Who Will Clean The Augean Stable?
Mass Usuf
Sri Lanka is a nation moving towards turmoil. A phenomenon which has not yet fully manifested itself but the subterfuge is slowly unfolding. To the masses, it is increasingly becoming evident that the rhetorics of the politicians on patriotism and nationalism are mere empty words. This nation has politicians the majority of whom are a set of liars, fraudsters, opportunists and confidence tricksters. This is not only in the government but includes those in the so called joint opposition. The few honest and sincere politicians are not able to withstand the tsunami of the corrupt.
Sri Lanka too, as in any democratic state, has enshrined in the Constitution the three arms of governance viz. the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary. Each to the best possible extent separated in the use of its powers. This doctrine of separation was blatantly diluted during the long rule of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. An era which witnessed the gradual precipitation in the breakdown of these institutions. Of special relevance is the consequential blow paralysing one of the fundamental pillars of good governance, the Rule of Law. As a natural extension of this paralytic condition was the growth in corruption, nepotism, violence of all sorts, unprecedented sycophancy and the ambitious angst of the then President to transform himself to the Maharajanani. How true is the statement, ‘power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely’?
Maha Raja
For those who have been at the corridors of power, the lust for power continues to intoxicate their minds. To achieve this all available tools of subtle insinuation, insidious misinformation, misinterpretation, fear mongering and outright condemnation are used appropriately. The Maha raja is a known strategist and has tons of patience. The Maha raja who during his rule deprived the citizens of their basic fundamental rights has now turned to be the saviour of the people. He is aware that until 2020 he cannot legally to do anything. The wait up to 2020 is a long haul, transcending his patience and that of the cohorts surrounding him. Perhaps the path for him now is to simply rely on ‘people power’ and attempt a ‘by pass’ to regain power. For this, of course, everything that is necessary to arouse the sentiments of the people has to be employed. Little wonder terms like ‘janatha theeranaya’, ‘janatha balaya’ meaning decision of the people, people’s power respectively and such other expressions have become part of the deceptive and tactical vocabulary.
Henahura
Maha raja’s 18th amendment which usurped and interfered with the judiciary, government service, the police, the Attorney General’s Department etc. is public knowledge. What is less known to the public is the extent of damage such action has brought about to these institutions. Once, the former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva, during an emotional speech criticised the Supreme Court opinion given on the constitutionality to contest for a third term as per a request by President Rajapaksa, while he described the judgement as one ‘lacking in transparency’ and a ‘corrupt point of view’. He went on to criticise the judges who gave the verdict and he stated that such individuals need not station themselves at Hulftsdorp but should instead remain in a small room within the premises of Temple Trees so they can freely manufacture verdicts that suit the whims and fancies of the President. (Colombo Telegraph 12 November 2014).
He also described President Mahinda Rajapaksa as ‘a harbinger of evil’ (Henahura) who has made a thundering blow against the law of Sri Lanka and added that this attack will surely boomerang.
I do not know what the former Chief Justice, himself a controversial figure, meant by ‘boomerang’. Sadly, what is experienced today is the integrity of the government service diminishing, deterioration of law enforcement, an inefficient justice system and the lackadaisical approach of the executive branch in conducting their affairs. The impunity with which those close to the portals of powers that be go about doing their things are further proof of such ruination and damnation. The government changed in 2015 but these institutions remain impaired.
