Elections and playing the card of sentiment - EDITORIAL

Sri Lanka’s politicians surprisingly aren’t desperate as yet. The educated and those wearing their thinking caps all the time are still a minority so they cannot be ready yet to offer an alternative to the people who are grieving in this country. 
Yes, the people of this country are grieving; more than they did during times like the war, tsunami and the arrival of one of the presidents from the South of this country. Before that we had several invasions with Kalinga Magha’s arrival having a shattering effect on the country. All these past events are considered equally nagging in nature and problems which brought great headaches to the people. 

Today the islanders are down to a point where parents have to search an entire market to find an egg for their children. Someone put a post on Facebook the other day stating that you know your country is in a deep financial mess when pastry shops offer customers the opportunity to pay the bill for cake in six installments. 

It’s in this backdrop that lawmakers in Sri Lanka are planning for the upcoming Local Government LG Polls. Politicians are already campaigning despite some sections of the society having warned them not to step into villages with the motive of gathering votes. The Grand Old Party (UNP) has tied up with the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna. A former president’s party has formed an alliance with another set of failed politicians to face the elections. That new alliance has the name ‘freedom’ written ‘big’, but people know that all this effort and drama are to keep their (politicians) big tummies full and their purses fat. All this happens while the poor voter struggles to survive the 30 days of the month. 

There was also one lawmaker who appeared recently on television and said how confident his alliance is in winning the next polls. This lawmaker, an expert in economics, told people not to get too excited about seeing a government change and said that this election will only find new party representatives who can work for the people while serving at local government level. 

Some people are blind to reality due to the lack of education. Some conveniently turn a blind eye to understanding reality due to perks and political favours. A good many of the youth are very negative regarding their perception of the country. Most of these youth want to immigrate. When we travel by bus in the morning we hear travel agencies advertising through the radio how promising it would be if youth immigrate; one of the most popular destinations advertised being Romania. 

The present lawmakers like to see an exodus by the youth who are qualified and hardworking. Youth migration means the weakening of the struggle carried out by ‘protesters’ who want a system change. The regime is also encouraging the professionals in the state sector- who are aged 60- to retire. This scenario is much talked about in the state medical sector. What a precarious situation the country is experiencing due to the perils the senior citizens and people with non-communicable diseases are exposed to!  

The government is lucky to survive despite not having been elected by the people. Still the state is being cursed for being unable to bring culprits allegedly associated with frauds to book. There are state institutes where members of the top management are drawing high salaries and even receiving bonuses despite the overall accounts showing a loss making balance sheet. Right now there are less than a handful of worthwhile lawmakers who can demand justice for the people during the days when parliament sessions are on. 

People have little to choose from during elections or have remained ignorant of the ways in which the lawmakers operate. The lawmakers are incredibly surviving and hanging by a shoestring where their hopes are concerned regarding their political futures. It’s in this backdrop that we are hearing that old trump card of the lawmaker being played again; which is to raise both nationalistic and religious feelings. Someone brought dishonour to the religion hence he was arrested and put behind bars. Voters must tread the path ahead carefully till the elections are held. The lawmakers know just the right cards to play to catch you!