Part II: Are we doing our prime role in this crisis?

18 May 2022 12:01 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 0 Bookmark

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Social pressure is the only positive result, but these groups should focus on how to keep on track

As a country, we need to focus on policy-oriented governance. In addition, there should be an efficient attempt to change and improve the legislation required for good governance and

administration. There are many underprivileged segments in society that need a support system to uplift their livelihood. However, there are not directly addressed policies and legislations.

The Samurdhi benefits are given to many households, and there is no clear-cut method of selecting eligible households. There should be a clearly defined time period for their assistance and their livelihood development. Another best example is certain government services such as management assistants, development officers, etc., and they do not have a clear mandate to get their service. There are many officers duplicating their service with other services. The Yahapalana government has rejected the family policy for Sri Lanka, indicating that there is no requirement. The former finance minister Mangala Samaraweera thought that the family was not an important element in society. Though it was not important for him, Sri Lanka is a country which has good family bonds and social networks. Having the social capital with the family is important on many occasions in their livelihood. The current President Gotabaya Rajapaksa also has not taken it into his consideration though we impressed him. He coined the concept ‘One Country, One Law’ and he did not achieve that goal. He used inappropriate persons to study the requirement. The monk Gnanasara Thera is a person who misbehaves, and he doesn’t have commonly accepted ideal characters. It seems that all these good concepts have been politicized. If there are things happening in this manner, there is no way to address novel social issues and incidents in the country.

" Politicians should be limited to the legislation process, and administrators need to lead all implementation of development activities and projects without corruption"

Other areas like the Central Bank of Sri Lanka should be adhered to good governance policy. The gold coin that every employee took at the 50th celebration and additional one month salary should be returned due to the present economic situation. Similarly, they have done the same thing in 60th celebration. Once they return it, several million can be used for improving the economic crisis in Sri Lanka. Thus, they should serve as models for other organizations. Another such element are engineers in the electricity board. They also act as a mafia in the energy sector.

All these key issues discussed above are interwoven and reflect each other when there are any positive or negative impacts. Thus, we need to look at them from holistic perspectives. When a political leader is appointed, it is usually a particular group (theoretically, it is called Imperatively Coordinated Association – ICAs) absorbing the conformity. It happened to all presidents in the country, and it is the main reason President Rajapaksa failed to address key issues. When ICAs are active, their nature is vital. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had very strong ICAs constituted with his family relatives. All of them used all their benefits while protecting the president. But President Rajapaksa had disintegrated ICAs, and they have developed many unstable conditions in the country rather than stabilizing the system. Today, he is enjoying the results.

" The cadres who are struggling at Galle Face initially labelled all politicians as corrupt. If they change their stance now, it will be a problem, and it will not gain the expected results from the struggle"

The conflicts that erupted against the government are very critical because it doesn’t show a very clear path, methods, and objective. They are asking for a change in the political system, which is not fully fit for the existing constitution. Then, they should put pressure on the constitutional amendment. Then, this conflict situation can be considered a real conflict. Therefore, it is an unrealistic conflict that is prolonged with high intensity of social conflicts. Especially, the high level of violence. It may result in many negative results. It proved in the last couple of days, and the results were negative. However, social pressure is the only positive result, but these groups should focus on how to keep on track and get the maximum benefits to society.

Especially, there is no proper leadership visible yet. As highlighted above JVPers and Peratugami groups are behind the curtain. If it is the case, there are many factors to be solved. The approach, theory, and method of the JVP are problematic. Though Anura Kumara has the vocal ability, he doesn’t have a sound technical background and experience. If it is the case, he would never say that the Sigiriya Rock would be cut to build the Port City Project. In addition, there have been several irresponsible acts displayed in the last couple of years. Furthermore, the corruption claims made by Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe and his assets base need to be clear. Similarly, other JVP key members have similar claims to be probed. Moreover, the members of NPP are not clean characters. They have proved cases at the institutional level. When they get the power, it can be further misused. Therefore, we need constitutional amendments than focusing on existing corrupted politicians. The cadres who are struggling at Galle Face initially labelled all politicians are corrupt. If they change their stance now, it will be a problem, and it will not gain the expected results from the struggle.

"All professionals should be focused on the main role in avoiding political interventions. It will help to minimize the politicization of citizens"

What are the possible solutions?

The current situation is important, and there should be progressive steps to be taken to reintegrate society. Therefore, there are several actions that can be proposed. They are;

The current parliament should be transformed into a constitutional assembly to amend the constitution. A similar process happened in Nepal, and now they have their own constitution.
The constitution must have minimum requirements to become a member of parliament and a minister. For more details refer to March 12 Movement and its clarifications.
All politicians should declare their assets base publicly, not for the Commissioner General of Elections and the Speaker of the parliament.
The pension scheme of politicians should be abolished.
The executive president should not be given unlimited facilities after retirement.
Independent commissions introduced by the 19th Amendment of the constitution should be reactivated.
A permanent commission for development planning should be established. It should be equipped with a panel of experts representing all sectors. All these integrated and comprehensive development plans (short-term, mid-term, and long-term).
A mixed model of election system should be placed for selecting responsible politicians on the basis of the proportionate method and electoral method.
All political parties that failed to get a minimum of 3% of total votes should be dissolved. Too much party politics is unnecessary to the social system.
An independent legal system should be established; all avenues for abuse and misuse of the law should be blocked. The eminent legal experts in Sri Lanka should be involved in this requirement.
All government officers should be given a mandate for their duties and responsibilities for the target groups and persons.
A comprehensive formation of social values, attitudes, and norms should be established with the support of schools and university teachers, religious leaders, and other gatekeepers of culture and society.
All religious personnel should be kept behind the political system. They should safeguard the culture and society. Especially, they must focus on their own religious goals and target. This will help for a secular society.
A meaningful measurement should be taken to realign the Buddhist doctrines.
All private ownership of religious assets and properties should be surrendered to a common system governed by a board of monks.
All income generated through Buddhist assets and properties should be put into a common budget that helps ordinary temples and monks regularly. Especially, young monks who are in the process of learning.
SLAS officers should be free from political affiliations, and there should be a way to manage such circumstances. They should adhere to their profession than go behind the politicians for more benefits.
The university teachers should undertake a responsible duty to uplift the skills of students by covering intended learning objectives and covering the entire curriculum with a globally accepted set of knowledge and practice. The teaching method should be student-centred.
All professionals should be focused on the main role in avoiding political interventions. It will help to minimize the politicization of citizens.
All land and properties should be utilized up to a maximum level or such properties should be surrendered to the government system.
The mafia active in key elements in the government services such as health, electricity, education, ports, etc. should be eliminated for a better service and smooth function.

It is obvious that many politicians are reluctant to make firm decisions on religious institutions and personnel. They should have free and unbiased conditions to get their service to the Sri Lankan society and culture. The legislation and procedures need to strengthen and used for the betterment of the people. All politicians should be limited to the legislation process, and administrators need to lead all implementation of development activities and projects without corruption. The people of this country kept hopes that President Rajapaksa will solve all these issues. In frustration, people are gathering under any umbrella to protest against the common enemy. It never implies that they are ready to accept JVP or other fractions as a dominant political force in the country. The best option is going for a fresh election after the constitutional amendments done by the proposed constitutional assembly.

The writer is a senior professor at the Department of Sociology, University of Kelaniya

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