Two Immoral Acts of Sirisena-Ranil Government.

The artificial situation now created by the President and the Prime Minister has led to an unsavory political climate in the country. When we look back on the promises made during the election campaign nobody expected the creation of a mega cabinet or the appointment of the rejected ones as Ministers and parliamentarians under “Yahapalanya”. Surely this is nothing else but cheating the gullible masses.    

The appointment of a jumbo cabinet going against the 19^th amendment of the constitution and the appointment of the rejected members as ministers and deputy ministers of the new government is an act contrary to the principles of “Yahapalanaya” and Democratic governance. This is not real or genuine politics but manipulative politics, which they are compelled to adopt in their self interests.  

If the major political parties failed to have gained sufficient number of seats to form a stable government, shouldn’t they have gone for re-election, and ask the people for a clearer mandate rather than creating a mockery of democracy.

In my view, securing the positions of Sirisena and Ranil duo and prevention of a comeback of another evil force is the only reason for making this arrangement of convenience.

Perhaps my view can be very personal and inaccurate. Yet people must be given the reasons for adopting such a strategy against their wish and election promises. Moreover, the spirit of good governance demands transparency in decision making.

If the elected members are going against the election promises and the aspirations of the people, they are undermining the authority given to them by the people to govern the country. They may desire to rule the country till 2020 but will do so without moral authority.

People should immediately send a message to the government expressing their displeasure about the way things are moving. Some voices have been raised. We should appreciate Ven Sobitha thero and the leadership of “Puravesi Balaya” who have already spoken. Let there be hundred or thousand more voices be raised but in one voice. 

President however has already indicated that inquiries against those who have done wrong will go on and the members of the parliament have to live up to the demands of a new political culture and so on. But in this political climate what guarantee do we have that promises will come true. Similarly can the politicians be trusted?

We have witnessed the behavior of some of these defeated members who have been offered   ministerial posts by the President. There is no evidence of whatsoever to show that since their new appointments a sudden conversion has taken place within them and they will a live a more noble life from now on. 

The current events are an indication that the system of party politics alone is not enough to secure people’s aspirations. The time has now come for the citizens to act more responsibly. People need to be more organized and develop an effective mechanism to participate in governance rather than assigning all authority to the elected members. 

Fr. Sarath Iddamalgoda