A new constitution, electoral process and attitude are required now

By Saybhan Samat

(May 06, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The Election Commissioner prior to the holding of a series of Provincial Council elections held this year suggested screening candidates. He was of the view that candidates having a criminal record and those who have belonged to the underworld fraternity those who have been unpatriotic should not be permitted to contest in any elections that are held in the island. If anyone wants to enter the public-service he/she has to submit a clean grama-niladari report and police record. If this is so for an ordinary public-servant why should it not be a requirement for those who want to enter the legislature?

Not only Sri –Lanka is concerned with unsuitable candidates contesting elections at all levels, many other countries too are faced with this problem, some of the candidates do not even process basic educational qualifications and they behave in a very unbecoming manner in the chambers of the legislature. We have often witnessed this in our own parliament.

There is only one country in the world which screens candidates before the candidates enter for elections. In the Islamic Republic of Iran candidates with bad records of conduct, behaviour and morals are not permitted to contest elections. This, the western democracies condemn as undemocratic. However it is noted that in the past 30years lesser numbers of persons have voted in western elections, as they know that candidates are incompetent or unsuitable to enter parliament or congress. In some instances the elections itself is a farce.

In Sri Lanka it cannot be denied that the standards of the legislature have declined, the majority of those in the legislature are mediocre and cannot deliver. In fairness to President Mahinda Rajapakse it must be admitted that he is astute, clever, courageous and intelligent and has delivered on the intractable problem of terrorism, whether he will deliver on the economic woes that encompass us is still to be seen. Another important matter is president Rajapakse’s pragmatic foreign policy, while being friendly with the Western powers and Japan he has attached himself to the growing powers of China, Russia, Iran and India aware that the West is on the decline.

Another reason as to why the standard of politics has deteriorated is because, competent, honest and able men and women refuse to participate in the political process. They prefer to gather in their clubs, cocktail parties and other social gatherings and berate politicians in power. They fear to enter politics because of violence which sometimes prevails in political campaigns. They do not possess the courage to enter the fray although they posses skills in planning, managing and implementing schemes that will benefit the country. While trying to over-haul the present political system good men and women should courageously make up their minds to enter politics.

Once the terrorist problem is solved President Mahinda Rajapakse must address his mind to change the present electoral system and create an equal playing field, so that it will attract the competent, able, honest and intelligent professionals into the political process. Sri Lankans are very talented and innovative. The present system is unattractive to many able men and women and they are confined to their arm chairs forever criticizing the authorities.

Mainly on account of the defeat of terrorism it is very likely that president Mahinda Rajapakse may get a second term in office. It would indeed be a welcome gesture if he introduces a new constitution, a new electoral process and a new attitude towards all minorities, this will secure the unity of Sri Lanka. We are the only country in the world that has defeated terrorism. The US and all Europe have not succeeded, in wiping out the terrorist menace. In the near future there is no reason why we should not solve our economic and other social problems.

-Sri Lanka Guardian