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A political fiasco?
There is a loud cacophony, a persistent harsh outcry by some-senior
Ministers of the UPFA and the debauched henchmen of their ilk, the very
same people who screamed that they will institute disciplinary against
all those who attended the UPFA meetings in support of Mahinda Rajapaksa
are clamouring now, to embed the same deposed Mahinda Rajapaksa, onto
the same stage as that of the former President Ms. Chandrika
Bandaranaike Kumaratunge and incumbent President Maithripala Sirisena,
on the revered workers Day – May Day. The reasons attributed by them is
to win the forthcoming elections with a landslide majority.
This
is indeed ludicrous. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga is the rightful
heiress to the throne of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. The Rajapaksa
family did everything in their power, in all conceivable and
inconceivable ways to destroy, demolish and oust the Bandaranaike family
from the political scene.
It is also worthy of note the statement made to the media by
President Maithripala Sirisena, expressing with deep emotion that he,
his family and all his supporters would have been six feet below the
ground if by any chance, Mahinda Rajapaksa had won the election for
presidency.
The people who are insistent with their loud demands for MR to be on
the same stage as CBK and MS must surely be suffering from dementia and
mental deterioration, as they seemed to have forgotten what their so
call 'leader” is capable of and they expect both MS and CBK as well as
every Sri Lankan to suffer from impaired memory and polluted thought.
When corruption, deprivation, mayhem, murder, plunder and pillage by
the previous presidency is universally known, by making a hue and cry to
bring back the architect of such anarchy, what is the message they give
future generations.
It is nature's laws that truth should prevail and falsehood should
perish; for falsehood by its nature is bound to perish.
Ms. S.A. Zulkifli, Colombo 06.
Concept of good governance
“Democracy is the government of the people for the people by the
people” though philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, Montesqueu and
Machiavelli had put forward so many theories in politics, the definition
presented by Abraham Lincoln became popular. What is important in
governance is the public. Sovereignty is vested in them. Whatever their
social status, votes were important in decision-making. The existence of
the Government depends on public opinion.
In
a broader perspective, the value lies with the sovereignty vested in
them. Rights, responsibilities, duties and obligations were incorporated
in the concept of democracy. Most countries can be termed as democratic
countries. The nature of democracy depends to which extent rights are
enjoyed by the people.
According to the Republican Constitution of 1978, the Executive
Presidency was introduced to accelerate the development process of the
country. Though there were disputes over power vested in the President,
giant multipurpose development projects such as the Mahaweli, Mahapola,
the setting up of the National Institute of Education, the farmers
pension scheme and eradication of terrorism were done with the blessings
of the executive presidency. The public was blessed to enhance their
quality of life.
There was ample criticism against the executive presidency in the
latter period. It had the looked like a feudal system which entrusted
the ruler as god.
Privileges enjoyed by rulers depend on the temporary borrowed power
from the public. Rulers must be aware that they must work according to
the consent of the people. Whatever development project is decided and
implemented by the government, it should fulfill the aspirations of the
people. If these are a burden to the people, they will turn against it.
Most of the mega projects implemented by the previous regime did not
cater to the aspirations of the people. Billions of rupees were invested
on such projects but only a few people benefited, while the majority had
to toil to recover loan installments. There was no environmental
conservation policy. They just built at any cost. The Port City, Uma Oya
project, the development of the Kandy city, and construction of roads up
country, are classic examples.
When maintaining good governance, the rule of law is essential. There
where so many misdeeds under the previous regime. People lost confidence
in the rule of law. Civil society was deprived of their fundamental
rights. Almost everything was done at the will of politics.
As a result many who could not tolerate the misdeeds and
discrimination of the despotic ruler left. Civil society organisation's
clergy, artistes and professionals took the leadership in this venture.
“Once again the public utilised their sovereignty for the people. The
current Government must pay attention that Democracy is the government
of the people, for the people by the people”.
G.H.P. Nimalasena Hali Ela
Mahinda Rajapaksa’s re-entry to politics unethical
Former
President Mahinda Rajapaksa is the only President who has been defeated
in the history of Sri Lanka. No other incumbent President has been
defeated. His misrule, arbitrariness, nepotism and corruption had caused
his unexpected defeat and put him in the political wilderness.
I strongly feel that his attempt of re entry to politics to be
elected as the next Prime Minister of this country, is not ethical and
this attempt shows his unprecedented desire for state power. It is
imperative for him to look at the history of past leaders of this
country. His desire for power made him to bring in the 18th Amendment to
the Constitution and got it approved in Parliament by a 2/3rd majority.
To get the 2/3rds majority, he illegally got MPs from the Opposition
benches by offering Ministerial portfolios and giving large amounts of
money as bribes which must be deplored and condemned.
Moreover, the masses have been deceived by his false utterances of
unachie vable pledges made in his de facto Election manifesto, the ‘The
Mahinda Chintanaya’. Although his former comrades attempt to bring him
to power for their selfish motives it is advisable and prudent to retire
and lead a peaceful life. What he achieved in politics is enough!
Z.A.M. Shukoo
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