Post-conflict poll in Sri Lanka

S.S. Sahabandu PC

The recently concluded Presidential Poll was the first post- conflict poll in Sri Lanka. Many views have been expressed about the poll. In this essay some of those concerns would be looked at and answered. Sri Lanka, Asia’s oldest democracy had enjoyed universal franchise since 1931. The introduction of universal franchise had allowed the masses in this country to participate in the affairs of the Government even during colonial times.

The Lanka Sama Samaja Party played a role in the State Council to voice their opinion on independence, and the social legislation introduced in the State Council. Many pieces of legislation were introduced, including free education and measures to give labour more benefits from the State.

Rapid changes

Peaceful Presidential poll process after the 30-year war. File photo

With the advent of Independence Sri Lanka Introduced the West Minister style of Government, with a multi party system. Rapid changes in society took place, through electoral defeats and victories by the main political groups, the UNP and the SLFP. The greatest political upheaval was the SLFP victory of 1956 by which a new political grouping that made a structural change in society. It brought a new class to power.

Sri Lanka also witnessed the defeat of a Prime Minister at an election in his own electorate. People had accepted the mechanism of change through elections. A keen student of politics, former President J.R. Jayewardena wanted a mechanism to keep the UNP, in power forever.

Having studied the electoral figures over the years, he advocated and established the presidential system similar to those in the USA and France.

When the Sinhala majority is divided between the two main political parties, the votes of the minorities which are mainly with the UNP will keep his party in power for ever. Now has the super structure created by J.R. Jayewardena, to keep his party in power forever collapsed? The UNP won only one Presidential Election that of J.R. Jayewardena. President Premadasa’s election was challenged by an election petition for several years. The figures below show its nature.

The victory became relevant after the petition was dismissed.

The election was held on December 9, 1988.

The grounds

1. That by reason of general intimidation, majority electors were or may have been prevented from electing the candidate whom they preferred under S91 (a) of the Presidential Act No.15 of 1981 (hereafter referred to as the act)

2. That by reason of other circumstances, to wit, the failure of the Elections Commissioner and/or members of his staff to conduct a free and fair election, in accordance with the provisions of the Act, more particularly, the majority of the electors were or may have been prevented from electing the candidates whom they preferred, under S91 (a) of the Act.

The Supreme Court dismissed the petition with costs.

The results of the Presidential Election held in 2010 will show the contrast.

The difference in 2010 is almost a one and a half million votes. In 1988 it was only 279,339. In 1988 the percentage polled was 55.32, while in 2010 it is 74.29 percent. In a crucial poll in Sri Lanka the percentage polled is high. It can be seen that the victory in 2010 is a clear mandate from the people.

J. R. Jayewardene made post election violence a fine art and as a means of silencing political opponents. He openly stated that he would give the police a holiday after he won the 1977 poll and what happened to SLFP supporters in villages? Their houses were attacked and some were killed and injured.

The greed to remain in power forever with his party brought about other changes; the referendum a phenomena in his constitution. The referendum held in 1982 to extend the term of Parliament to keep the five sixth majority was criticized by the Elections Commissioner in his report, as faulty.

He followed this up with the 1983 riots against innocent Tamils. Having read widely about Franco and Hitler he thought that a small island in the Indian Ocean could do as it wanted. He soon realized that a country’s history is decided by its geography as stated by General De Gaulle. India intervened and we saw Indian troops in the island. The Parliamentary Opposition was suppressed by the referendum, and this led to the JVP insurrection.

By these mechanisms he kept his party in power for almost 18 years. In this period the country saw the birth of a civil war and other acts of violence. It was left to President Mahinda Rajapaksa to end the war and usher in peace once more.

President Rajapaksa devoted much of his time to safeguarding human rights. He was hand picked by the late Prime Minister Sirima Bandaranaike as an up and coming young leader of the SLFP. He stood by the party and grew within the party.

With a long record of service to the people coupled with the victories of his party at the recently concluded Presidential election his victory was a forgone conclusion.

The Opposition selected General Sarath Fonseka as its common candidate. Unable to answer the war weapon as an electoral challenge, they expected the General to deliver votes for them. But this was a failure and the General was not even a voter at the election.

Time for reflection

The Opposition depended on a mass hysteria created by them that the General was winning and they believed their own false propaganda.

The electorate gave them an appropriate reply which they now foolishly reject. They should now reflect and correct their mistakes and look for new political alternatives and shed the false mirage which J. R. Jayewardene had created.

Under the J. R. Jayewardene, executive presidency, nobody from the Opposition has won, only a sitting President or Prime Minister has won. Without stating that they have won when they in fact have lost, it is time for reflection and change.

The country needs a strong democratic opposition. By their irresponsible behaviour they are only demeaning the image of the country abroad much to the delight of the Tamil Diaspora. Let Sri Lankans enjoy the peace won by them, let us correct our mistakes and build a transparent Government and responsible Opposition.