Unparalleled moment in history

by Goolbai Gunasekara

(goolbai@gmail.com.)

I am no political analyst but I am a highly interested and vocal political voter and need to say what many like me are thinking at the moment.

This victory is unprecedented. Expected to be sure, but still unprecedented! There are lessons to be learnt and many of us have feelings of confidence that mistakes of the past will be firmly erased. We fervently hope so anyway. All of them made bad mistakes. Fluidity of memory is a great failing of political parties and the mistakes of former dysfunctional Governments, reaching far back to early days should not be forgotten either.

This is an unparalleled moment in Sri Lanka’s history but its significance has yet to unfold. Just this ONCE can Sri Lankans STOP this national pastime of fault finding and just be happy that we have so much more than do most countries of the world. Beirut, once the ‘Paris of the East’ is reeling under an unimaginable tragedy due to its Governmental carelessness and corruption. India is being hit again and again by natural disasters to say nothing of ongoing disputes internally. America has Donald Trump, who personally caused innumerable deaths thanks to his handling of the virus. That we escaped a similar fate, thanks to Gotabaya Rakapaksa, should cause us to thank God on bended knees DAILY. So, let us look at the plus points we Sri Lankans have to our advantage that less fortunate world citizens do not enjoy.

We have a two-thirds majority in Parliament with a strong leader. Allow us to hope this will be to Sri Lanka’s benefit. We have controlled the Covid-19 better than any other country in the world. We have held one of the best organized elections this country has ever seen. (Thank you, Mr. Mahinda Deshapriya). We have done all this democratically … that mesmerizing word that many regard as a utopian ideal despite the many examples to the contrary. We have a lush land. We have a wonderful climate devoid of typhoons and tornados. We have a clever population. In fact we are great!

Whether we are Rajapaksa supporters or not let us take stock of the POSSIBILITIES of having a very good government and governance ahead of us. Let prejudices not cloud our beliefs or hopes for the future because there is no doubt – we ALL have hopes for the future and we expect the Rajapaksa government WILL deliver.

Let us take a look at their strengths. Gotabaya Rajapaksa has proved his ability and total efficiency again and again. Mahinda Rajapaksa is by all accounts, a kindly man. Basil Rajapaksa has shown himself to be a fine organizer and Chamal Rajapaksa (I am told) is a pleasure to work under. Now what we need is for these four men to unite and pool their talents to ensure that nepotism and corruption are annihilated and that genuine talent is unleashed and used well.

Of course THEY must set the example. The younger Rajapaksas need to prove themselves and should not be allowed to cultivate personal friendships and enjoy themselves at the expense of the State. That all this CAN be done goes without saying. But it MUST be done if Sri Lanka is to become what is now within our grasp

Under the domination of previous governments and the recent yalapahana government the abuses that took place were unbelievable; favours were dished out to Ministers, salaries were raised for no reason, half the police was used as security guards for unimportant MPs, a Cabinet that was frighteningly dimwitted , Government spokesmen who were laughably incompetent and an uneducated Parliament of men who treated themselves to all kinds of undeserved benefits. The people groaned in frustration and in dismay. The leaders were so distanced from popular criticism that it seemed they had lost all sense of the fitness of things. It was the day of the sycophant.

The Rajapaksas will be surrounded by sycophants but they have some excellent men and women as advisors and by all accounts they intend to make use of them. The name of Lalith Weeratunga springs to mind; he is a man respected by just about everyone. And being a woman I am particularly happy that Kimarli Fernando’s efficiency and likewise Manouri Unambuwe’s has been recognized. (Does this herald a surge in female participation!) One hopes so. There are dozens of non- politically oriented women who can do wonders for the new Government. One hopes they will be used.

However, non-Rajapaksa voters are consumed by fears and uncertainties. Their minds can be set at rest by wise behaviour. (I have just listened to a 5 minute diatribe by an Indian lady who really has got things wonky.) She speaks of the Rajapaksa government stacking the Judiciary so that their crimes against humanity during the civil war will go unpunished. Not a word about the LTTE crimes. What short memories people have!

Let me now talk of common fears that harbingers of doom have been expressing lately. Certainly it would be wise to heed them so let me give a list of such thoughts.

1. The way is open for a Constitutional Dictatorship say critics. Perhaps it is but why assume straightaway that the two-thirds majority may not be used well? JRJ had enormous power and he certainly did not use it well but I don’t recall any criticism when he came to power.

2. “Sajith will be ineffective against Mahinda and Gota,” says one writer. ‘He is no fighter,”, Now I find this rather a superficial remark. Sajith is young. He does not need to ‘fight’. He will develop and mature for he has the time to do so. He is a leader in waiting and has the coming years to show that he can one day take over, what we hope, will now be an achieving Government.

3. “The motto of the Government going forward will be Gotabaya adoration more than Sinhala Buddhism.” I am quoting again-

I disagree most strongly. It is certainly a healthier situation to adore a leader than despise one. Many of Yahalpana stalwarts were laughing stocks towards the end.

4. The four Rajapaksa brothers will hold all constitutional power and put an end to Democracy is another remark. I am sure the Rajapaksas are aware that such views will be expressed. How come no one was worried about Ranil Wickremesinghe’s inability to run a democratic government properly despite his undoubted brain power? “Greatness was thrust upon him” says another writer. Ranil fell into the position of UNP leader after THREE others had been conveniently assassinated …Premadasa, Athulathmudali and Dissanayake. Alas, he was not equal to the task and in 25 years has brought the UNP to where it is now. So why worry needlessly about the future of Democracy? It did not do too well lately did it!

5. The young Rajapaksas will begin to show their power in unacceptable ways (e.g costly car racing at night) is another common worry. Of course, we hope older and wiser politicians will curb such activities and direct the younger members of the SLPP towards constructive acts .

6. There are fears that favours and positions may be given to hangers-on who are unqualified and unacceptable people simply because they were ‘loyal’. One hopes that this will not be the case and that important jobs are given to those who deserve them and can deliver.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s family is conspicuous for shunning publicity. This is much appreciated. Likewise the other brothers keep their private lives private. One hopes that the young Rajapaksas will do likewise and be careful and conscious of how easily their popularity can be lost however strongly popular their father and uncles may be. They must guard firmly against flatterers and fawning friends. There will be many critics of their behaviour and they should not expect, or get, immunity.

7. The system of checks and balances will be upset by a coterie of brothers controlling the Judiciary, Executive and Legislature say the pessimists. Not necessarily so. Even in the USA where a finely balanced system of checks and balances is PRESUMED to be operative has not proved effective of late. Why anticipate a situation which has not yet occurred?

Speaking for myself, I look forward to STERN and FIRM changes for the better. I would like to be able to watch the news on TV and see happy reporting. I would like to see ministerial faces as seldom as possible. (One hopes the Ministers will be otherwise gainfully occupied and too busy to be getting themselves on the news.) I anticipate the government putting an end to all those needless tamashas … schoolchildren standing in the sun, trees being planted, ribbons being cut, police cars waving traffic to a standstill while Ministers and unimportant underlings drive past.

No one is trying to harm Ministers. They certainly do not need more than one or two Security officers. And they certainly do NOT need cars following them for ‘protection’. They are not babies. Let them look after themselves and begin using public transport a la British MPs. (I’d love to see THAT.) Why do they or their near and dear need special ‘protection’ at all?

I leave serious questions like the economy of the country, the upward thrust of businesses, the repayment of our debts, the rise in the COL and suchlike important problems to those in the know.

What ordinary citizens and I long for is a visible reduction in Government waste that we can actually point to with satisfaction. We want to be able to boast of a good system of Education. We want to be proud of our Government. We want to be able to point with pride to our President and his three brothers who, with the supposedly enormous power concentrated in their hands, will give Sri Lanka a solidly effective Government. I know it CAN happen. Sometimes dreams do come true.