Sri Lanka is desperately in need of a New Party and New Political Leadership
We have come a critical juncture. The circus must end. There is no political party that is capable of and has a vision for the nation & its citizens. We have a bunch of kangaroos jumping from side to the other when it pleases them and shamelessly preaching good governance to us. Those that jump and those that take those who jump are equally to blame for it has paved the way for unethical and unproductive governance. The country has no vision for progress except to satisfy the political whims of a handful. We have nothing but theatrics taking place inside Parliament. For our benefit MPs roar at each other then during tea they are shaking hands and laughing – probably at us. We have not got anywhere as a nation because of the falsehoods and theatrics that prevail. It is now time that we vote for policy and MPs learn to canvass on policy.
It is the right of any individuals to form a political party. It is the right of any supporters to align to the polices and objectives of that political party. However, no political party can be allowed to be formed that has as its aims and objectives to divide the island nation and ideally no political parties should be formed to canvass for a particular ethnic/religious group only.
Having said that we have two main political parties –the UNP and the SLFP. However with the current electoral system these parties end up being virtually bribed by minority parties who have hardly any vote base but end up the kingmakers to form a government. Often these minority groups end up demanding and obtaining strategic portfolios as well and with time cause irreparable damage using their ministries. The cross-overs and buy-overs end up further cocktailing the situation and ends up a case of staying in power at whatever cost to the nation and its people.
There is no true UNP or true SLFP today and it is unlikely either party can salvage itself. This has resulted in an endless list of calamities and interventions from external factors. We have had to swallow external tweaking to our constitution saddled with a 13th amendment that is hovering like a ghost ever threatening to be the single factor that would divide the nation.
We have had 30 years of terrorism and in looking back we can only say that the decisions, lack of decisions, delayed decisions and wrong decisions have been the main cause of 30 years of suffering. With that dark period over it has been the petty politics and disunity of political parties that have now caused further damage leading to irreparable and irreversible damage unless we unify as a nation and nation-loving leaders emerge. We can no longer trust or have faith in any of the political parties that prevail. They have all disappointed the people and at times fooled the people promising them what they know they cannot deliver and will not deliver. The lies cannot go on forever. The people are fed up. They do not want to have political debates that are on personal attacks or issues that have nothing to do with the problems that the people are daily suffering from.
We need new leadership, we need a new vision. We need to know the stands taken by those coming forward to lead. They cannot expect people to simply vote for them just to bring them to power. We want to know their position on matters and how far they have lined up teams to help deliver those policy visions.
We need to have a leader and a new political party that would make their stand known on the following key issues that have been affecting the nation and issues which as a result of leaders not taking a stand external factors have made use of to cause dissent and disunity among the citizens of Sri Lanka.
1. Recognition of the nation as a predominantly Buddhist country and securing the foremost place to Buddhism constitutionally and legally. This does not bar or prevent any individual from practicing their own faith.
2. We want to know the stand on 13th amendment – it should be either repealed or replaced making it non-functional. This came following the signing of the Indo-Lanka Accord under virtual duress and in view of the commitments not upheld by one party to the Accord, Sri Lanka has every right to remove it. It is an impediment to peace and it is full of false and bogus conclusions on homelands.
3. No division or separatism of the island in any form using any terminology. Legal action to be taken against any individual, political party, politician or organization advocating division of Sri Lanka under any nomenclature.
4. Legal provisions to make indictable offence any attempt to rewrite or fabricate the island’s history. All heritage sites to be declared National Heritage sites given State protection and funds for preservation. Multiculturalism/multifaith bogeys cannot usurp heritage sites and make these common heritage sites. No religion which has no evidence of existing prior to 2600 year Buddhist history can demand joint-heritage claim status.
5. Moratorium on construction of new places of religious worship via foreign funds which aim to create ethnic/religious tensions combined with future imperial expansionist agenda. Christianity has $170billion and Wahhabi Islam has $87billion to promote their faith worldwide.
6. Following the 70-30 ethnic representation at all levels of Government, Legislature, Executive, Judiciary, Public Service and allocation of housing and other state allocations should be on this composition. No ethnic ghettos allowed as these nurture seeds of sectarian uprisings and separatist identities
7. Regulatory body to regularly produce reports covering media distortions/content analysis/other paid efforts to denationalize people – close tab on monies that flow to organizations set up as charities with intent to create social unrest.
8. Constitutional provision forbidding political parties elected for only a term in office to barter heritage sites, enter detrimental agreements which may change demography of the country, overturn good projects and proposals of previous governments etc.
9. Two languages divide people. Sinhala spoken by over 70% of the populace should be the official language, Tamil can be the secondary language and English the link language. It should be mandatory for all citizens to speak Sinhala in basic form.
10. Political statement on Homeland and denial of rights for any ethnic group to claim a homeland/self-determination. Every citizen has equal land rights and land ownership in any part of Sri Lanka. No law relevant to only one ethnic group can take precedence over country law giving right to own land. New leaders/political parties need to publicly claim there are no Homelands for any minority ethnic group – everyone has the right to live anywhere he/she pleases.
11. Special regulations must be introduced for dual citizens/citizens marrying foreigners to ensure that land ownership (title deed) does not fall into foreign hands. No political party coming into power can overturn laws that forbid foreigners from owning lands in Sri Lanka or even leasing them for 99 years purely based on greed for the money demanded of them to deposit.
12. We need to know the stand on illegal immigrants and any illegal immigrant must be made to return to their place of origin.
13. Provision to ensure no ethnic based political parties or political parties with ethnic based names are allowed to be registered. These groups are accountable for communal disharmony and religious tension. Assurance that all political parties politicians with links to separatist elements and separatists to be investigated and punitive action taken as per laws of the country
14. No government should allow foods to be labelled according to the religious preferences of one minority religion and applicable to all. No consumer should have to pay for food preferences of a minority religion.
15. Provisions to ensure ONE LAW applicable to ALL – there can be no two laws allowed (civil or criminal) No sub-laws per different religious to be entertained.
16. Pledge to not change education curriculum without national consensus. No government can come into power and change education curriculum as they please. Education must give prominent place to National History not multicultural history. The history of Sri Lanka must be written by a panel of patriotic authors/academics/historians who are proud of their heritage and wish to preserve it. History must be taught in every school (public, private, semi-govt, international) as a compulsory subject from pre-school to O/L covering entire history of Sri Lanka and including Indian invasions/colonial crimes. Foreign Service and other public sector must include briefings on pre-colonial history and the geo-politics of the world on a regular basis by a panel of patriots and not pseudo-heroes funded by foreign NGOs.
17. Political statement on the future of provincial council – if it is a Whitehorse and unproductive, it must be removed. However, no provincial council can have any powers above that of the Parliament and all laws passed by Parliament must be honored and adhered to by the provinces. Law & Order, Land, Police powers, fiscal powers, aid and diplomatic ties with external parties all to come under the Centre. All those whining about federal systems are referring to very large countries which need federal systems. Sri Lanka is a very small island nation. Also the assurance that no province will be allowed to merge and maintaining the right to dissolve any province if it aims to separate or creates dissent affecting the whole nation.
18. Political statement that no foreign pressure will change any internal laws/systems to suit foreign agendas – currently demands are made to repeal the PTA (the same demands made to other countries to dilute their security), legal framework, penal codes, removal of concurrent list in 13a)
19. Political statement that Sri Lanka suffered a Terrorist problem and not an Ethnic problem and it was the Terrorists and not any ethnic group that the Sri Lankan national army defeated. Correcting all lies and bogus notions that have been used as propaganda by internal parties and external players is a must as it is only in making this stern and factually correct statement that no one can hereafter float lies.
20. Pledge not to compromise any of Sri Lanka’s strategic assets to any external parties – ports, airports, food security, energy security, strategic land areas, water security, high security areas etc under any agreement or for based on any loans/grants etc. We also demand that leaders pledge to safeguard and protect the national armed forces from being taken before any war crimes trials and hounded for political vendettas.
The current propaganda against majoritism needs to remember that majoritism cannot be replaced by minoritism which brings a plethora of problems as can be seen with various minorities making wild claims thus affecting the future peace of the country. The voters must demand that their votes will be given only and only if the politicians and political parties make their stands and statement on the above. If not, they are only telling lies to fool people into voting for them and thereafter enjoying the fruits of power with no regard for the future of the country or its people.
Shenali D Waduge
Also read the set of proposals made by the Sri Lanka Solidarity Movement
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