Towards a fresh beginning

The nation goes to the polls today for the second time in three months - this time to elect a new legislature. Like the Presidential Election held early this year this is the first Parliamentary Election held in postwar Sri Lanka. There is also a wide belief that this would be the last Parliamentary Election held under the PR system. The last Parliament elected under the old system had a five-sixths majority. Though it is a difficult proposition, given the arithmetic involved the aim of the ruling UPFA is to obtain a two-thirds majority under this final PR election.

Government leaders are optimistic that they could reach the target going by the results of all recent polls. Their stated objective is to introduce a new Constitution or bring in reforms to the present one.

This, one would agree is a reasonable request to the voter since the country is now on the cusp of a take off from the depths of ruin brought about by the war. It needs a new Constitution so that the President would not be restrained in anyway in his quest to rebuild a new Sri Lanka from the ashes of war. Besides the country has gained a new Independence following its liberation from terrorism. Hence there is a need to start anew with new changes and models that would complement this renaissance.

The voters who are intelligent and mature today are bound to grasp the significance of a clear mandate to take the country forward from this point. This they demonstrated at the Presidential Election and the mood is bound to be carried into today's voting as well.

The sentiments expressed by the voters at the last election, reflected in the overwhelming mandate received by the President, left no doubt as to the central issue dominating the voter psyche - namely the liberation of the country from the scourge of terrorism. Today there is an air of freedom everywhere - in trains, buses, roads and sidewalks. The people have been rid of their seige mentality which was always gripped by stalking terror. There is free movement of people as seen from the general atmosphere in the cities, the market place.

This was in contrast to the not too distant past when every mother was on tenterhooks fearing for the safety of her child at school not knowing when a bomb would explode on the highway. The North and East which were shut off from the rest of the country for over three decades is now alive with activity. Holiday-makers who normally prefer the salubrious climes of Nuwara-Eliya are today reportedly heading for the North and East in their numbers. This is besides the almost daily visits to places of Buddhist worship in the North by pilgrims after decades not to mention the heavy traffic of traders and businessmen on the A9 now that the severed trading links with North have been re-established. Sri Lanka is also witnessing unprecedented tourist arrivals with the dawn of peace and the withdrawal of travel advisaries while the country is set on a gargantuan development drive in post war Sri Lanka. There can be little doubt that the voters who voted for the end to terrorism in January would want to reinforce this victory for attainment of the country's development goals. Hence they would not be inclined to change their verdict at today's poll now that the country is set to savour the fruits of peace and transform a battered and bruised country from decades of bloody conflict.

Thus today's vote would be a re-endorsement of the verdict given to the President early this year. However, to start anew and put the country on the road to development and prosperity we need a good set of legislators both from the Government and Opposition who would put country before self. In short we need persons of quality, ability and integrity who would be prepared to work according to the President's vision of making Sri Lanka the miracle of Asia as the country is set to journey into its next phase. It is upto the voter therefore to decide wisely when they go into that little enclosure to mark their cross against their preferred candidate. Sri Lanka's Parliament too needs a transformation. It is up to the voter to ensure that.