SriLankan Democracy in Peril
Kanthar Balanathan
DipEE(UK), GradCert(RelEng-Monash), DipBus&Adm(Finance-Massey), CEng. MIEE Australia
Since 2015, people of SriLanka have perceived that the democracy that triumphed from 2004 to 2015 has weakened & shrunken as a result of a few politicians, taking the law into their own hand as if the country is their own, not being patriotic. This creates a cloud into everyone’s mind whether the country is run by a democratically elected government or a dictatorial tyrant assisted with corrupted politicians. Can the people postulate that it is because of some politicians who have been overexercising their power delegated or is it because of their mentality of the third world culture? People can pinpoint on focused issues that hurt the democratic principles, however, will the politicians understand that they are on the wrong path putting the people's life at risk?
Since 2015, GOSL executive appointed the leader of a minority party Tamil National Alliance (TNA) as the Leader of Opposition (LOP) inducting the whole world to ridicule and laugh at GOSL. The old Sambanthan’ s mind is clouded to perceive that he is the leader for the Tamils ONLY. However, his duty was focussed on helping his crowd to get jobs with the GOSL. He was not at all interested in initiating any development on the island to which he is the LOP. The number of seats TNA held is only 16. This is a fundamental flaw in the politics and against democratic principles. Maybe all politicians have to undergo to complete a Law degree and learn democratic principles. This appointment was based on ethnicity and racism, not on democratic principle.
The vote of no confidence was initiated as a result of illegal malpractices thought by the majority of the GOSL members. This can be viewed at Ref: http://www.parliament.lk/en/news-en/view/1506?category=6. Text: The “No-confidence Motion” signed by 55 UPFA Members of Parliament, was handed over to the Hon. Speaker on the 21st of March 2018 and subsequently included in the Addendum to the Order Book No. 8(7) issued on 26.03.2018. Most of the points mentioned in the motion, associated with the Bond issue which occurred at the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.Please refer to a letter written to Professor Ricardo Hausmann: http://nrnmind.blogspot.com.au/2016/01/28-the-January-2016-professorricardo.html.
The No Confidence Motion (NCM) is a valid submission as a result of irregularities in the government. However, the politicians and members were bought over for four to five Crores of Rupees to vote against the motion. Total bribe amount to several crores. Ref: http://tamilleader.org/?p=7121
Selvam Adaikalanathan of TNA/TELO claims that TNA voted against the NCM based on ten conditions put forward to RW. These can be viewed at Ref: http://tamilleader.org/?p=7101. It is obvious that RW agreed to settle the ten conditions if he wins. This is again partiality, not national.
What is the function of the LOP? Quote:
The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest party not in government in a Westminster System of parliamentary government. The Opposition's main role is to question the government of the day and hold them accountable to the public. It is discernible in the political sphere that the Opposition represents an alternative government and is responsible for challenging the policies of the government and producing different policies where appropriate.
The LOP and the TNA voting against the NCM are violating the fundamental principle of democratic norm creating a new form of democracy.
This reflects the intelligence of the LOP and its party members and the lack of knowledge in politics and democratic principles. What the LOP demanded was partial and racial. LOP is common to all the people in SriLanka (SL).
Douglas Devananda (DD) is the leader of EPDP which was a driver for the development in the North during the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s period. DD and EPDP were threatened and pressured by UNP and SLFP high-level MPs to vote against the NCM in favor of RW. This demeans and brings shame to democracy in SL driving down to third world democracy similar to India. Maybe, an act of rowdyism?
Just to add a point: A government should issue bond as and when in highest need. Not to bribe politicians to support an individual. This is another pitfall on GOSL policy. Intimidation, frightening, retribution are not methods of politically achieving objectives which is against democratic principles.
The vote on the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe reflects the vibrant democracy in Sri Lanka and the government should seize the opportunity to further strengthen the team that wants to undertake reforms, a delegation of the European Parliament Committee on International Trade (INTA) said today.
Goodness gracious, the European Parliament Committee who made the above statement should be laughed off. They need to refresh their studies on politics. Is the European Parliament another neo-colonialist?
The current situation in SL is that the rich are growing faster than ever becoming billionaires and the people in the village cannot have three meals a day. Not even a sound single meal a day. The gap between the rich and the poor is widening and alarming.
If the PM was decent enough in the society, he should have dissolved the parliament and/or resigned as the PM to shield his reputation. The current GOSL is held in ransom by the Tamil Diaspora who may or may not bribe GOSL for MPs to support the PM and them. The illiterate MPs can only see money and nothing else.
On the whole, the NCM was voted based on bribery, intimidation, conditional ethnic favors, retribution threats, violation of law & order, and support from the Tamil Diaspora and the West. It was not on democratic principles.
Let the SriLankan mass know this and enlighten themselves to elect a patriotic politician.