The Three ‘Awards’ & The Depravity Of Some Of Our Politicians
The Government of Sri Lanka fully supports the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals and targets that have been adopted by this Assembly. In that respect, we will work towards the provision of basic needs of the people, progressive alleviation of poverty, elimination of all forms of discrimination and inequalities, and establish a society based on social justice and human security.”In the speech made by President Maithripala Sirisena in 2015 addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Conference, among other things, he said:
Promises here, promises there and promises even at the United Nations Conference especially, “elimination of all forms of discrimination and inequalities, and establish a society based on social justice and human security.” In keeping with the promise given to the UN, the government has succeeded in securing three consecutive awards within a short time span. The ‘Gintota Award’, the ‘Ampara Award’ and the ‘Digana Award’. Even the Rajapakshes would be put to shame by this sterling performance. Violence was perpetrated in all these three places against the Muslims causing losses amounting to several millions of rupees.
The government has become fragile after the recent local government elections. The unexpected shock win by a relatively newly formed party upset all horses in the race. To an already deteriorating situation the three ‘awards’ add lustre to an otherwise lacklustre existence. A super recipe for the ultimate downfall is meticulously being concocted. Whether one likes it or not or, however much one is desirous of juggling with numbers, the election results indicated either a failure or a marginal pass for the government. For the people, it was a breach of the simple Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that they had agreed upon namely, you give me your vote and I shall deliver the goods. The specific performance on the part of the government to bring to book the murderers and corruptors was breached. The matter was taken up in the people’s court and the verdict is a reflection of people’s assessment of the breach of the MoU by the government.
Trial at Bar
Had the so called Yahapalana government done what it is now doing after a lapse of three years in rule, the election results may have been different. It may be possible that the three ‘award ceremonies’ (riots) too would not have taken place. The message that the rule of law is being strictly enforced would act as a strong deterrence. Public pressure moved the government to come up with the proposed amendment to the Judicature Act No. 2 of 1978, sub judice, for the establishment of a Special High Court. The Trial at Bar without a jury, where a three-judge bench could hear cases filed against persons relating to various acts of corruption, fraud and white-collar crimes. A fast track procedure without compromising on the legal principles of being just, fair and reasonable. Of course, those who are conscious of what they had done in the past must be feeling the heat closing up. Seven petitions have been filed challenging the constitutionality of the bill.
Prophets Of Doom
All is not that bleak though some analysts do predict that the government will lose 2020. The ensuing less than two years is not all that gloomy provided the government takes serious, effective and meaningful steps towards what is expected by the masses.
