaders with adequate knowledge on ‘Conflict Resolution’ skills such as Shiral are of immense use to address subtle political issues of this nature which needs careful policy implementations. As the great political philosopher Bernard Shaw says ‘Political Necessities sometimes turn out to be Political Mistakes’ which is an everlasting political prophecy applicable even today; where power in the hands of the wrong people may lead towards debacle’s. Therefore the wise decision of choosing Shiral over other candidates who throws money all over in exchange to votes is up to the people.

Today people are stigmatized in governance even though the whole rationale behind democracy is a ‘people’s rule’. We presently experience a rule where even the Prime Minister is unaware on state functions; such is the extent of nepotism in today’s governance. The Cabinet, Parliament and Judiciary are made impotent before the Executive family rule that works according to their whims and fancies. The people have understood the gravity of the situation but many fear to come forward and fight; but one thing should reminded! According to the words of the world’s greatest revolutionary Che Guveara “The Revolution is not a apple that falls on it’s own, You have to make it fall’ which conveys the importance of our individual responsibilities over our country. Therefore the opportunity is before us this election! We have a candidate of sincerity, a Man of our own and most importantly Our own representative who would stand before us over all powers and forces undemocratic; So in face of all violence, nepotism, totalitarianism PEOPLE WHO LOVE OUR NATION CAN COME FORWARD AND MAKE A CHANGE !!!