NGOs finally condemn accomodation in parliament of political rejects-Also complain of kid glove treatment extended to those resorting to rowdy behaviour in House

by Shamindra Ferdinando-May 11, 2016

Executive Director of Sarvodaya, Chaminda Rajakaruna yesterday said that the much-touted good governance project in the run-up to parliamentary polls in August last year had suffered a severe setback due to political parties accommodating defeated candidates through the National List.

Rajakaruna accepted responsibility for their failure to condemn the appointment of defeated candidates. He was addressing the media at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (SLFI) on behalf of the March 12 Movement comprising over a dozen NGOs which threw its weight behind a high profile campaign targeting the previous government.

The SLFP accommodated over a half a dozen rejected candidates through its National List whereas the JVP and the UNP appointed two and one defeated contestants, respectively.

Sarvodaya official said the failure to object the inclusion of defeated candidates was a grave mistake on their part.

The March 12 Movement yesterday castigated major political parties for the pathetic situation in parliament. The grouping alleged that major political parties had failed those who faithfully exercised their franchise for them.

Executive Director of Transparency International, Sri Lanka Asoka Obeysekera emphasized the need to deal firmly with offending members of parliament.

Referring to recent clash involving UNP and Joint Opposition members in parliament, Obeysekera alleged that offending members hadn’t been appropriately dealt with. Transparency International official insisted that members of parliament couldn’t be allowed to act in a manner inimical to rule of law. Obeysekera reiterated his call to implement long overdue Code of Conduct for members.

Rohana Hettiarachchi, Executive Director, PAFFREL (People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections) strongly criticized parliament for failing to take tangible action against those who had been found guilty of conduct unbecoming of members. Hettiarachchi asserted that the one week suspension of Deputy Minister Palitha Thewarapperuma (UNP/Kalutara District) and MP Upali Ranaweeea (UPFA/Gampaha) was wholly inadequate.

PAFFREL chief accused those who had been involved in free-for-all for causing irreparable damage to the democratic system. The parliament had failed to ensure members conducted themselves in accordance with parliamentary traditions, Hettiarachchi said. Alleging that Messrs Thewarapperuma and Ranaweera had been following their seniors, Hettiarachchi said party leaders should be held responsible for the situation.

The absence of a recalling system had contributed to the rapid deterioration in parliamentary standards, Hettiarachchi said adding that the crisis began in 1977.

Hettiarachchi warned of a catastrophic situation unless political parties took remedial measures. Commenting on Local Government polls now expected to be held early next year, Hettiarachchi expressed concern over major political parties exploiting the new electoral system to accommodate as many troublemakers as possible in Local Government Authorities. Hettiarachchi said that in accordance with the proposed LG electoral reforms, political parties had the right to nominate members to Local Authorities. With the new system expected to increase the number of LG members to nearly 8,000, the system could be further corrupted.

Hettiarachchi emphasized that Speaker Karu Jayasuriya should act swiftly and decisively to prevent recurrence of incidents similar to last week’s fracas. The PAFFREL spokesperson expressed surprise that those troublemakers in parliament irrespective of political parties they belonged to couldn’t be dealt with under the normal law of the land.

Manjula Gajanayake of the Centre for Monitoring Elections (CMEV) alleged that in the wake of Messrs Thewarapperuma and Pathirana receiving one week’s suspension, they had acted in a very irresponsible manner. Both print and electronic media had carried statements ridiculing action taken against them, Gajanayake said. Contrary to the position taken up by a section, Gajanayake said that leaders of respective political parties should he held accountable for the conduct of offending members. In fact, it would be the responsibility of leaders of respective political parties to take punitive action against members, though some believed the Speaker should intervene, Gajanayake said.

The CMEV spokesperson claimed that some members acted as they pleased because they believed their leaders would protect them under any circumstances. Gajanayake said that a sensible person couldn’t comprehend the behavior of some of the country’s elected representatives.