Sampanthan as Leader of the Opposition: Politics runs full circle, but on a different centre
by Rajan Philips-September 5, 2015
The new parliament and the new government are sending mixed signals. Some are good, others are disconcerting. But overall Sri Lankans should feel reasonably satisfied for things could have been far worse. For sober perspective, reflect for a moment on the colossal human tragedy of refugees fleeing from the Middle East and Africa looking for safe haven in an officially uninviting Europe. For comparative context, consider the good fortune of Sri Lanka’s location in the world that is far enough from the burning Middle East and the growingly tense Far East where China staged a massive show of force this week primarily to deflect attention from domestic difficulties but raising concerns among its anxious neighbours. But Lanka’s fortuitous location and good fortune should not be a reason to excuse our political leaders for not doing what they are supposed to be doing. They put the country through two elections this year and the people mandated a new President and a new Parliament to deliver on good governance, or yahapalanaya, the new rubric for everything that is politically desirable. But not everything that is being done by the new government and the new parliament is desirable.