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Let reason prevail

The ugly, degrading scenes which erupted in Parliament on Wednesday and Thursday compel us to revert to the theme of continuously protecting the integrity and dignity of our legislature, which at one time boasted of some of the best minds and most eloquent speakers in South Asia.

Today, however, parliamentary sessions leave very much to be desired an account of the rampant indiscipline among some of our politicians.

Let us categorically state that the UNP is trying violently to destabilise democracy in the country. It is a clear sign that they are trying to trigger off anarchy.

The beginnings are the havoc they are creating in Parliament for the third day running and challenge the rule of law.

And the UNP's erstwhile Presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe who through some curious circumstance happens to be the leader of the opposition and the UNP is either stoking the anti democratic cold fires or thoroughly incapable of controlling his troop.

On Wednesday, once again, sections of the opposition demonstrated in the most outrageous manner their complete disregard for the hallowed traditions of parliamentary governance.

At the centre of the storm was the UNP's T. Maheswaran who replicated his rowdy conduct of the day before - when he threw a cup and saucer at the parliamentary mace - by, this time, running away with the object which is of profound significance during parliamentary sittings.

Earlier, former Minister Mahinda Wijesekera rudely disrupted parliamentary proceedings by striding to the well of the House and pleading in the most frenzied manner over the imprisoning of S. B. Dissanayake.

Yesterday TNA members ran riot. All in all, sheer pandemonium reigned, causing continual disruptions of sittings.

We have said this before, and we are compelled to say it once again that intemperate, rowdy behaviour by Members would only contribute towards devaluing our legislature.

If politicians are in earnest when they say that they have the highest regard and esteem for parliamentary democracy, they need to prove this by respecting parliamentary traditions and practices and by being models of decorum and good behaviour.

Our Members need to realise that they are entrusted by the people with the sacred task of framing the laws of the land. The highest intellectual acumen and profoundest ethical awareness is expected of them. They just cannot allow the country to sink to the depths of misgovernance by being ruled by the stormiest passions.

Unfortunately, passion rather than reason seems to be ruling some of our politicians. The dire results are misgovernance and a steady undermining of the standing of Parliament in the eyes of the public.

We don't need to explain what would result from a people losing confidence in the legislature. For instance, declining respect among some for the law enforcement authorities have driven them to take the law into their own hands. Are these unruly politicians seeking the same fate for the legislature?

Enough is enough. We call on party leaders and their MPs to put country and law and order above partisan political interest. Saving the democratic way of life should be one of their topmost priorities.

Party leaders, particularly those of the opposition, should bring order to their parties. They need to ensure that their MPs conform to the highest standards of behaviour. As things stand, we are led to the belief that some party leaders are not at all in control of their MPs. The tail seems to be wagging the dog.

They need to choose between bedlam and the country's well being.

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