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Founded 4.2.1834
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Colombo 10, Sri Lanka.
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A test of reconciliation

A news item in a morning newspaper today said that the Leader of the Opposition Ratnasiri Wickramanayake has sought an appointment with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to make representations about the harassment of People's Alliance supporters at certain work places in the aftermath of the General Election. Other PA spokesmen are also on record as having complained on this score, the most vocal being former Minister Mangala Samaraweera who had even chided Government-controlled media institutions for not recording such instances.

If indeed such instances have occurred on a sizeable scale needless to say such actions fly in the face of the assurances held out by responsible leaders of the United National Front Government that there will be no resort to political victimisation on the grounds of a persons' personal political affiliation. This does not mean that there is any reason to doubt the bona fides of those who hold out such assurances. But as we know by experience there is many a slip between the cup and the lip and many things can happen in work places without the knowledge of those in authority and this is why vigilance is necessary.

While there is no reason to harass permanent employees of government departments, public corporations and other such statutory bodies merely on the grounds of political affiliations it must be borne in mind that there can be cases of people being employed on the eve of the election for political reasons. Such persons have often worked in the constituencies of the politicians employing them rather than in their work places.

We know of instances where some employees have worked in Ministries although they have drawn their salaries or wages from institutions coming under such Ministries. It is time that a stop is put to such gross abuses of power and arrogant flaunting of political muscle.

It is nevertheless necessary that the Government should take serious note of the PA's representations if they prove to be supported by facts and take immediate action to redress just grievances. Such action on the part of the new administration should go a long way towards forging that consensual politics and mood of national reconciliation which are so necessary if the country is to go forward in any meaningful manner.

While crying over spilt milk is a futile business we cannot at the same time afford to repeat past mistakes from whatever quarter they may have emanated.

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