Features
A new page in the history of Sri Lanka
What is hoped for to be written, starting from next week, on this new page in the tome of our country – not legends and glorification like in its first chapters – the Mahavamsa, and not like the later chapters post independence of corruption and mismanagement. From 1948 to around 1960 we had some remarkable pages of progress, albeit slow but steady; with honesty and integrity from our leaders; the people disciplined and hardworking, leaving governing the country to those in power. What about the bureaucracy in those early chapters plus members of the House of Representatives and the Senate? Honest – absolutely so, with integrity and genuine love for the country. The older of us remember those who sought election to the two Houses. They spent their money and came from respectable homes and had commendable school backgrounds. Here I do not at all mean elites from cities are the ones we appreciate. We have had outstanding persons in power whether political or bureaucratic who were from Maha Vidyalayas and of peasant stock. Another strong plus point was that all races thought of themselves as Ceylonese and were united as they had been to oust British colonialism.
Then came a watershed of 1956. Still honest men in power but there were blots and smudges: the Sinhala Only Act on the then page of our history book. Was it in 1977 and the open economy with the form of government being converted to a presidential one that the rot crept in? J R J said the robber barons would come. With them came the money makers by illicit means. But he was completely clean where the corruption of money making was concerned. So were most others in his Cabinet.
Later as each new government came in, the blots and smudges increasingly appeared to smear the pages of our history book. Bribe taking, raking commissions from almost every project undertaken, outright stealing from even money sent for tsunami relief and that given to the poorest of the poor. Vanity white elephants were built; our land sold; banks robbed; and money made by almost everyone, whether politician or bureaucrat. The worst was the ingress of the indecent, uneducated lout to Parliament. Strong language, stiff indictment, but true. What did they do in Parliament towards the end of 2018? They sat on the Speaker’s chair and almost damaged it; threw bound volumes of the Constitution at the Speaker as he was escorted by Police into the Chamber. The ruffians with two women, damaged Parliamentary fittings and behaved absolutely disgracefully. Most of them sought re-election. Karu Jayasuriya, Speaker, maintained his dignity and showed us who watched TV that all was not lost: there were still men of integrity in power.
The Economist comments
The August 1st issue of this reputed journal carried an article on us titled “An election in Sri Lanka will boost the Rajapaksa family – They talk of making big changes to the island’s constitution”. Do shivers of triumph or tremors of fear affect you, Reader?!
The article includes this on the government post-2015: “During the hiatus, the coalition headed by the rival United National Party (UNP), changed the constitution to trim presidential powers, put in a two-term limit and strengthened independent oversight bodies such as a national election commission.” Later in the article: “Asked how he envisaged the SLPP as a ruling party, Basil Rajapaksa blithely responded that the Chinese Communist Party was an admirable model.” We shiver, with the Chinese almost crushing Hong Kong and trampling on its freedom.
To me within those two quotes, lies the bedrock of the past regime and the one that may be upon us. True enough, there were failings in the 2015 to 2019 government but there were, in addition to the benefit mentioned above, The Right to Information Act and we people felt completely safe to criticise, fault find and even vituperate against the government as long it was not fake. Commissions were set up, and very importantly and providentially, the powers of the president were curtailed and the presidency limited to two terms. However, evil intruded of various sorts through evil persons. But not to the extent of killing innocents and media persons.
What does the average woman want?
I make bold to speak for the average, ordinary woman of this wonderful country.
We want peace of mind and security of person to live our lives with contentment, even if joy may not be possible since life will certainly be very hard with the economy down and the curse of Covid 19 still with us.
We want well-being for our children and grandchildren where well-being means enough food and nourishment available at fair prices for all; well run schools and thus education right up to post senior secondary level. Ragging must stop in schools and universities, no two words about that.
We want bureaucrats who are honest, serve the people as they should and of course are absolutely clean with no taint of corruption. Also most importantly, no political influencing of just and dedicated government servants.
In Parliament we seem to need a magic wand to cleanse it of all the black smudges and smears that clouded it. It’s a new page for Parliament too, so let it be accepted as clean and all helping to keep it unblemished. Even as I write this I laugh derisively, bitterly. Can it be resurrected and raised from the depths it has sunk to? Let us hope it can, as we hope decent new MPs will be voted in. If the majority are upright, then those with tendencies to corruption will have to mend their ways. Dregs and scum will still be re-elected. But they can be overcome if the majority are decent persons. Few members realized it was a place for civilized debating so the country could be ruled well. We hope against hope that that will change. A small Cabinet is greatly hoped for. Most women do not want too much power concentrated in one party. Thus the Opposition must be strong. We do not at all want to go back to the 18th Amendment or more powers to the President.
We want to feel secure. The drug menace must be wiped out once and for all time. It seems possible with what is being achieved at present.
The greatest benefit we seek, I feel is, lack of corruption. All must feel free and that they are ruled justly. Thus no nepotism and families ruling us. We want the three prongs of government to wield power and use it fair and square. We want our small island, with a literate, intelligent population, to have the just government it richly deserves. Impossible dream? Hopeless hope? No! We have had it good, so we can wish fervently for better times.
We will wait and see!