Proposals for re-establishment of democracy and social order

Today, Sri Lankan society has come to a pass where it is seemingly challenging the traditional political framework for the first time in its recent history and traversing beyond its usual boundaries. It has also begun to show its potential to comprehend beyond the conventional political parties. Thus, it would be the responsibility of the independent educated and politically sensitive people to facilitate its effectiveness by providing a railing to this process. With that objective in mind we put forward the following 10 proposals for the consideration of the knowledgeable public. While we don’t think that these proposals are all inclusive and explicit, we urge the public to participate in the dialogue that would ensue following this. Further, for the time being, we focus our attention to the selected areas such as establishment of democracy, protection of national wealth, eliminating corruption, formalizing administration, establishment of rule of law and providing some form of urgent assistance to the needy segments of our population. (In addition to this, we acknowledge the importance of formulating an urgent and comprehensive program to address the present precarious economic situation in the country, which would be outside the scope of this document).

Establishment of democracy 

1. Abolishment of Executive Presidency (or at least reverting back to the 19 th amendment or beyond).

Protecting national wealth

2. Limit the Cabinet minister positions to 20. Scrap all other ministerial portfolios like deputy, state etc. Reduce all ministerial perks (including security experiences) by 50 %.

3. Disclose the salaries and perks of all top governmental officials (including the members of the director boards). Bring in ceilings to these drawings to acceptable reasonable limits.

4. All governmental transactions (including the tenders) should be made accessible to the public for their study and scrutiny through the respective websites of the ministries / departments. (This will also facilitate the e governance process in the country).

5. Dissolve the director board of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), which is responsible for the present predicament in the power sector with immediate effect. Appoint a fresh set of directors from among the eminent persons in the field who have proven their abilities in the past and have ready-made proposals for the current power crisis. Scrutinize the activities of the CEB in the past 20 years in order to identify the reasons to the present crisis and to correct them. (If there are good proposals those may be effectuated as per their practicality).

Formalizing administration 

6. All Cabinet decisions should be made accessible to the public for their study and scrutiny through the relevant websites.  (This too will also facilitate the e governance process in the country).

7. Expose the educational and other qualifications of the high officials including the board members of the governmental institutions. These should be scrutinized by a special commission appointed by the parliament. Unqualified persons should be expelled with immediate effect. The vacancies created thereby should be filled by calling applications and selection through interviews and / or competitive exams.

8. To implement and give wide publicity to a program aimed at eliminating corruption in the country at all levels. Get the assistance of the university academics and civil society activists who have special expertise in this field.

9. Establishment of Rule of Law

Allow the judiciary (and the police) to exercise the rule of law in the country without any impediments. To facilitate the establishment of a mechanism from among the members of the judiciary to prevent all forms of interferences from the politicians, businesses and other powerful segments of the community.

10. Provision of urgent assistance to the needy segments of our population

To work out an immediate plan to assist the needy and marginalized segments of our society including the women and children.

Dr. Prasanna Cooray 
Convenor
Democratic Social Alliance/ Consumers and Customers Collective