Hopes for new constitution

The statement, captioned “Constitution-making should be Open, Public and Transparent” by 28 eminent signatories in The Island of 6 November, is singularly topical and compelling. The sad and shameful status of Sri Lanka today, can be attributed to the 1978 constitution and the deplorable governance that followed it. We, the people, deserve a constitution that will enable reconciliation among the communities, and rapid development that ensures high living standards and social security for all. The most vital point in the statement is the emphasis on the need for adequate public discussion of the draft, and the request not to rush it. That would be the wish of every patriotic citizen.

Arguably, the foremost prerequisite of democracy is the election of honest, capable, and decent persons, as people’s representatives in the legislature. This has been almost completely negated in this Republic of ours, since the introduction of proportional representation in the 1978 constitution. That resulted in the saturation of Parliament with undesirable, indecent, and thieving MPs, whose sole intent seems to be the rape of Sri Lanka. How else can we explain that 213 MPs (95 %) have not declared their assets and liabilities as required by law? So low are our lawmakers, whom we pamper at hideously high cost!

This calamitous situation can be remedied only via a well-thought-out constitution. We hope that the panel, headed by Romesh de Silva, will have the courage to do what is right, rather than what is safe and ‘rewarding’. History may record them among the Men who saved Sri Lanka.

Nothing can be done to redeem Sri Lanka without a Parliament of educated, capable, honest, and committed MPs. I hope that the panel will give precedence to framing provisions regarding the election of people’s representatives to Parliament and local government bodies.

I (with long years of development work among rural peoples, and a member of CIMMOG before it was discontinued) give below my wish list for democratic elections; with the hope that the new constitution will pave the way for their implementation.

1.

People’s representatives in Parliament and local government bodies should be persons of education, upbringing, capability, and integrity. It should be the responsibility of political parties to nominate only such persons for election by voters.

2.

Political parties should be subjected to a code of ethics that governs how funds are received and spent. And they should nominate only good men and women as candidates for elections at all levels.

3.

Voters have the right to the background knowledge of candidates, to make their decision for voting. Therefore, every candidate should post his/her detailed CV in the form of an affidavit in a dedicated website of the Elections Commissioner, at the time of submitting the nomination.

4.

Every elected representative should submit his/her assets and liabilities declaration to the prescribed authority within the stipulated period.

5.

No government-funded project should commence without validation by a detailed and uncompromising Feasibility Study (FS) – Environmental Impact Assessment is an essential component of a feasibility study. Transparent tender-award procedures should follow. The final FS, on which a project is selected for funding should be available online, for examination by the public.

6.

Ensure equality of every citizen before law – with suitable mechanisms to prevent its abuse.

7.

Enable recall of non-performing representatives of the people.

8.

Enable successful Sri Lankan technocrats – wherever they are at present, to be appointed as ministers on a high salary, obviating additional government expenditure. It will be significantly cheaper for the people. It is said that this strategy was successfully adopted in Singapore.

ANANDA WANASINGHE

ananda@slt.lk