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| Sunday, 18 May 2003 |
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Editor, Sunday Observer. E-mail: [email protected] Snail mail : Sunday Observer, 35, D.R.Wijewardana Mawatha, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Telephone : 94 1 429239 / 331181 Fax : 94 1 429230 Action All four major religions practised in this Thrice Blessed Isle warn us that words are not sufficient for Salvation or Moksha. While words are, indeed, important, it is action that finally counts. No amount of symbolic gestures or rhetoric can substitute for the meritorious, charitable or loving deed. Good intentions, however often stated or claimed, remain only claims and claims that lack credibility at that, if they are not substantiated by actions in line with those intentions. We are sure that the other faiths and philosophies also followed by Sri Lankans echo these exhortations. Politics, both in this country and elsewhere, is full of declarations of good intent. Ordinary citizens the world over, including us, Sri Lankans, are all too familiar with the promises of politicians. Usually, citizens take politicians at their word and vote according to the promises given. Sri Lankan voters have, over the decades, got used to voting according to promises given and also to seeing those promises broken or never fulfilled. In recent years, we Sri Lankans, in our electoral maturity - having practised universal franchise since 1931, longer than other citizens of Asia - have gone one better than voters elsewhere. We have not only voted according to the promises of politicians, but put two sets of politicians with common promises, into power at the same time. Thus we have the now historic 'co-habitation' in power of the traditionally mutually hostile United National Party and Sri Lanka Freedom Party and their allied parties. While the UNP-led United National Front (UNF) holds Parliamentary and Governmental power, the SLFP-led People's Alliance (PA) holds the Presidency and also leads the Opposition in Parliament. Both national political formations have, in common, promised a negotiated political settlement of the most devastating war this island has experienced in centuries, and both think similarly in terms of the kind of constitutional reform and power-sharing among ethnic communities that is needed for such a settlement. As good politicians, the leaders of both the UNF and the PA have understood the intent of the Sri Lankan electorate in voting them into co-habitation in power and have, since coming to power, regularly made declarations in favour of such co-habitation. The leaderships of both political formations, including the President as well as the Prime Minister have clearly enunciated their commitment to co-habitation. Neither side can be faulted for dismissal or rejection of the popular will, at least in words. However, if this political 'co-habitation' is to meet the expectations of the Sri Lankan people, it has to go far beyond mere co-existence in the institutions of power with each side jealously guarding, and perhaps endeavouring to enhance, one's own political capacity and significance and, thereby, build up one's own political future. At present, Sri Lankans have certainly been entertained to the most pious pronouncements from both sides about 'co-habitation'. But the latest crisis over the President's initiative to take over the Development Lotteries Board (DLB) is clear evidence that mere words are wholly inadequate if 'co-habitation' is to have any meaning. What is required is concrete action: an active co-habitation in which both the Government and the Presidency are not content to hug to themselves their share of the State, but are actually working together as Legislature and Executive in the implementation of their electoral mandate to bring about peace and socio-economic stability. It is in action that the people's will, as expressed repeatedly in successive electoral exercises, can be fulfilled. What is required of both the UNF and PA is action in terms of collaboration and co-operation between the Government and the Presidency, if not in the day-to-day management of governance, at least in the priority project of the peace process. What Sri Lankans expect, and what our common spiritual heritage envisages, is a national political leadership that is actually doing what they say they will do to the best of their ability. |
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