Anura, Mangala its Disce Aut Discede

by Deshaputra

After a lapse of nearly eighteen years, the administration of the state seems to be getting disciplined as the Chief Executive has now gone into action against ministers violating cabinet responsibility and Government discipline. President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday night sacked ministers Anura Bandaranaike, Mangala Samaraweera and Sripathi Sooriyarachchi from their ministerial portfolios. To them it may have come as a shock. Minister Samaraweera was on an overseas tour at the time all this happened in Colombo. The constitution of 1978 introduced by President J. R. Jayewardene clearly defines the powers vested in the President and on cabinet responsibility. In addition, at political party level, the leader of the respective political party reserves the right to take disciplinary action against members who represent the government or any group in parliament.

The two senior ministers,Bandaranaike and Samaraweera have failed in respect of cabinet responsibility. Furthermore, their absence at the voting time of the motion to extend the state of emergency could also be reason for the President's action. Sooriyaarachchi, introduced to politics by former President Chandrika Kumaratunga have not acquainted himself to play on a level playing field like politics. Moreover, the allegiance of these three ministers are also open to debate. They, at one time, were severe critics of Rajapaksa under Kumaratunga. Then they switched gears knowing well that Rajapaksa was the only suitable man to lead the SLFP and contest the Presidency. The episode was like the Sinhala saying "Kapanna beri atha simbinawa"(You kiss the hand you wanted to cut earlier). Despite this hidden animosity, Rajapaksa on assuming office as President, rewarded them with top ministries like Foreign,Port Development,Tourism and Enterprise Development.

The inclusion of UNPers into the government fold was not an incident or an event that occurred for the first time in our political history. Since independence, we have witnessed the game of crossovers. After 1978, the Executive President used his discretion or his prerogative to decide and absorb opposition members as ministers. President Jayewardene first welcomed Chelliah Rajadurai of the TULF to be his Minister of Regional Development. Thereafter, President Dingiri Banda Wijetunga brought Anura Bandaranaike as his Higher Education Minister. But, none of those in such Cabinets did criticise the actions of those Presidents.

Now when we go back to the 1978 constitution and the duties and functions of the President to uphold discipline in Government and cabinet responsibility, we have in the past seen how President Jayewardene removed his closest friend, the then Plantation Minister, M. D. H. Jayawardene from the cabinet for violating cabinet responsibility.M.D.H. criticised Ronnie De Mel's budget in Parliament. The same evening he was removed from cabinet. Then, former Industries Minister, Cyril Mathew was critical of the government's stand towards the ethnic problem. He criticised it in parliament. President Jayewardene removed him from cabinet. On both these occasions, the letters of dismissal or termination did not specify reasons. It onle said they were removed under the powers vested in the President under Article 47(A) of the constitution.

Minister Samaraweera, in addition to his failure to be in Parliament at voting time for the emergency, has disobeyed the President on many occasions. He recently, released a letter to the media addressed to the President. But, the President acted with restraint and appointed him as a minister of his cabinet a few days later. Bandaranaike played foul on the day of taking oath. Later, a SLFP group met at Samaraweera's residence, reportedly to conspire against the President. Later, Bandaranaike vociferously attacked the present administration in Parliament this claiming that some close to the 'top' were responsible for the threatening calls he received. On receipt of Bandaranaike's complaint, the President ordered a full probe. But, even before the inquiry could proceed, Bandaranaike chose to criticise the police. Sooriyaarachchi took oath and then criticised the the number in the cabinet to say he was ashamed to be a member of such a large number of ministers.

It would have certainly been more decent for him to have helped the President to reduce the number by refusing the portfolio.

The three ministers sacked on Friday decided to challenge the President while enjoying privileges of such offices. Hence, it became a clear violation of collective responsibility and discipline. This forced the President to flex his muscles to assert authority under powers vested in him by the constitution. In politics or otherwise, no man is indispensable on this earth. Also, one cannot have permanent friends in politics or business to run a successful administration. Those who play the game of politics cannot have one foot inside and the other out. Politicians who have retired should confine themselves to retirement without inciting those in active politics. By doing so, they only damage prospective careers of those in politics.

The tragedy is that some who have retired are still greedy for power having enjoyed the taste for long. Politicians should realise that they were elected by the people to take this country forward and not to play games for personal gain.