Raja Wasala Balaya in a reeling Democracy

We are now in the post-20 era of Non-democracy. Our elected parliament has given a huge approval for curtailing or even abolishing the principles and values of parliamentary democracy. It has voted for a presidential despotism, where the power of a widely expanding family will hugely burden the people and the country.

It is the Raja Wasala at power play, with the speedy rise of the Basil-Balaya.

Where else in the world has the need to give ruling power to a single citizen, who is determined to remain a US citizen with a motherland duality, led to such constitutional changes that threaten the very core of democracy? We don’t work in keeping with the norms and traditions of democracy any more. The democratic process built over 70 plus years, is now slammed for the benefit of the Raja Wasala – the Mansion of Family Power.

The 20A was largely seen as the revival of the JR Jayewardene era of autocracy. But this is certainly beyond the JRJ dominance that came in 1978, with a five-sixth majority in parliament. JRJ, wherever his aatma is today, must be reeling in shame at how the Rajapaksas have gone far beyond his own era of supremacy. We are now in the Gota-Basil era, with the loud cheers for the passage of the 20A, which was assured by its so-called critics, who pretended to be against dual citizenship.

Let’s look at the key mockers of democracy. Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Gammanpila, Vidura Wickremanayake, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe. They were all against the move to restore the right for dual citizens to be elected to Parliament and move to the Cabinet, the office of Prime Minister and the Executive President. They all voted for the 19A, which removed this provision from the constitution. They were carrying on an empty show of protests with loud voices, but fell in line with the Gota Goal when the reality had to be revealed.

What is their escape?  It was ridiculing themselves!

President Gota has given an assurance that once 20A is passed the dual citizenry move will be removed in the ‘new Constitution’ to come very soon. G.L. Peiris says it will be seen in six months – which itself is a farce. 

The reality is that from today onwards, Basil R will have the right to be a nominated Member of Parliament. What is needed is the resignation of just one MP from the government, or even the Opposition, with loads of benefits in cash and kind no doubt; and for the Basil name to be gazetted as a Member of Parliament. The new Constitution, if and when it comes, may remove the dual facility, but one who is already appointed will not be removed.

We have other mockeries of the parliamentary process, too. The UNP has still not appointed the sole member it can to parliament. One more plus vote for the Gota team. While increasing voices of protest against the 20A were heard from the Maha Sangha, the only seat to which a member of the Sangha can be appointed remains vacant – another plus for the Raja Wasala.

The 20A was passed in a House that had one member – Rishad Bathiudeen, who is now in remand prison, come there clad in PPE – Personal Protective Equipment to save himself and all others in the House from Covid-19.  What will be needed very soon is for all MPs who have the courage to oppose Gota Rajya and the Raja Wasala, to wear Politically Protective Equipment, if they are to carry on some fight for the restoration of  Democracy in Sri Lanka.

The sudden release of Bathiudeen’s brother from official custody, and the four-day search for Rishad himself by six police teams, did raise considerable anti-Muslim feeling among the public, which was not curbed or put down by the authorities who prefer such divisions in society.

The final vote on 20A saw a huge Muslim vote for it. These votes helped raise the pro-Gota count to 156 – beyond the 150 needed for a two-thirds in the House. The votes came from  Bathiudeen’s  All Ceylon Makkal Congress and  the Rauff Hakeem-led All Ceylon Muslim Congress. The two party leaders did vote against 20A. Will we soon see a complete change in the Muslim-related politics in this country? 

Will the Pohottu players, led by Gotabaya and Mahinda start a new Allahu Akbar – God is Great – strategy in their politics, recognising that special Muslim support for the 20A? These are the twists and turns that will be seen in our politics,  where the power of a divinity will be seen as more important than the rational thinking of Buddhist and Christian monks and priests today. 20A Akbar – The Greatness of a Family Dictatorship.

One person has to be remembered by his absence at the voting in parliament on Thursday. It was former President Maithripala Sirisena. At least, he had the courage to keep away from opposing the 19A,- with the ban on dual citizen role in elections – which was brought to parliament by his own government. He has certainly done better by his absence than all those Vasudeva, Wimal, Udaya, Wijeyadasa, Viduras who all raised their hands for the 19A. 

The Raja Wasala Balaya  has now moved to the new, highly dangerous terrain in a reeling democracy.