DOWN GRADING POLITICS
By Dr. Tilak S.Fernando
By Dr. Tilak S.Fernando
Politics appears to be a
'dirty game' throughout the world. In Sri Lanka, it has stooped to gutter level
with corruption spearheading like a contagious disease. Many Sri Lankan
politicians entered the political arena, in the past, out of sheer patriotism
and the yearning to work for the people. Besides, many of them were icons of
wealthy families, who died after spending all their fortunes in trying to serve
the country.
Contrary to such candid
representatives, most present-day Parliamentarian tends to display a certain
amount of vulgarity, where his 'commission' seems to take priority over any
development project or a contract.
The people's
'representatives' clad in immaculate white attire seem to arrive at the Diyawannawa camp, 'purely to enjoy the
subsidized, sumptuous 'Parliamentary canteen meal' (as widely known, no offence
intended). Others are seen falling asleep in their chairs while debates are in
progress. Some do not bother to attend, even after receiving a payment of
Rs.100, 000 as a special allowance. How could responsible MPs attempt to run
away with the ceremonial mace inside Parliament, and a bunch of MPs getting
involved in fisticuffs as in a street fight? Such unruly behaviour inside the
august assembly, akin to a gang of incorrigible schoolchildren, only creates
negative responses from the public.
Preferential system
Undoubtedly, the cause
for such degeneration, in turning Parliament sessions into a comedy of errors
today, has to be the existing preferential system of voting that every Dick,
Tom and Harry could get elected to Parliament with the power of money. It is
unpardonable when some of the Ministers are absolutely clueless, and do not
know their onions, when it comes to question time. In such circumstances they
become baffled and go round the mulberry bush, or keep blaming their
predecessors or turn the question into a joke. Do Yahapalana administrators take the intelligent voters to be utter
nincompoops? Such activities have debased Sri Lanka into a laughing stock among
the international community, after enjoying the so-called 70 years of
democracy. The guilty and corrupt politicians, in real democracies, are dealt
with sternly. At the end of the day, either they are written off their
positions or sent home. In Sri Lanka, such situations are turned into a new
game of political Ping-Pong, and Parliamentarians keep on blaming each other,
and mark time for five years, to qualify for a pension for the rest of their
lives!
Difference
The difference between
Sri Lankan politics and that of Britain is that the British always concentrate
on maintaining a high standard in public office. Occasionally, of course, as in
any other scenario, there are instances where a member of the British
Parliament might be caught with his pants down by being ignominious, at which
point the politician always makes it a point to resign from office with dignity.
In this regard,
Westerners in public life set an example by commuting in public transport and
even riding bicycles to office. So, the thought process between the British and
Sri Lankan politician seems to be evidently different, for, the British are a
deemed species, whereas our elected lot seems to think they descend from heaven!
This is clearly demonstrated by the Netherland's Prime Minister recently riding
a bicycle to the Royal Palace. Former British Premier David Cameron rode a
bicycle at times to attend Parliamentary sessions at Westminster. He was also
spotted travelling in the London underground trains mingling with commuters.
Prince Charles often enjoys a bicycle ride, not that he cannot afford the best
of limousines. The writer has witnessed Ken Livingstone, the former Mayor of
London, travelling (standing) in the London underground tube train, while no
one paid any heed. But, it is only our politicians, with escorted back-up vehicles and an army of hell's angels, and
breaking all the possible motor traffic laws). It is pretty amasing that
when these guys are in Lonwho are unable to commute in public transport except
in deluxe limousines (don and the High Commission vehicles are not at their
disposal, how their limbs begin to function perfectly well, and are able to
travel by public transport too.
In my mind, it is
nothing but a divine curse on the country itself, that current politicians in
Sri Lanka have become selfish, blind to reality, self-centered and power
hungry; their only aim being to recover, by hook or by crook, what they had
spent on pervious elections! With the new proposed system of local elections, (if that ever takes place!) and spreading
into Provincial and finally to General and Presidential elections, the harassed
public's fervent hope would be to resurrect the old system with new &
young, caring and intelligent parliamentarians, who would be able to feel the
pulse of the nation.
tilakfernando@gmail.com