Searching for leadership: Can we bring back qualities of our golden years?
Aragalaya (2022) exposed some of the maladies that beset politics. It opened the eyes of millions. But the “system change” and “Utopia” promised by the new generation have become another false election promise. And so, society is in darkness. Shame, sadness, and guilt have replaced hope. Yet we must also be fair. The past 76 years have seen real progress. Literacy rose from 23% to 97%; life expectancy increased from 44 years to 78 years; per capita rose from USD 300 to 5000; electricity supply expanded from 23% to 98% for households; the number of universities has increased from 3 to 17; and roads, health, and education expanded to every village. That did not happen by accident.
By Gamini Leeniyagolla
In every tea shop, in every office, and on every street during the last election, one sentence was heard again and again: 76 years of national curse. It was shouted in anger. And it was not without reason. Corruption, incompetence, lawbreaking, and callous disregard for human dignity had brought public trust to its lowest point. But in that anger, are we throwing away the good with the bad? Because society, deep down, is not asking for revolution alone. It is asking for something else. It is looking for leaders with the qualities of our golden yesteryears — qualities that are so lacking in the present lot, more or less.
What Kind of Leader Are We Looking For?
If you ask politically mature citizens today, the list is remarkably consistent. We want leaders with intelligence and a fair education. Not degree certificates, but the ability to understand policy, economics, and history. We want a clear vision for the future of the country. Not 5-year slogans, but a 25-year plan. We want patriotism. Love of country above love of party, family, or self. We want honesty and integrity. The kind where public money is treated as sacred.
We want leaders who care more about the less fortunate, who remember that development is measured by how much the least privileged in society are empowered. We want firm decision-making and accountability for good governance. The courage to say no, and the courage to take responsibility when things go wrong. We want respect for Law and Order, for the highest and the lowest in society alike. And yes, we also want a dose of firm Singapore-style discipline. Not cruelty, but a system where rules are followed, delays are not tolerated, and national interest comes before political games.
My personal ideal of a great leader for the future would combine: the vision of D.S. Senanayake, the humanism of Dudley Senanayake, the nationalism of Sirimavo Bandaranaike, the decisiveness of Sir John Kotelawala, the integrity of minority patriotic leaders like Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam, Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan, Sir T. B. Jayah and Sir Razeek Fareed, along with a fair measure of firm authority to enforce the law.
It is now generally accepted by those who study our history, that the country started slipping into chaos and gradual destruction soon after Dudley Senanayake’s death in 1973. I believe that with his demise, we lost the last Prime Minister who governed with compassion, restraint and foresight. His government strove to be truly ‘national’ and ‘democratic’ and his Cabinet comprised MPs from different ethnic communities and different political leanings. By 1970, the country was therefore politically and economically stable with little evidence of ethnic disharmony.
How did we get here?
The 1970 general elections, fought against undercurrents of bogus promises, disinformation campaigns, jealousy, and conspiracies witnessed the unexpected defeat of a host of honourable political veterans – men and women who had done much for the country. The political climate of the country began to change thereafter. Standards began to erode. We began painting all politicians with the same brush. That was so blatantly unfair by political leaders who were well known for their integrity and incorruptibility and some of whom had even sacrificed personal wealth for the public good. It also sent negative signals about our country to the international community, that we Sri Lankans had mismanaged our affairs once the British left our country. Sri Lanka (Ceylon) was doing so well at one time that Singapore was then trying to emulate us. Political slogans apart, we must not forget that Sri Lanka (though a third world country) is one of the very few countries that has offered free Education and free Health services and benefits to All our citizens for many decades.
Aragalaya
(2022) exposed some of the maladies that beset politics. It opened the eyes of millions. But the “system change” and “Utopia” promised by the new generation have become another false election promise. And so, society is in darkness. Shame, sadness, and guilt have replaced hope. Yet we must also be fair. The past 76 years have seen real progress. Literacy rose from 23% to 97%; life expectancy increased from 44 to 78; per capita rose from USD 300 to 5000; electricity supply expanded from 23% to 98% for households; the number of universities has increased from 3 to 17; and roads, health, and education expanded to every village. That did not happen by accident. It happened because of careful planning and sacrifice. We cannot curse the entire journey because of the last few wrong turns.
Short Term Remedies: Clean the House Now
1.Affidavit of Eligibility: Every candidate for public office must declare by affidavit that they are fully entitled and eligible. No pending criminal cases. No hidden assets.
2.Clean Track Record: The affidavit must clearly state there are no convictions regarding financial dealings, law and order violations, or corruption.
3. Party Responsibility: Party leaders must ensure candidates are qualified and above board. No more “anyone with money” tickets.
4.Legal Accountability for Promises: Citizens must be empowered to challenge in court violations of election promises and principles of good governance.
5. Hold Party Officials Responsible: Officials who field corrupt candidates must also face consequences.
6. Rule of Law for All: Ensure that everyone, from the highest to the lowest, abides by the laws. End VIP culture. Mid and Long Term Remedies: Build the Citizen The real cure is not in Parliament. It is in our homes and schools.
1. From Year 3: Teach children to clean and arrange their own desks and beds. Teach responsibility.
2. Order and Care: Teach them to keep footwear and belongings orderly. Small discipline builds big character.
3. Independence: Encourage them to pack their own school bags.
4. Purpose: Teach them early why they were born human, and to their parents. Teach gratitude.
5. Duties: Up to age 6, educate them on duties to parents and society.
6. Public Conduct: Teach them how a responsible citizen behaves in public.
7. IQ + EQ: Develop intelligence, but develop empathy even more. Intelligence without EQ is dangerous.
8. Lead by Example: Parents and community leaders must set the example. Children copy what they see, not what they are told.
Add anything more that enhances the quality of our children. A nation is only as good as its next generation.
We do not need to invent a new model. We need to remember the old one.
What we need now is not another slogan. We need leaders, who combine the patriotism of D.S., the decency of Dudley, the firmness of Sirimavo and the discipline of Singapore. The curse will end the day we stop voting for the loudest voice and start voting for the best character. These are my thoughts on our present predicament and some ideas to remedy it. I offer them openly for discussion and for better suggestions. Because of the mess we have created, we must also have the courage to clean.
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