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Epochal moment

The majestic proportions of the UPFA triumph are now clear. With 4.22 million of the popular vote and 105 seats in Parliament, the UPFA will form the next government.

In other words, it has swept to power in a remarkable people's mandate which it is now bound to respect.

Unlike the previous UNF regime, which at the fag end of its regime only represented narrow vested interests the UPFA represents a broad spectrum of the Lankan public. In fact, the UPFA victory could be a singular triumph for the people because it responded to and represents the broader masses of the country.

Considering the fact that this is a people's victory, the previous two-year spell could be looked upon as an aberration in the political history of this country because the vital link between the government and the people was severed. Government at that time catered to only some parasitic interests, whereas the popular nature of the UPFA mandate behoves the new government to turn a new leaf in the chronicles of local governance.

Predominant on the agenda of the new government should be the just and peaceful resolution of the ethnic problem.

We do not see how a period of prosperity and well-being could be ushered in if this bleeding wound which is the ethnic issue is not peacefully resolved. Further delays in evolving a political solution to this issue would only prolong Sri Lanka's torment and suffering. Therefore, we call for a concerted and consistent effort by the UPFA Government to resolve this vexed issue.

An identification of the ministers of the previous regime who have received the thumbs-down by the people, is a pointer to the areas of national life which require drastic reviving. Chief among these is the cost of living and the relieving of the burdens of the labouring masses. There needs to be a drastic pruning-down of the cost of living which was allowed to sky-rocket by the UNF. Essential goods and services must be available at purse-easy prices and this duty too cannot be put off for another day.

The whip needs to be cracked on corruption which was allowed by the previous administration to assume monstrous proportions. We call for a summoning of the political courage to clear these Augean Stables. The anti-corruption machinery should get into top gear and the new government under the President must ensure this.

There also needs to be stable and consistent policies in other priority areas, such as education, health, agriculture, industries and trade and commerce. These areas suffered dire neglect over the past two or three years. Education, for instance, was allowed to get into the doldrums. Rather than be a vital instrument in human resource development, educational facilities were taken beyond the grasp of the common masses. The cooperative movement needs to be revived along with the CWE, to ensure that they serve the common people efficiently.

Thus, it could be seen that a national revival needs to be introduced. Let Lanka's name be writ in gold once again in the international firmament.

Peace in the Pacific

The word Pacific means 'peace'. Indeed, most idyllic Pacific islands convey an impression of peace, with pristine beaches, swaying palms and smiling people. But all has not been well recently, with the scourge of terrorism and political turbulence threatening to destabilise this region of beautiful islands.

Pacific islands leaders are now meeting in Auckland with the intention of giving themselves increased powers to deal with trouble-spots. Fourteen island nations, plus Australia and New Zealand, usually meet at the Pacific Islands Forum annually in August, but New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark convened the meeting early to review a key report on the region.

The report is likely to lead to the forum's Fiji-based secretariat, headed by Australian diplomat Greg Urwin, being given extra power to act in a crisis and to initiate increased regional cooperation.

Last August's Australian-led intervention in the Solomon Islands where ethnic unrest had bankrupted the government is still fresh in the Pacific leaders' minds. The intervention was an initiative launched by Australia, although many of the Pacific nations contributed soldiers and police to the operation. Australia itself can hardly forget the Bali bombing, in which hundreds of its citizens were killed.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard has called on all Pacific nations to work together for the security and prosperity of the region. "Australia and our regional friends and neighbours must and will continue to work closely together towards the common goal of a secure and prosperous region," Howard said.

The meeting will thus be an ideal opportunity to review the security and political situation of members of the Pacific Islands Forum - Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Their close cooperation since 1971 is also an example to other regional blocs such as SAARC and ASEAN. These blocs should evolve a similar mechanism where the other countries can swiftly come to the aid of a member country in distress.

Pacific islands have to deal with two major problems - their distance from the rest of the world and small size. Their resources are limited, with tourism being the mainstay in most islands. However, increased cooperation and sharing of resources have propelled them to the world stage. Now the Forum has to share the challenge of collectively developing their region further.

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