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Even if some Opposition parliamentarians seem to have high fun with a mock coffin in the House, the citizens of the country must focus on far more serious issues that concern them.

Topping the list of public concerns is, of course, the current status of the peace process with the increased uncertainty arising from the Navy's latest action on the high seas against the LTTE. But there are other concerns, such as that of medical care, now regularly disrupted by the tireless militancy of government doctors who, given their sheer collective bargaining strength, are happy to put patients at risk in frequent pay hike campaigns. Another immediate concern is the cost of living, with high living costs and the only sign yet of post-war economic recovery being last week's historic rise in the volatile stock market.

Some Opposition party activists may consider Thursday's gimmick in Parliament as a successful 'propaganda' stunt. But the public is unlikely to be impressed by what is, actually, yet another act of political hooliganism similar to antics by successive parties in Opposition over the decades. Just as much as Sri Lankans were not in the least impressed by the burning of copies of the then Government's draft constitution by some UNP parliamentarians then in Opposition, neither will they be able to take the latest antic seriously.

If, of course, it is the intention of those involved in the coffin incident to undermine the dignity and validity of the country's formal structure of democracy, then, perhaps some may feel that their action is in line with that objective. If that is the case, however, the political parties to which the MPs concerned belong must then either formally and publicly commit themselves to that ant-democratic path or, categorically reject that anti-democratic intention and do so by taking stern disciplinary action against those involved.

Just as much as the Sri Lankan voters are tired of the incessant rivalry for political power between parties and between individual politicians, so are they weary of the sheer lack of political will and creativity shown by these parties in mobilising the people on the serious current issues of our nation. What is needed is political mobilisation on these issues and not mere media-catching antics by politicians out to draw attention to themselves rather than to the substantive issues.

If the coffin incident has drawn attention to any issue, it is to that of parliamentary security, and its capricious violation by the elected representatives of the people. If there is a serious problem of violent attacks on Opposition political elements, then the Opposition forces owe it to the people to alert them to the problem in a creative and effective manner. The coffin antic only reduces the issue to one of farce. This stark lack of creativity or, disregard for serious actions, then, may serve the purpose of prolonging that very repression the Opposition seeks to combat.

Of far bigger concern is the latest confrontation between the Navy and the LTTE on the high seas and the imminent danger to the peace process if such confrontations are allowed to become the norm and not the exception. While all cease-fires, the world over, will certainly experience the odd violation, both big and small, the essence of a 'cease-fire' is that these violations are managed and controlled and not allowed to provoke a total breakdown of the suspension of hostilities.

It is this issue and the larger problem of the hiatus in the overall peace process that must stimulate genuine political leadership on both sides of the House. Antics like last Thursday's gimmick do not take us anywhere but further down the dangerous path to confrontations both civil and military.

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