Opinion

Stand united again when electing new MPs

30 Jun 2015 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lankan voters placed immense trust and elected President Maithripala Sirisena for the top job on January 8. The President, thereafter, had the necessary courage to get the 19th Amendment approved in Parliament. The Parliament now stands dissolved. It is unfortunate that the President could not get the 20th Amendment passed by Parliament although it had been duly considered and approved by the Cabinet of Ministers too.

Preferential voting which was to be scrapped and the proposal to establish First Past the Post System were being considered as major electoral reforms that would have benefitted the country immensely. It was expected that these amendments would be passed before the dissolution of Parliament. A majority of those MPs who opposed these proposals have caused irreparable damage and set-backs to the country.

I quote from an article written by Ahimsa Wickrematunge (Daughter of Lasantha): “After everything we have gone through pre and post war, I think it is really time for a change and nine years of what we have been through is enough. Nothing can stand in the way of millions of people calling for change. Just like every right thinking citizen, my heart hurts for my country and my people. Let’s do what’s best for our children and our country. The choice to dispense with these blights on society and democracy is in our hands”.

The general public need to be extremely cautious because it is the corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and the henchmen who do not in fact want these reforms. They have craftily got together and sabotaged the 20th Amendment and salvaging the country therefore, seems difficult.

The President need to be extra vigilant in giving nominations for the next Parliamentary Election. As was in 1977 and in 1994, it may be fully worth trying freshers. We need capable, educated and good people who can strengthen the hands of the President to take the country forward. I quote Lee Kwan Yew: “Whoever governs Singapore must have that iron in him. Or give it up. This is not a game of cards. This is your life and mine. I have spent a whole life time building this and as long as I am in charge, nobody is going to knock it down” and added “In the end what have I got? A successful Singapore. What have I given. MY LIFE”.

The President defected from the former regime and the countrymen should appreciate the fearless decision. Going by what has happened from January 8 until now, we need to strengthen the hands of the President to reform Sri Lanka so that we could also have a SUCCESSFUL SRI LAKA for ourselves.

The change which the country desired having elected the new President, who assured during the Presidential Election Campaign, for radical transformation has been completely halted in view of the sudden dissolution of Parliament. It appears that there had been severe resistance when the President was making every attempt to restore human values, democratic rule, rule of law, good governance, clean up politicians and politics and most importantly restore Parliament to its former position for the purpose of establishing parliamentary governance in place of dictatorial executive presidential governance.

Furthermore, we should now be well focused and motivated to study how India, China and several other countries in Asia progressed when in fact Sri Lanka failed after independence miserably. This raises the issue whether Sri Lanka could have been developed, only if we had continued to be under colonial rule under the white masters. My answer is that we unfortunately did not have a good benevolent leader who could have taken the country forward.

It must be placed on record that our rulers did seriously damage the spirit of nobility and destroyed ethical values upon which altruistic leaders and citizens are created for the benefit of the society. They promoted their kith and kin, drug traffickers, extortionists, hate-filled aggressors, cheats, liars, crooks, murderers, thieves, and the greedy to enter politics having disregarded the accepted norms, relevant laws, rules and regulations. It must be mentioned that we have still not learnt lessons from a 30 year devastating war and two insurgencies and continue to tread on the wrong path in an irrational, INSANE manner.

Being a staunch Buddhist, the President has assured that he wants to establish a country where ethnic harmony, peaceful existence between diverse religions and cultures would exist in order to take the country forward towards sustainable development and economic growth to uplift the living standards of the people. The President intends to inculcate a system that would ensure:

RESPECT – towards parents, elders, teachers, friends, family, employees, ascetics and priests
GENEROSITY – to the poor, to religious groups, and to friends and relatives
HARMLESSNESS –and non-violence towards all, including flora and fauna
MODERATION – in spending/saving (government/personal funds)
RESPECT PEOPLE IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR CLASS, CASTE, RELIGION, WHETHER RICH OR POOR
MULTI-CULTURAL EDUCATION – which will help to promote tolerance and mutual respect
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE AND RULE OF LAW.

Let us, therefore, stand unitedly to elect Parliamentarians who could contribute to the growth and development while safeguarding our own culture where values such as compassion, love, religious tolerance, and respect for all will be given utmost place, at the next parliamentary elections.

Opinion

Stand united again when electing new MPs

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