Saving Sri Lanka from a declining political culture

by Luxman-Arvind

(September 09, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The extra-ordinary speed at which the 18th amendment was bulldozed through Parliament, the jettisoning of the 17th Amendment – which the President fooled the country for so long with as if he was really interested in ushering in changes - and the re-imposition of that dreg of the underworld Mervyn Silva again to a political leadership that should otherwise attract some respect; have all cumulatively heralded the message the form of democratic government the country was ruled from 1948 is well nigh dead. Parliament has lost its effectiveness and validity. The prevailing culture of politics has seen to that. The Emergency Regulations see monthly passage not because Parliamentarians who vote for its extension believe in it but because (1) the MPs and Ministers want to retain their perks, privileges and positions that will be lost if the regime is allowed to collapse (2) Coalition Ministers and MPs do it for the same reason but more because the government have and will withdraw that essential element of a large security retinue - without which many of these politicians cannot survive. Many of them are so blatantly corrupt they have made malfeasance a fine art, no sooner their disproportionate security is withdrawn their very lives are in danger. People subject to years of suffering are in a very angry mood as was seen in the treatment Danduwan Mudalali got from those whom he cheated. He was bludgeoned to death. The man had no security retinue, paid for by you and me, to protect him. This is why the Thondamans, the Hakeems, the Weerawansas occasionally do their theatricals. But eventually, and meekly, they come back to the fold. The recent explanation of Rauf Hakeem as to why he will be voting with the government was so bland it fell within the realms of comedy. Thondaman has a notorious track record in this respect and has made so many enemies within his party, his trade unions and his electoral district he lives in mortal fear of his life and cannot do without security. The private lives of both Hakeem and Thondaman are so scandalous their lives are in danger from this quarter as well. The record of the other Ministers in the jumbo Cabinets is no better. Without their security most of them cannot go back to their electorates or meet their voters freely.

The façade of the APRC in various names, the 17th and 18th amendments all indicate the political leadership is least concerned about the welfare of the State or its people but of its own survival and personal greed. The APRC was a time-wasting exercise where the President was openly found to be fiddling to get it to move to his tune. Finally, it was dropped wasting much time and money as well as the devoted work put into it by Prof. Tissa Vitharna. The 17th Amendment came by as a result of the political leadership from the time of CBK complaining of far too concentration of power on the Executive President and the need to dilute this and free the State organs trapped within its grasp.

The 18th Amendment provides for a Committee including the Prime Minister, the Speaker and the Leader of the Opposition and does away with the suggestions in the 17th Amendment. . The very purpose of the 17th Amendment was to reduce the strangle-hold of the President while we find hisover-powering shadow in the 18th Amendment playing a powerful role in the formation of Committees that should necessarily be independent of him. All these are clear indications once political power is tasted those enjoying the plums have little intention of doing away with the goodies. This is all the reason why the term of a President should not be allowed beyond 2-terms.

The other way to look at it this matter is to examine what is the physical quality of life of the politician who has come to power after making lavish promises in the areas of education, health, transport, Cost of Living, employment generation, increased agricultural output, cheaper power and energy, a better health service, safer roads and security to the people? What is the real degree of happiness and satisfaction of the people. The politician, his family, his kith and kin and his circle of friends are extremely well away enjoying a quality of life that is enviable by any standards anywhere. Some of the nondescripts who came from wooden shacks in Gampaha now in power boast the wife and children go regularly to Los Angeles for vacation. The chooty puta and duwa now cannot do without Disneyland in the USA and Pizza Hut at Rajagiriya. Whereas the voter and his family – who brought him to power– is concerned- the story is dismal. He finds his earning distorted by galloping inflation, he and his family are complled to eat less (Eggs are now selling at Rs.15 from Rs.5; Chicken that was at Rs.225 is not available even at Rs.500; the lowly Salaya fish that was at Rs.75 is now over Rs.200/kg; Bread is over Rs.35; vegetables that were in the average of Rs.35/kg are now double that) He and his children and family are subject to hunger, health risks, higher costs of transport and misery in all other respects. Over 30,000 young men – mostly from the rural areas laid down their lives to free the country from a fascist demagogue in a battle that dragged on for 3 decades. What did they get in return compared to the promises that were made to them? Even these soldiers - some of whom were gifted houses under much fanfare for their valour and for coming to the rescue of their Motherland - are now asked to pay over Rs.800,000 for their new-found homes – a sum completely out of their reach. They are threatened to be thrown out to the streets if they do not. Several thousands of these soldiers are now cripples with no income or prospect of livelihood from a State that has discarded them. The man who won the war for the ruling family Gen. Sarath Fonseka was "a national hero" the bosom buddy, brother and what not during the war. The President, his brothers and the entire Cabinet were there for several hours at the wedding of the General’s daughter. The super luxury Mercedes Benz that was gifted to him by the government was then estimated at over Rs.75 million. Overnight he has become a “traitor” Why? Only because he chose to enter politics and contest the Presidential election – which is his constitutional right. He is now left to die of natural causes in the realisation he is a sick man of a body that is mangled within when he escaped an assassination attempt. Politics have become so self-centred and politicians so greedy the venerable Maha Nayaka Theros of Malwatta and Asgiriya finally yielded to the popular call of an increasing unhappy people and called for a Historic Meeting of the Maha Sangha in Kandy a few months ago. The meeting of 30,000 monks from all over the island was to consider “how to save the country from the decline it has been subject to.” The country was aghast when a notorious political priest, widely known as a thug in robes, was sent as emissary and warned blood of hundreds of monks will flow in the Temple premises; grenades thrown and even the Sangha split along further caste lines if the meeting was not called off. Much damage was done to the integrity of the Mahanayakas in the image of the Buddhists in the country when they were forced to call off the meeting. The recent attacks on peaceful JVP MPs and others protesting in Galle and elsewhere all point out the regime is getting ready to confront a people whose anger - caused more by hunger - is likely to overflow soon. The speculation of the incredible and shameful reinstatement of Mervyn Silva is believed to be because the services of about a thousand killers and drug-traffickers he leads in the Colombo underworld wil be required in the" work" ahead. The private armies of Duminda, Thilanga and others will have much work to do – is what insiders say. Naturally, these notorious men will not make their services available free. The quid pro quo will be heavy and very costly.

The question, therefore is, has our form of democracy failed us? Do we need this kind of costly Parliament and Cabinet anymore? If the anger and dissatisfaction of the vast majority of the people in the South is understood in perspective, the answer is in the negative. As to the majority of the Tamil-speaking people in the North-East they have no reason to see themselves as part of the Colombo-ruled government because their major issues are either ignored or attended to in step-motherly fashion. Their urgent pleas so far have fallen on deaf ears. They are refused the right to run their affairs - a right enjoyed by every other Province in the land.

What then is the way out? Bangladesh is a failed society from the time it was created and its people have been in abject poverty from the beginning the State came into being in 1971. It became worse when army dictators took over consequently and ruined the country further. When it became clear World Bank/IMF and donor funds are not available for countries ruled by army despots and that theyare available only to elected leaers, Bangladesh conducted what was widely believed to be sham elections. Ex-army man and later President Ershad was jailed for corruption and misdemeanor. The two women took over alternatively in their own version of musical chairs ran the country down further while charges of corruption against them grew. Eventually, it became so bad the people preferred a temporary government of experts and professionals. This worked in that difficult society and halted corruption to some degree, increased productivity and stimulated the economy. But politics in Bangladesh and politicians there are a different cup of tea. Sri Lanka, with all its faults, is relatively better. But many in Sri Lanka today believe we too should dispense with our ruling style and bring in a group of experts to run the country for a limited period. This, admittedly, is a complex issue because we have had reasonably conducted elections on several occasions in the past few years. Both the last Parliamentary and the following Presidential Elections, it is alleged, were far from legitimate - adding to the very question of integrity of our election process. Therefore, it is perhaps time we too thought of a limited period to put way our non-working system and see alternatives that can benefit the country and the people more. What indeed is the purpose of an electioneering process if the people and the country are left out and the rulers get all the plums illegitimately. It may be recalled when CBK was in power she proposed to do away with the electoral process in the North East and allow Prabakaran to run affairs for ten years. Prior to that the late Thondaman suggested – now that all other methods have failed – to hand over the NEP to the Tigers for 5 years. In the circumstances, it may not be a bad idea at all to look into a system to allow a mixed group of political, professional and business leaders to attempt saving the country for a limited period of 5-10 years. Here is a list of an administration that, in my view, can provide a better and cleaner Quality of Life for all of us. I will also make my observations as to why I chose them.

1. Mahinda Rajapakse (President) and Chairman of the Council of Ministers

(that he was popularly chosen cannot be ignored. To take the top spot from him will make the whole exercise meaningless)

2. Gotabaya Rajapakse (Minister of Defence and the Armed services)

(He appears to be committed, able and won the war that others could not for 30 years. The methods he took are questionable but he should be there)

3. Ranil Wickremasinghe (Minister of the Interior)

4.Ronnie de Mel or R. S. Jayawardena (Minister of Finance)

(Ronnie is a difficult man to work with. But he has unmatched experience. He ran the Ministry for over a decade when the country performed best economically. RSJ was an able Governor of CBSL, a senior Civil Servant and unstained by political scandal. CBK had him in mind for this post earlier)

5. G.L. Peiris (Minister of Justice and Constitutional Reforms)

6. Sarath Amunugama (Minister of Public Administration)

7.Mangala Moonesinghe (Minister of Indo-Lankan Affairs)

(Who denies we have conducted our affairs so badly in the past we can now not do without India? Since then India has become a world power and intergrating with her will bring us benefits from all quarters. Mangala is an experienced Parliamentarian who also served as our High Commissioner in Delhi. He is well liked and has wide connections with the system there. This new Ministry will do us a great deal of good in the future. With Mangala's appintment we can save our VVIPs doing their regular poojas to the pandarams in Delhi)

8.Jayantha Dhanapala (Minister of Foreign Affairs)

(Very little explanation is needed for his nomination. One hopes he will not decline)

9.Ken Balendra (Minister of Ports and Shipping)

(As successful head of JKH Ken made that firm into a billion dollar conglomerate. This Ministry should be freed from the hands of greedy and corrupt Ministers for Colombo Port to reach the standards of Singapore – even to a semblance of it, for starters)

10. Nahil Wijesuriya (Minister of Tourism)

(Although he does not have a tourism background, he owns the largest shares of Inter Continental Hotel and other major investments. He loves the country enough to do his best to make a success of this very important industry. He can help to realise the inflow of a million tourists soon from the present half a million)

11. Mahesh Amalean or Ashraff Omar (Minister of the Development of Apparel Industries)

(They have made their small factories into world-class busineses that feed some of the most elaborate names in the garment industry in the Western world. The industry employs many hundred thousands directly and indirectly and brought over US$3.2 billion revenue last year. If they accept, there is little doubt they will stimulate the inflow of substantial additional FDIs and thatwould mean several more thousands of high-paying jobs)

12. Prof. Carlo Fonseka (Minister of Health)

(Utterly inefficient and semi-educated men have ruined the Ministry to the extent they were only interested in making illegal money via low quality purchases. It should be the task of the new minister to regain the position of our General Hospitals to a point where there will be sufficient room for the people to gain easy admission there at little cost. The current sharks in the private hospitals have made their facilities so expensive even the rich cannot afford them)

13. Prof. Karunasena Kodituwakku (Minister of Education, Higher Education)

(Since he is not an electoral politician he has no base. But he is able, affable and is well-liked in education circles. Having been a man in the profession for a long time he may be an acceptable choice)

14. M. A. Sumanthiran, PC (Minister of Reconciliation and Development of the NEP)

(The TNA and the Tamils of the North East must have a stake in running the government and made to feel part of it. I have chosen him over the senior Sambandan because much of the Tamil people feel their older leadership has failed them. Sumanthiran is a good and successful lawyer unsullied by the past)

15. Dr. Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy (Minister of Human Rights, Minority Affairs and Women’s Welfare)

(HR and Women’s Welfare are priority matters. Her name, her learning , her international exposure and her experience are matchless)

16. Harry Jayawardena (Minister of Trade and Commerce)

(If we go about looking for leaders who are without a “question mark” we are likely to end up nowhere. Harry from small beginnings has become a major businessman. Very few in the country can claim to be friends of the influential Clintons in Washington – like him)

17. Faiz Mustapha, PC (Minister of Muslim Affairs and Overseas Employment)

(Note I have said Muslim and not Islam. Since we have nearly a million in the Arab lands, a respected Muslim from here may bring us better results in a sector that netted in US$1.3 billion last year. CBSL reckons this year it could be over US$3.8 billion. He can also contribute to Cabinet Meetings with his knowledge and legal acumen)

18. Somawansa Amarasinghe (Minister of Youth, Workers Welfare and Employment)

(The JVP represents a fair portion of our youth. They are influential in the trade unions and they may know how to reduce un-employment working within the system)

19. Prof.Willie Mendis (Minister of Internal and Overseas transport)

(Admittedly, transport is not his forte. But the able Professor can fit in here. Besides, he knows sufficiently to make the Colombo Port to realise its true potential)

20. Professor Tisssa Vitharna (Minister of Housing also to oversee minority rights representations)

21. Prof R. Samarajeewa (Minister of Telecommunication, Posts and Information Technology)

22. Bernard Gunatilake (Minister of Posts, Information, Broadcasting and Media Affairs)

23. Dr. Pratap Ramanujam or Mano Selvanathan (Minister of the Welfare of PORIO (People of recent Indian origin) This community produces the wealth of the country via tea exports. Since the demise of the late Thondaman they are virtually “fatherless” Improving their PQL and standard of living has to go to more concerned hands. Dr. Ramanujam and Mr Selvanathan are of recent Indian origin. They are both professionals ideally suited for the job. India may welcome the creation of this Ministry.

24. Rosie Senanayake (Minister for the Development of Sports and International Friendship)

(Rosie comes to my list more to satisfy the current need for a greater role for women in the running of governments. With able officials with a sports back-ground, she may contribute well. On her own she has shown much leadership skills)

25. Bradman Weerakoon (Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation)

(Both disciplines are outside his known expertise. But as a senior civil servant and UN expert, he is versatile, acceptable and his dedication to the country is well known. He may accept to do his mite)

26. Merill Fernando (Minister of Plantation Industries)

(He is one of the most successful exporters of tea and can make a contribution to the vital tea, rubber and coconut industries. Tea alone brought in over US$1.9 billion last year)

These are some random thoughts and the names I have chosen are not absolute. I have not discussed this with any of them. I do not , in fact, know some of them while many others I do. I have only sought to stimulate a discussion in civil society who, I expect, will come out with their own names and thoughts. The Ministers concerned should be allowed to chose their Secretaries from either experienced men in the State or from the private sector - subject to approval of the President/Council of Ministers. Appointments of Chairmen of State utilities also should be of persons of established ability, experience and performance.

The High Posts Committee of Parliament has left room for much criticism as most appointments in the past few years have been below quality. The Committee functions in name only and it is understood when Chairmen are subject to question by the Committee their letters of appointment are prepared and brought for presentation - immediately after the interview is over. There was an instance of at least one Chairman of an important State Corporation who did not even have an 8th standard qualitication – that speaks poorly of this High Posts Committee.

The grave issue of Sarath Fonseka – a thorn in the flesh of the Rajapakses - can be satisfactorily solved, I believe, if he is coaxed to take advantage of his US Green Card and is allowed to leave the country on a quid pro quo of a Presidential pardon.

The other point I have omitted here is the question of Ministries for the different religions. Personally, I believe the different religious hierarchies should be allowed to develop their own religion - as far as possible with resources it raises on its own. The claim Sri Lanka is a secular society is defeated the moment you make State funds available for separate religions. The earlier we manage to separate religion from governance and politics, the better. We might as well look at the example of Western Europe in the post- 16th century. Prior to that religion paid an indispensable role in the making of regents. They were able to make and break kings and queens at their whims and fancies. But Europe was fortunate to have great philosophers during the following period who counselled this separation. That has done well for them without reducing or harming the role of religion in their society. Both Catholicism and the Protestant religions have remained strong and part of their communities to date. It may be noted the USA – a country that is only under 250 years – took the example has done well to keep the two separate. The havoc caused in the name of religion in new fundamental extreme organizations in the current world is frightening. They have neither helped the religions they profess nor the people under whose name they function. Therefore, I am of the view the need for separate ministries for the different religions should be reviewed.

The Attorney-General’s Department should be vested under the Justice Ministry. Both the Elections Commissioner and the Auditor General’s departments should be de-policised. The functions of the Customs, the Inland Revenue Department, the Police and the judiciary should not be tampered with by outsiders. All those Commissions under the 17th Amendment should be established and the pre-1978 Independence of government departments should not be interfered with. A strong Ombudsman should be appointed and the findings of his functions given high profile and routine media publicity. An ideal name that comes to my mind is that of former CJ Hon. Sarath Silva, who, despite the possibility of many accusations against him, has that what it takes to get the wheels of government moving. My other choice is senior Parliamentarian and Lawyer Mr. R. Sambandan. It will be seen the names suggested go across the racial and other divides and aims soley at getting the finest talent available in the country.

In conclusion, what is proposed is for an iintial period of 5 years, by which time it is hoped a better political culture will be re-established. If the exercise is found to be widely accepted, it can go on for another 5 years- by popular choice. In the meantime, to ensure it engages the people’s acceptance those involved must ensure the economy gains a substantial stimulus, incomes rise, the Cost of Living comes down, employment is created, law and order re-established and all other government services gain the respect and confidence of the people. With Sri Lanka’s high level of literacy, political maturity and Institutions there is no reason why we should not engage success in this endeavour.