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Broadening democracy

National sovereignty is believed to inhere in the people, but it is an open question whether the ordinary people ever participate in the decision-making and governing processes of this country. As a rejoinder to this observation, the theoretical standpoint is likely to be taken in some quarters that the people elect their representatives to governing bodies at periodic elections and the latter in turn exercise the executive and legislative rights of the people, for, and on their behalf.

This argument is likely to be extended to cover the now clichetic notion that no governing system is perfect and of the systems mankind has experimented with thus far democracy is the least flawed. So we endure with it, modifying it along the way to meet its founding ideals.

Such ideas have gone down well with ruling classes all over the world over the years, who lay claim to democratic credentials. But their track record as far as bringing the ordinary people into decision-making processes, leaves very much to be desired. People, unfortunately, are wooed only at election time and virtually forgotten until the next poll.

Sri Lanka's progress in this respect is not impressive but it is encouraging to note that efforts are continuing to make this country as widely inclusive a democracy as possible. Constitutional reform is back in the news with no less a person than Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe calling for wide-scale changes which would reduce confrontational politics and strengthen consensual politics.

To facilitate this transition the Executive Committee system, for instance, which was operative under the Donoughmore constitution is expected to make a comeback. Other constitutional arrangements are also believed to be contemplated which would bring as many sections of society into the decision-making process as possible.

There is no doubt that these reforms would be looked at favourably by the people. Confrontational politics, stemming mainly from an inability on the part of local parties to cooperate for the larger good and on account of an obsessive concern on their part with political power, has impeded national progress over the years. Divisions, animosities, rivalries and power struggles have been our lot on account this mode of politics.

This has to end and we are glad that the Government is attaching priority to it. In fact peace and democratization go hand-in-hand. A settlement of the ethnic conflict which doesn't bestow democratic and fundamental rights on all sections of the people, is no peace at all.

Peace grows out of concern and love for each other. Constitutional reform needs to facilitate this.

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