Victory for the masses

The victory of the Government at yesterday's Budget vote can be considered as a victory of all those who cherish the core aims of the Budget - developing the local economy and ensuring the welfare of the public while allocating the funds necessary to protect the country's sovereignty.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, presenting Budget 2008 on November 7 appealed to all patriotic forces to support the Budget, which has a truly indigenous focus. It contained a vast array of benefits for all sectors that no right thinking person could reject.

As Chief Government Whip Jeyaraj Fernandopulle stated in Parliament yesterday, several parties joined hands to strengthen the Government at the Budget vote. It was also noteworthy that there were no crossovers from the Government to the Opposition as predicted by the latter.

Indeed, this is not the time for political instability. Sri Lanka has seen several elections in a row. Each election costs a minimum of Rs.800 million, a massive sum which can be used for public welfare and development. Any election at this time will only be advantageous to the LTTE, which yearns to see political chaos in the South.

It would be far better for all parties to rally round the Government at this crucial hour when defeating terrorism has become essential. Elections can be held on the due date and the people, not politicians, will decide which party is better for governing the country for another six years.

It is in this context that we should appraise the appeal made by Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayaka to Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to support the Government at least in the task of defeating terrorism. This appeal should be heeded by the latter if the country is to emerge as a single entity overcoming threats to its sovereignty from many quarters.

The Premier's call needs no further elaboration given that the chief obstacle in the path of development and progress of this country has been the three decades long conflict that has had a devastating effect on the economy.

The Maha Sangha too have made a similar appeal.

With the Forces poised to enter the lair of the Tiger what is needed is unity among the Southern polity that would provide impetus to our fighting Forces to totally liberate the country from the blight of terrorism.

But sadly what is unfolding before the country today is rancorous party politics and vituperative debate making a mockery of the whole democratic process and retarding progress.

Today the main Opposition has launched a campaign to cripple the administration on all fronts, which detracts from the chief problem confronting the nation.

This should be stopped even at this stage when the country is placed at a crossroads and when its future and very survival will depend on the actions and conduct of the political leadership in the South.

Parties should shed all political acrimony and unite in the common cause of ensuring a country free of terrorism where all communities and segments could live in peace and amity. That is why the Premier told the Opposition leader that he is welcome to criticise other aspects of Government so long as he extends support to defeat terrorism.

The Premier's appeal had the ring of a clarion call which carried the clear message that the national interest should not be sacrificed on the altar of political expediency. We should strive not to repeat our past mistakes but learn from where we erred and forge ahead overcoming all challenges.

The best example of this was the 'thattu maru' system which saw the incoming party halting or destroying the work of their predecessors and launching their own programmes and the cycle continued resulting in the country becoming stagnant in the development sphere.

Dilly dallying also has seen many undertakings being delayed in the implementation at great cost to the country. A fresh initiative is needed on the part of all political leaders to end this vicious cycle and put the country ahead of narrow interests.

The Leader of the Opposition we trust would harken to the call of the Prime Minister and make an effort to support the Government at least on the burning issues facing the Nation.