Way to go!

Monday 14th November, 2022

Religious leaders, especially Buddhist monks, usually draw heavy flak for ingratiating themselves with politicians. Some of them have even earned notoriety for dancing attendance on political potentates in public and seeking patronage. But the newly-appointed Chief Incumbent of Atamastahana in Anuradhapura, Most Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana Thera, has made a difference. He chose not to invite any politicians when he assumed duties in his new post at Anuradhapura, the other day. Way to go!

Hemarathana Thera deserves praise for having attempted to bring politicians down a peg or two at a time when no ceremonial occasion, religious or otherwise, is considered complete without the presence of political high-muck-a-mucks, who are even invited to open public conveniences. On the International Workers’ Day, trade union leaders grovel before politicians and allow the latter to steal the limelight. Such is the influence of politicians as well as the subservience of others! It is against this backdrop that Hemarathana Thera’s bold initiative should be viewed. His example is worthy of emulation.

Sri Lanka finds itself in the current predicament because the public deifies politicians, who abuse their privileged position in society to enrich themselves at the expense of the people and rise above the law. The country has become bankrupt owing to corruption, abuse of power, economic mismanagement and the theft of public funds, as is public knowledge, but the politicians who are responsible for the economic crimes that have caused untold suffering to the people and ruined the country have got scot-free. Worse, they are seen meeting religious dignitaries and receiving the latter’s blessings! Some prelates stoop so low as to desecrate relic caskets by placing them on politicians’ heads full of evil thoughts.

The Mahanayake Theras collectively announced, a few moons ago, that they would not meet political leaders because the latter had disregarded a set of proposals the former made for hoisting the country out of the present crisis. But they softened their stand, and politicians are seen at their temples again.

Some praiseworthy efforts are being made to depoliticise key state institutions, and the 21st Amendment to the Constitution has given them a tremendous boost. Worryingly, there has been no such campaign to depoliticise social and religious institutions; dirty, divisive politics has eaten into the vitals of society and divided the clergy and the laity alike. Their disunity has stood politicians in good stead.

The incumbent government has not only failed but also ruined the economy, and the country has to be liberated from its clutches for political stability and economic recovery to be achieved. The task of rebuilding the economy cannot be accomplished without a team of capable men and women of integrity at the levers of power, but sadly it has apparently been left to another bunch of failed politicians, who have undertaken to play a messianic role.

The current regime has to be ousted, but there are crooks on the other side of the political divide, and they must be prevented from making a comeback by duping the voting public. This task requires a formidable social movement capable of changing the way the people think and vote.

If voters act irresponsibly and repeat the mistake of being swayed by factors such as caste, ethnicity, religion, political allegiances, etc., again, the next government will not be different from the current one, and their lot will not improve at all. In 2015, people naively reposed faith in some crafty politicians in opposition as they were desperate to get rid of the Rajapaksa government, and the self-proclaimed liberators turned out to be a bunch of rogues, who carried out various rackets including the Treasury bond scams and made up for lost time. Then, the public pinned their hopes on the Rajapaksas again, and the country is where it is today.

Prominent Sri Lankans desirous of helping the country come out of the present crisis ought to sink their differences and join forces to knock some sense into the public and make them realise the need to choose their representatives wisely and fight for their rights. It is hoped that religious leaders like Hemarathana Thera, and other opinion makers and civil society activists who feel for the hapless public will take the lead in educating and empowering the people.