When political power dwarfs everything around

The Premier has said that ‘the election victory is one that rebuilds the self-confidence of the people

Prof. Peiris had said that changes to the Constitution would be made by the government only after much thought

We see much of the old faces back in power; aholding state and Cabinet minister portfol

Sri Lanka gets little praise from the rest of the world for anything these days. But there was praise showered on the nation by Japan for conducting a fair and peaceful election. This is a good start for a country which is trying to be counted among the world’s performing nations; at least going on the promises made by the incumbent President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. 

Following in the footsteps of those sending in congratulatory messages was The United States of America which wants the Government of Sri Lanka to uphold the values of Human Rights and maintain the rule of law.  

Such messages are important, specially the one sent by America. This is because Sri Lanka is now in the hands of an apolitical president who also has a record of serving the country’s military; the Sri Lanka Army as Defence Secretary. Critics of the government and web publications have voiced their concerns regarding Gotabaya heading the country and the former military man wanting to abolish the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. This amendment severely restricts the powers of the president and hands over more power to the premier and the parliament. 

But it’s too early to generate negative vibes about the government elected on Wednesday. People do change after taking to politics and someone like Gotabaya can change. The little worrying thought in the minds of the minorities, human rights activists and the media is whether the president would rule with an iron first and leave no room for dissent. However Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Chairman Prof. G.L Peiris has promised at a recent news briefing that though the government will enjoy two-thirds majority and much power in the parliament the regime wouldn’t behave in an arrogant manner. 

As much as the majority race of this country would rejoice in the fact that much value would be given to uphold the treasured Sinhala-Buddhist culture thoughts of concern must be generated regarding the absence of a vibrant opposition in parliament. Hence from now onward the media and rights groups will have to play the role of watchdog of this nation. 

In Sri Lanka the forest coverage according to 2019 statistics stood low as 29.7%. Authorities of the Department of Forest Conservation were quoted stating that the country’s present goal in this regard is to raise the island’s forest cover to 32%

We see much of the old faces back in power; holding state and Cabinet minister portfolios in the new government. If there is one solace for the people who are concerned about the future of the country that is president Gotabaya maintaining that ministers and other lawmakers who are bestowed with positions should view these appointments as responsibilities and not privileges.  

The present government has appointed enough and more state ministers; in lighter vein virtually there is a state minister for each crop it seems. Much funds would be needed to maintain such a huge number of state ministers; leave alone the ministerial portfolios. 

This would be a costly exercise given the fact that the country has a debt commitment reaching close to rupees 12 trillion. In this context the government can’t afford to have anymore questionable development programmes like the one carried out at Mount Lavinia beach. This project came under criticism when the sand used to nourish the beach had been washed away leaving this stretch of beach in a state of ruin. 

This lawmaker who wanted the forest official to be flexible when applying laws protecting forests was on Wednesday (August 12) appointed as a state minister

Environment and economy?
There is also cause for concern when one takes this whole Mount Lavinia beach issue for discussion because here the view of construction experts were accommodated and the views of environmentalists were least heard or virtually disregarded. Also what plans has the Government of Sri Lanka got to raise its forest cover of the island? For the record when Bhutan became a democracy in 2008 it included in its constitution a clause which made it mandatory for the country to have 60% forest cover. 

At present Bhutan is well ahead of this commitment with the country’s forest cover being in the region of 70%. In Sri Lanka the forest coverage according to 2019 statistics stood low as 29.7%. Authorities of the Department of Forest Conservation were quoted stating that the country’s present goal in this regard is to raise the island’s forest cover to 32%; the highest forest cover in the country being 36.42 recorded in 1990. We are made to think that the concluded Parliamentary Elections were held to send the most competent and intelligent representatives of the people to parliament. But we also remember how a lawmaker backed some villagers to clear a growth of mangroves and construct a volleyball court in Negombo. This lawmaker was present in a discussion held with the district forest officers and backed a group of villages who wanted the sports facility to built at any cost. There was one among the group of villagers who even said that people don’t need oxygen when a district forest officer argued that permission cannot be given for the construction of the facility because the presence of mangroves was needed for the maintenance of forest density. This lawmaker who wanted the forest official to be flexible when applying laws protecting forests was on Wednesday (August 12) appointed as a state minister. Sigh!
We all know that the present Cabinet to function under Gotabaya would be very powerful because it is assured to enjoy two-thirds majority in parliament. If the 19th Amendment is abolished that would make the present regime invincible! Such a set-up would undermine a democratic approach to things from the perspective of how a lawmaker deals with concerns and protests by the people. 

As much as there are concerns regarding maintaining environmental specifics there are also concerns about the future of independent commissions; especially the Constitutional Council. Prof.Peiris in a recent media briefing had said that ‘the purpose was not met’ with regard to the expectations that these independent commissions would act independently. But Peiris had said that changes to the Constitution would be made by the government only after much thought. 

The SLPP doesn’t have to worry about an opposition for quite some time; thanks to the breaking up of the United National Party and for the fact that it garnered 59% of the total votes and won a record145 seats in parliament. Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa has said that the outcome of the massive victory is an indication that the people have approved the national policy framework of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. He has even said that ‘the election victory is one that rebuilds the self-confidence of the people’. 

A leader like Gotabaya must also remember that he must give back people the confidence that his regime is ready, if the need arises, to face a second wave of the Coronavirus. That confidence is still lacking when people shopping at supermarkets see the security officer checking the temperature of the doctor who comes to purchase the weekly stock of groceries!