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by Afreeha Jawad

If according to what we are told, the constitution reflects the people's will and aspirations and the people's representatives in Parliament legislate to implement such will. what of their sacred and trusted tasks and roles? Whether a little over 20 years of the new Parliament or for that matter 50 years of the old and new have cradled such sanctity is altogether questionable.

The 'old' Parliament, overlooking the cool, blue ocean

Some perhaps may argue that democracy's survival despite the many vicissitudes and onslaughts is truly evident in the Parliament's existence. Why not?

When worldwide motive sharing propagandists have favoured such rule through institutional mechanism of the Parliament's like, they would also somehow see that such an institution would be secure if not for which their own existence is at stake.

Quit a few have asked this writer, "Well, what's the next best alternative?"There's no "next best", for, those that fostered the system have successfully done so. Communism with its attendant rank and file has its 'unique' characteristics.

So with virtually no way out, we've got to make best use of the bestowed.

Whatever hidden agendas may have been - of exclusiveness, class, status, of rulers and the ruled, of minority and majority secretarianism and other accompanying appendages - the people's representatives should cautiously move away from such and lead simple, honest unostentatious lives in an attempt to discover the best in Parliamentary governance.

Mahatama Gandhi perhaps knew of the great forces rising against him and the threat to all that was indigenous with the setting up of Parliamentary democracy. He fought back laden with conviction. He knew of the dangers in Parliamentary governance.

Though helpless, he sent non-verbal messages to the international elite through his dress, mannerism and life-style. What we need today in Parliament in many more of Ghandi's personalities. In this respect we cannot overlook our own Dr. W. Dahanayake. Their living did not invite envy nor warrant back-up cars.

The 'new' Parliament by the banks of the 'Diyawanna

Sri Lanka's two decades old Parliament not only differs from its old associate architecturally but has seen within its fold a different breed altogether of new parliamentarians.

These that keep coming in here are a reflection of social value transformation. When parliamentary proceedings were to be televised, many disfavoured the suggestion as it could impact on children's minds.

Certainly, the new Parliament well misses out on the style, rhetoric, lively debate, friendly banter and what not - all of which was exclusive to the old Parliament. The depth and broadness of mind, that political enemies were not personal foes, when all was forgotten in the canteen over a cup of that much loved Sri Lankan brew, the elegance and dignity of the old order politician is lacking in these two decades.

The old Parliament is an unparalleled reminder of gentlemanly behaviour and has been fortunate to escape whatever that was ugly and nauseating.

Political history was created when for the first time leaders of two different ideologies positioned themselves at the power apex as President and Prime Minister. As a result, both leaders and their associates show signs of compelling restraint. Both share commonality of survival for which mutual goodwill is sine-qua-non. The new Parliament through such cohesion sees a high degree of political equilibrium.

Parliamentary democracy with its attending majoritarianism has also left the new Parliament's majority Sinhala members to face a shared common enemy arising out of domineering majority rule. The present legislature also witnesses one political party's agony of not being able to defeat the Tiger rebels and the ecstasy of its other Sinhala- dominated political faction's attempt in winning them over. Therefore the county's new legislature witnesses these parties glued in common sorrow - differently approached in solution finding.

The majority constantly plagued with divisiveness of caste, class, varied political hue among other things failed to unite under a common political party. However, one finds today the Sihala Urumaya trying to achieve what the two 'non-communal' Sinhala-dominated political parties could not. Only time will tell - the new Parliament is witness to this Sinhala cry, just cutting its teeth.

It also sees other groups of communal colouring in its fold and has the added burden along with other hotch potch of witnessing ancient man's tribal instincts.

Either by choice or chance Sri Lanka's both old and new legislatures had the aesthetic enhancement - a water-filled surrounding. The old Parliament overlooking the cool, blue Indian Ocean waters and the new seated amidst the sprawling, placid Diyawanna add credit worthiness to its architects. its inspirational grandeur, elegance and dignity - certainly could be harnessed towards personality excellence by those that sit within it precincts periodically.

Within these 20 years Kotte - its preferred state and surroundings - has been residential specialities of Colombo's emerging elite. Not only has the new Parliament attracted external social dressing; the existing citizenry's acquired status goes without saying - not to forget the rising land value.

From a forlorn, neglected wilderness that was, the once famous and historic Kotte kingdom hops into modernism and its related 'otherness'. One can only hope its verdant greenery will not be lost in the lava of time.

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