Politics in the limelight

Politics has returned to the top of the political agenda with two critical developments expected this week. One is the fate of embattled Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe and the second is the ending of the agreement between the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and United National Party (UNP) following Parliamentary elections in 2015 on Tuesday.

The UNP Parliamentary Group is expected to meet today to discuss and take decisions on Rajapakshe. The Justice Minister came under sever fire from his fellow party members on Thursday when the Parliamentary Group moved a resolution to remove him from his position, which was adopted unanimously at the meeting. Despite criticism from his colleagues over failing to push forward key cases against members of the previous Government, particularly former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Minister was defiant the delay was not his fault. He also denied statements on the Hambantota port that were attributed to him.

The moves against Rajapakshe came after former Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake resigned from his portfolio after a statement in Parliament. A statement from Rajapakshe is also expected on Monday but it is unclear whether he would step down. His removal would have to be done by the President and indication so far is that Rajapakshe will defend himself to the last. Speculation is also rife that the President and Prime Minister may compromise and attempt to phase out Rajapakshe, with perhaps the offer of another ministry. 

As elections inch closer the UNP would benefit from distancing itself from delays caused to the important corruption cases by blaming a single person rather than the party machinery. After President Sirisena raised the stagnation of cases at a Cabinet meeting several weeks ago fresh impetus has been poured into investigations with various ministers indicating 87 serious cases are in the pipeline for formal pressing of charges. The Government has also discussed increasing the number of High Courts or establishing a separate High Court to hear corruption cases of politicians exclusively. The precedent for such a step was established by the VAT scam where a special court heard the financial fraud case and completed it in two years. 

Alongside pushing forward anti-corruption cases President Sirisena has also been increasing oversight of economic affairs with Cabinet approving the National Economic Council (NEC). Public Enterprise State Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene during a press briefing last week hinted the NEC negated the need for the Cabinet Committee on Economic Management (CCEM) chaired by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Subsequent media reports said Secretary to the President and the Secretary to the Prime Minister would meet to formulate how the CCEM would function vis-à-vis the NEC, which will become the supreme body for formulating economic policies and development.

The Government has been long accused of policy stagnation and it has to ensure the NEC is not just more red tape. Regardless of its fate both the CCEM and NEC have to ensure this deadlock is broken so investments and reforms that are in the best interests of the country are implemented. The Government cannot afford to take more time in taking crucial action on the anti-corruption front, both in terms of people and policy, as it would make winning that much harder.