Citizens’ Engagement In Local Administration; Vital Factor For Good Governance
By Dinesh Kirthinanda –May 11, 2016
Dinesh Kirthinanda
An indigenous model for peoples’ participation in local governance, invariably will be an effective tool to make the local government institutions to be just, equitable, transparent, accountable, responsive, inclusive, efficient and consensus oriented.
It would pave the way for the emergence of a system which could well become a panacea for all ills of the nation not excluding the process of reconciliation and building a Sri Lankan identity.
However, the million dollar question stands tall; will the government take the plunge? Yes or No.
Citizens’ engagement in the local government administration is a concept worth pursuing in Sri Lanka. It is timely and appropriate to set the process in motion right now; as the country has the ideal situation and a conductive environment for the purpose.
Good Governance
The present government has been voted into power with an overwhelming majority cross cutting all geographic, demographic and socio-economic factors with a strong mandate to usher in good governance.
Civil society movement, becoming more prominent and dominant than the political parties, spearheaded by the brave and unbowed erudite Buddhist prelate the late Venerable Maduluwawe Sobitha Nayaka Thero took the message of good governance direct to the villages throughout the island transcending all ethnic, religious and other differences.
The concept of good governance started flowing to every nook and corner in the length and breadth of the country in the latter half of 2014 with the anticipation of the proclamation of a Presidential election; after four years in office by the then incumbent President.
Yahapalanaya, the literal translation in Sinhala for good governance soon became the buzz word in Sri Lankan politics, which got into the daily parlance of the people; well anchored now to stay put for long. They perceived it as administration free from corruption committed to creating a just society where all beings are treated equally before the law. Although it encapsulates all the goodness of good governance in an abridged version, the circumstances demand a clear definition of the concept with a broader analysis.
