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| Sunday, 15 May 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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UPFA: Good governance or capitulation? by J. Vitarana
Last weekend newspapers reported the successful conclusion of negotiations between Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) trade unions and the Government over the crisis situation that arose following Cabinet proposals to restructure the CEB. While most reports gave a positive assessment to the outcome of the discussions some claimed that it was a capitulation by the Government to the JVP. Was it so? As the discussions showed the participants were not antagonists but fellow travellers. While the Cabinet of Ministers had sought to restructure the CEB as a means to solve problems of power generation the Unions had serious misgivings on the proposal. Judging by precedents and previous experience they feared that the proposals outlined a surreptitious move to privatise the CEB. The Prime Minister assured the Union representatives the Government was also against privatization. The understanding reached at the discussions showed that the Government was willing to listen to the Unions and was ready to work out a new formula to deal with the problem with their assistance. This was in stark contrast to the style of governance hitherto practised by the former governments. Once again it became evident that the UPFA has taken a new path and is following a new style of governance that of consulting all stake holders and seeking as broad a consensus as possible in the solution of nationally important issues. Now, isn't this a sign of good governance? Governance constitutes the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented. When more stakeholders are consulted in decision-making governance becomes more participatory and more democratic in nature. Hence, it would be incorrect to call last week's agreement between the CEB unions and the Government as a capitulation. It is, in deed, a step towards good or better governance. An analysis of the behaviour of the UPFA suggests that this is a conscious policy it has adopted. Take the 2005 Budget proposals, for example. It was a result of widespread consultations with all stakeholders. That was why the Budget signified a new approach to the solution of economic problems. The consensus was reflected in the wide acclaim the Budget received from broad sections of the community ranging from the trade unions to business and industry chambers. Another area in which the government has been seeking the widest consensus is related to the setting up of a post tsunami operational management structure to oversee relief, rehabilitation and rebuilding efforts in the North East. Though it involves principally the two combatants on the ground that are now bound by a ceasefire agreement and are controlling different terrains on their own, President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has taken great pains to solicit the cooperation of all stakeholders. She has consulted the Maha Sangha, the National Advisory Council on Peace and Reconciliation, Muslim Peace Secretariat, Opposition political parties etc. Though the UNP has refused to discuss the proposed administrative structure with the President she has once again requested the Opposition Leader to reconsider his decision. Talks with the JVP are continuing in order to get their consent and
address their concerns. How much different is governance today from the days
when Sri Lanka had One Man Shows under the UNP! |
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