A campaign wish

The Presidential election campaign begins officially with the nominations. The country will be on election mode. As past experience shows campaign time is turbulent. As the campaign escalates the danger of associated violence also grows.

Sri Lanka has had universal suffrage since 1931, much earlier than many countries, including some developed ones. Those that pontificate on gender rights to us granted suffrage to women much later.

Sri Lanka has a rich tradition of democracy. Our voters are highly literate. Even those with a minimal formal education are highly politically literate. They have displayed sober judgment on many an occasion.

It is time that campaigners realised the high degree of political literacy of our voters and desist from cheap gimmicks. Such gimmicks would be an insult to the intelligence of the voter.

Elections over the years have shown that the majority of the voters cannot be bribed or led up the garden path. Also proven is the fact that violence begets contempt. It is also a sign of weakness.

All candidates running for this most exalted office should ensure that their campaigns are conducted on principles. Resorting to dirty tricks to score points over the rivals, vilifications and slander, blackmail should never be in the arsenal of campaigners.

Sri Lanka has just defeated the most ruthless terrorist organization in the world. Hence the world is watching it. There are also elements that are unhappy over it. They would wait for an opportunity to discredit Sri Lanka and tarnish the image of the country and its leaders. They may try to capitalise on the political acrimony that peaks at election time to sow dissention and seek ways and means of destabilising the country.

The best way to avoid such interference is by conducting a disciplined and principled political campaign. The candidates should put forward their policy documents or manifestos. The voters also would look for the credibility of the candidates too. It is a sad practice that most manifestos are forgotten the moment the candidate wins. However, we have an exception today. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has delivered on most of the promises in his manifesto. Hence, he stands tall among the rest with high credibility.

As to his democratic credentials there is ample proof. He relinquished two years of his Presidency so that Northern voters could participate in electing the President. In a sense he has gambled. Yet it is a gamble of a person so sure of himself and the trust people have reposed in him. We usually find examples of rulers trying to prolong their rule rather than shortening them.

What is at stake is the future of the country, its political and economic direction and consequently the well-being of the people.

There are rules and regulations governing the conduct of elections. They have been formulated and approved by our lawmakers taking into account past experience and the need to ensure clean elections. What is necessary is to ensure that the law is respected.

It is here that political parties, candidates and campaign organizers should rein in the over-zealous followers and activists who tend to violate the law on the display of posters, cut-outs etc. at public places. The police have been instructed to remove these offensive structures and display-objects. They should be allowed to do so without hindrance.

Every political party or independent candidate running for high office may have unruly followers who are prone to violence. The earlier they are controlled the better it is for the country.

In the run up to the nominations there were several ugly incidents in which the media came under attack. Such practice should end forthwith. The media should be allowed to do its job unhindered.

Conducting a violence free and clean election is sure to raise the prestige of the country internationally. That should be the objective of all aspirants to the top post.