Rotten Political Culture In Hambantota Needs To Be Changed
By Don Alwin Kularatne –February 11, 2016
We need to examine the nature of Sri Lanka’s election system with a focus on ‘the party nomination procedures’, who get the nominations at electoral and district levels, and whether the electors are disempowered by electing representatives from major parties to the parliament? The average electors have many concerns about the way their elected representatives (MPs) function once elected to office but these concerns are not often publicly expressed except by the very brave for fear of repercussions.
As we know, the two main political parties, their affiliates and smaller parties field candidates at general elections. Obtaining the nomination (or the ticket) to organise an electorate or to secure a place in the list of candidates for a given district is a major victory for a candidate who is seriously considering contesting elections. In the country’s political culture since independence, it is very rarely that ‘an independent candidate’ can win a given election. Thus the intending candidates like to establish their credentials to be suitable for receiving the nomination from a major party such as the UNP or the SLFP.
Given the nature of party organisation, leadership, history, and personality politics in the country, when selecting candidates for a given district and/or electorate within a district, a range of factors come into play. Foremost among them is loyalty to the party by the potential candidate, whether he or she has a family history of campaigning for the party, capacity to organise party activities and branches, popularity already achieved, experience in politics and even in government. Individual qualities, skills, character, values, educational knowledge and qualifications are considered as secondary. The system of granting party nominations does not favor outsiders, particularly the youths however much they could show leadership qualities and potential. It also does not favor those from minority castes, lower socio economic backgrounds or women unless they are already affiliated with so called ‘political families and clans’.Read More
