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| Monday, 19 January 2004 |
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There has been a recent suggestion that the legislature should be expanded to accommodate more parliamentarians by increasing the number of seats, and that the membership of the Provincial Councils too should be increased in proportion to the population they represent. In this connection, as a civic minded citizen, I would like to express my strongest opposition to such moves, knowing very well that this would have no effect on the powers that be! Even in the densely populated neighbouring countries like India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, the number of elected representatives in relation to the population is less than ours. From the time the number of members - and therefore the number of ministers and deputy ministers etc. have increased in the Parliament there has been a steady decline in the efficiency, accountability, and responsibility as shown by these members. Whereas, a complaint in the daily printed media against a Minister, Member of Parliament or even a head of a department drew immediate response in the Parliament in the days gone by, literally pages and pages can be written today giving chapter and verse of alleged misdemeanours with no member of the legislature or leader of the offending member's party taking any notice of it. Complaints against departments draw no response from so-called press officers or public relation officers who are supposed to respond to them. Though members of local authorities drew no remuneration decades ago now they receive much and are demanding many more perks. Their numbers are also to be increased! When one considers the number of political stooges who are given exalted appointments as governors, ambassadors, etc. long after they have finished the biblical lifespan of three score and ten, one is compelled to believe that there is life after death, even if one's religion does not allow such belief! Today our democracy allows us only the right to vote once every few years; after that nothing can be done to make a politician change his course of action even it is in accord with his avowed policies. Bribery and corruption, nepotism, favouritism, thuggery, and abuse of power are the order of the day with no amount of public criticism about these activities being able to make any leader to look up and take notice. Employing privileges denied to other members of the public including a right to pension after five years of being elected, they waste the country's resources by frequent trips abroad, often with many hangers-on; they share the state's resources with their kith and kin who are given appointments as private secretaries, public relation officers, etc. or else give appointments in the state sector to their constituents as if distributing largesse! Such being the state of affairs in this country, should we allow more of these do-gooders to be elected to an expanded Parliament? The answer from the vast majority of the citizenry would be a resounding "no". Politicians, as we know them today, barring very few exceptions, are in my opinion, a group best described as parasites who have invaded the body politic of Sri Lanka. The more they can create of their own breed, the greater the hold on the hapless citizen whose position, self respect, and dignity will be diminished while the status of the politician gets elevated. The latter will expect all citizens to kowtow or genuflect before them even when seeking legitimate redress for any grievance, or in the performance of any public duty through any government department. If we allow politicians to increase their numbers by expanding the number of elected representatives we will be creating a monster who will always demand more and more for its upkeep but with little to show as benefit for the society at large. The expenses involved in maintaining this veritable white elephant will be a constant, and more importantly, an ever increasing drain on the country's resources. If there are any patriotic politicians left in the country let them request for a down-sizing of the Parliament and the provincial council system, or at least to maintain the status quo, rather than ask for an increase in the numbers. An increase of the period to qualify for a pension, from the present five to ten years, as in the case of all government servants, would be a most welcome move which will enhance the image of all politicians, a badly needed boost for them! Dr. NANDA AMARASEKARA - Rajagiriya. In the recent past, there has been considerable discussion through the print and electronic media in regard to the prevailing, so called, political crisis and its adverse effects in continuing the peace process. However, most people, it would appear, fail to realize that the ultimate solution to the ethnic problem has to enshrined in our constitution. Initially this requires a 2/3rd majority in Parliament. It is evident that no political party could succeed in this endeavour without the active support of the main opposition. The 1978 Constitution was drafted under a shrewd leadership, whose main intention was to avert landslide victories, which occurred repeatedly from 1956 up to 1977. During this period, two peace pacts on the ethnic issue were abrogated due to political rivalry. The Old Fox, being well aware of this situation, made provision in the constitution for the two main parties to work in unison, on this critical issue, by creating an Executive Presidency. When a UNF Government was formed while the President was from the PA the golden opportunity was created for the two parties to work unitedly on the ethnic issue. However, the Government, proceeded with the peace process, completely ignoring the President, thus heading for a future National Disaster. Thanks to the President, she has now made her presence felt, in no uncertain terms. There are occasional demands from power hungry quarters for a General Election, the results of which could never produce the 2/3rd majority required. Such a step would only prolong the agony and aggravate confrontation. It will be seen that a consensus between the President and the PM on the ETHNIC ISSUE is the only way to save Sri Lanka from an impending disaster. The ball is now in your court, Mr. PM! G.G.J. - Kotte. With the news of the death of Rev. Soma thera, Sri Lanka plunged into mourning, in an unprecedented visible expression that had no parallel in our living memory. We witnessed similar expression of sympathy for people like Dudly, Vijaya, Lalith and Gamini but when the country is taken as a whole, none of those had any match for what we witnessed. Sri Lanka has no religious acrimony. Buddhism is the most tolerant and open religions in the whole world and this may be the very reason that allows people to penetrate into our country with various faiths and conversions. I think the present leaders from both parties will be held responsible for the present state of affairs. A nation that boasts of itself, that has an open economy does not mean that everything is open and free for all. Religions cannot be sold off a rack in a supermarket. Today in Sri Lanka, religious conversions are becoming like supermarket shopping. We talk so much about Singapore, yet can anyone point out if that country allows anyone to spread religions on a free for all manner? A country must have principles and disciplines on vital areas. Our politicians do not want to heed the advice of the Maha Sangha as they think they know everything. Catholics, Anglicans, Buddhists, Islamics lived amicably over the past years except on an isolated time when various tensions erupted, thanks to the instigation of many a shortsighted politician this country had in the past. I like to plead very clearly to our leaders, please don't create non-excitant and hypothetical situations by making statements that religious tensions could rise but to take immediate steps to have strict guidelines and discipline to control the spread of mushrooming religious faiths. Another unprecedented feature was that the Catholic Church too issued a statement that they do not accept the spread of fundamentalist religious faiths in this country. What more do our so-called leaders require to open their eyes. It is time to heed the advice of the Maha Sangha and other recognized religious leaders and not allow the situation to drift away before it's too late. A country small as ours has no more room for more faiths to be practised, and the people of this country showed in no uncertain manner what they felt with the passing away of Rev. Soma thera. This signal is more than enough to take note of this situation and take corrective steps. R. WEERAKKODY - Nugegoda. All peace loving people of this country will agree with me that the timely action taken on Christmas Eve, by the President, as Defence Minister, should be lauded. Although it seemed quite an unpopular move, strict orders given by her to the Police and Army, averted a situation that would have escalated into riots similar to July '83. The complacency of the Government on the other hand, to arrest culprits when cases of assault and arson were first reported as from December 2001, and more so when two Ministers themselves made statements to the media that the Government was formulating a Bill against conversions, these organised groups were more emboldened and a sharp increase of violent attacks had ensued thereafter. The Government in a recent news report has identified two minority groups who are mainly responsible for the past tide of events. Before entering into alliances with these forces, the President as Minister of Defence, should prove her mettle by daring to take firm action against those who were involved in these heinous crimes, before international pressure is brought about. The Government too should be firm and not give into those who wish to force their will to introduce an Anti Conversion Bill. Let me remind all concerned that it is the 'Vote' of the minorities religious/ethnic that is the final deciding factor of any future Government of this country. A.T. - Ratmalana. We were appointed in various positions in the National Housing Authority, and National Water Supply and Drainage Board under Ministry of Housing, during the time of PA Government. But, we were suspended from our jobs, after UNP Government came to power. Eventhough, the Prime Minister's Secretary informed by Circular No. 16/3/12/01 that the suspended employees will be reinstated in their previous jobs in terms of the Cabinet paper No. 02/1535/101/039 of September 2002, several months have elapsed, but we still not have reinstated in our previous jobs, because the Treasury not allow to re-appoint and informed us all government appointments were stopped to the all departments. We also brought the matter to minister Arumugam Thondaman and the Deputy Minister Bazeer Segu Dawood. They also have discussed the matter with Prime Minister on 21.03.2003. As a result of this, the Prime Minister instructed the treasury to re-appoint the suspended employees. Nevertheless, until now no action has been taken by authorities in this regard. Therefore the Authorities should take action without delay to re-appoint these employees. MOHAMED ALIYAR MOHAMED NALEEM - Oddamavady 03. |
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