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