Beware of Arrogance of Power

From now on until September 8, the upcoming Provincial Council polls are likely to be a central concern of the country. That is, 'election fever' will be here once again with all its attendant thrills and perils. As we have right along said in this commentary, law and order maintenance would be of prime importance and we hope the state has taken cognizance of this requirement.

We also hope popular discourse in the days ahead would focus sharply on the importance of the Provincial Councils. While there is great alacrity to hold provincial polls and to run for PC slots, a public debate on the general usefulness or otherwise of the PCs is yet to get off the ground with any earnestness in this country. Yet, the PC system is 25 years old and has been sustained at mainly the tax payers' expense, although the public and polity are yet to seriously demand a substantial contribution to the common good from this system which is often denigrated as a great 'White Elephant'.

Now more than ever before we need to assess the effectiveness of the PC system. This is mainly on account of the numerous PC personnel who are today making a public display of their power and influence but not really justifying the considerable funds the state invests in keeping the system going.

Therefore, it would be most welcome if the present polls campaign period could be made use of to widely debate the effectiveness or otherwise of the system. We need to address our minds as to how the PCs could be used to usher regional development, which is the essential purpose of the system.

These and many more issues concerning the system need to be discussed widely in the quarters that matter because this country cannot afford to be saddled with institutions that are a huge drain on the public purse. It is not our position that the PC system is useless. After all, it possesses a huge and untapped potential, particularly in terms of the material advancement it could promote, but we need to admit that the structure has not measured-up to public expectations. Therefore, the polity would do well not to get carried away by the polls campaign but ponder on ways of making better use of the PCs.

Naturally, all eyes would be on the way the ruling UPFA conducts itself in the days ahead. UPFA leaders are on record that all law-breakers within the alliance will be shown the door, and this is a step in the right direction. They are on record that they have rid their grouping of criminal elements which brought embarrassment to the alliance at the Pradeshiya Sabha and Local Government levels, and such steps too need to be welcomed. These principles must be strictly adhered to in the days ahead also, as the polls campaign hots-up.

If some Pradeshiya Sabha and Local Government personnel are figuring in opprobrious rape and other criminal cases, it is because they have lost all emotional balance on tasting a little power and influence. However, their conduct reflects badly on the ruling alliance and the latter would need to ensure that the malaise of power abuse does not afflict its personnel and members at any level of government. Accordingly, firm disciplinary control would need to be exercised on also PC candidates and their supporters.

As we have argued in this commentary, all systems must be in place to prevent power-abuse on the part of anyone occupying public office. Sermonizing and pious exhortations alone by those in authority are unlikely to ensure this, humans being what they are. It is mainly checks and balances and institutional curbs which could guard against power abuse by those occupying public office.

It is also gratifying to note that UPFA leaders are saying 'no' to relatives of those holding top posts in the Alliance fold contesting the PC polls. This is as it should be because nepotism is an ill which should be weeded out. Democratic governance must ensure economic equity.

That is, growth must flow down to the masses. In a situation where nepotism thrives, this process would be clogged because wealth would accumulate in a few hands. This is the very anti-thesis of democratic development.