Politics And Politicians In Sri Lanka
Majority of Sri Lankans are fed up of politics and politicians but keep a straight face because they are helpless.
Politics to say the least has become a business — a way of making money. Those striving to be provincial councilors spend enormous sums of money to win, so much so one wonders why they spend so much when provincial councils have no real power and also don’t get enough funds from the government. If that money could be utilised for a productive purpose it would solve most of our ills and also provide employment to many people. The provincial councils have become such white elephants that the people really want to see that they are done away with.
Given below are some of the anti-social activities prevailing among politicians.
• Wastage of public funds
• Bribery and corruption among politicians and
administrators
• Politicisation of state
institutions
• Favouritism and nepotism
• Cronyism
• Lack of accountability
• Eroding of the system of
elections
• Lack of good governance
• Human rights violations
• Mismanagement of the
economy
• Lack of fair play and justice; and
• Lack of discipline.
Political analysts as well as the general public who are concerned about the bad effects of these activities are of the view that the existing executive presidential system and the preferential voting system are some of the causes of these evils.
If we deeply delve into this issue we could see that India, our neighbouring country which also follows the same system of governance has progressed by leaps and bounds despite a multi-religious, multi- ethnic population spread all over its federal states. Why is it that we cannot learn from the Indians who are similar to us and are akin culturally, religiously and socially?
Have we forgotten that the birth place of Lord Buddha who propounded Buddhism is India? With the second largest population in the world with more than 100 languages and innumerable ethnic groups India is a very powerful state. That is because leaders like Mahatma Gandhi during the pre and post Independence period practiced what they preached which is not the case with our leaders.
Politicians and political parties are talking about a common candidate for the next presidential election. It is very necessary that the common candidate is a non political personality with a good character. He should also not align himself with political parties and should have his own Chinthanaya which would free the country from all the evils that the country is beset with at present.
Sri Lankan citizens, especially the youth badly need a person who would place the country before self and mete out justice to every citizen irrespective of party politics. If ever the country gets such a person he could rest assured that the citizens of the country would give him unstinted support to make Sri Lanka a better place for all to live in.
A Common Man
