THE DAY AUGUST ASSEMBLY WENT TO THE DOGS !
By Dr. Tilak S. Fernando
Picture credit: The Ceylon Today
On the 10th of January 2018, Sri Lanka created
history inside the Parliament Chamber at Diyawanna with contemptible behaviour,
displayed by some members of the Joint Opposition (JO) and the UNP members,
which ended up in a brawl, when a special sitting was convened to table the
report compiled by the Commission of Inquiry on the Treasury Bond Scam, and 34
reports of Presidential Commission of Inquiry to investigate and inquire into
Serious acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges
(PRECIFAC).
The pictures displayed on TV and social media showed how the
joint Opposition (JO) Members invaded the well of the House of Parliament,
carrying placards, shouting 'Hora' (thief),
whilst Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe attempted to add fuel to fire, in an
atmosphere where the tempers of the House had reached a volatile level, by
attempting to give a 'discourse' prior
to the proceedings. All the reports were scheduled to be available, from the
Presidential office, to Parliament only a week later!
Taken
by Surprise
What became beyond one's comprehension was how the Prime
Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, being a senior politician, got carried away
and, got caught on camera, prompting his colleagues, to repeat after him,
before howling 'kawda hora, kawda hora,
‘to which his associates replied, which was inaudible due to the ear splitting
raucousness amidst thuggary and obscenity, fisticuffs and throwing of objects
inside the August assembly. That caused ambulances to carry the injured MPs to
hospital, while a few others exchanged blows at each other, and one or two
collapsed and fainted.
MPs are elected by the voters to formulate necessary Bills
and Laws, which help the progress of the country. Therefore, it's regrettable
that this supreme office was transformed into a boisterous and unruly
showground, which sent a message, loud and clear, to the outside world that the
Sri Lanka Parliament is full of illiterate
‘baboons' as representatives of the people.
National
Audit Bill
The National Audit Service (NAS) immediately responded with
a request to the public "not to cast
their vote at the upcoming Local Government Polls, in favour of the
Yahapalanaya Government" (news item), and challenged the government to
ratify the NAB, if possible, by tabling the Bill in the Parliament on 23
January as a proof of Yahapalanaya Government's determination to usher in an
administration devoid of fraud and corruption.
The National Audit Bill (NAB) was an election pledge of Yahapalanaya to protect the State
finances and public property, or any representative of a political party. The
latest being, it was reported in the news media (15th January 2018) that the final draft of
the National Audit Bill, after being amended 23 times already, and approved by
the Attorney General, has been forwarded yet again by the Prime Minister's
Office to the Legal Draftsman for more amendments! This is seen as grossly
illegal, since it had gone beyond the authority of the Cabinet Sub-Committee
before.
Lewd
Language
The scene, at the Parliament Well, indeed was horrendous to
watch when the representatives of the people in this county using utter lewd language,
in the cream of Sinhala at each other, and getting entangled in fisticuffs. To
hold a parliamentary session citizens pay heavily as taxes. The cost per single
session is said to be Rs 5million. The only reason, therefore, why voters in
this country keep on appointing repeatedly, such hooligans to Parliament, is
nothing but due to a curse upon this blessed country.
The politicians in the bygone era were decent and
gentlemanly. However today, such charisma displayed by former civilised
representatives, has gone by the way side, and replaced with a gang of
self-centred business minded and uneducated ruffians, who display vulgarity,
dabbling with bribery, corruption and nepotism, directly or indirectly, for
their individual gains.
Privileges
and Perks
All Parliamentarians receive fixed salaries, plus allowances
of various kinds. An additional allowance is also paid to encourage them to
participate in parliamentary sessions (to
fall asleep in their seats and/or enjoy the subsidized sumptuous canteen meal
at the cost of the tax payer)! Additionally they enjoy an allocation of
duty-free vehicle permits (open secret), which they dispose of, to become
multi-millionaires overnight! It is rather hilarious to listen to some
Ministers' comments that they need nothing but luxury limousines to carry out
development work, and to visit rural areas in order to listen to, and address
peoples' concerns! People see on a daily basis on TV, how villagers in several
parts of the country, keep on lamenting and even threatening politicians not to
come begging any more for votes, at the forthcoming local polls, in certain
areas in which they have been plaintive.
One thing became crystal clear out of this horrible incident
was that 'one group of rogues' blamed
and shouted at another 'group of rogues'
forgetting the very fact, that in the eyes of the public, they are all ‘rogues’
with allegations of bribery and corruption (in dealing with tender procedures),
illegal earth excavations, destruction of wildlife sanctuaries and killing of
elephants (for ivory), and the worst being how 'higher Johnnies' in the government pipeline discouraging many a
prospective foreign financier keen on investing in Sri Lanka getting
discouraged, as a result of high demands of huge commissions prior to such
approvals.
World's leading politicians do not stoop to gutter level;
they rather direct their energies on performances. Rumours indicate against
Ranil Wickremesinghe that he being the architect behind all the recent trials
and tribulations that prevail in the country, whilst President Maithripala
Sirisena does not have the urgency to bring the final report of the Bribery
Commission to Parliament, except according to his own timing and strategy!
Nevertheless, the President will have to face the challenge
soon, whether his party will be the winner or shelved into the third or fourth
slot.
tilakfernando@gmail.com
Ceylon Today - January 2018 - Saturday Column