The public awaits

President Sirisena extended an olive branch of sorts to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday, marking the first time that the Executive has taken a conciliatory approach to Parliament. Following the meeting, President Sirisena had agreed to meet with the United National Front (UNF) representatives and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) this evening. 

For those closely watching the events post-26 October, these meetings will provide much food for thought. So far, MP Mahinda Rajapaksa has lost five successive votes in Parliament; the two votes on the no confidence motion, the vote after Rajapaksa’s speech in Parliament, the vote to decide the Committee of Selection, and on Thursday, the motion to stop access to public finance by the Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office. 

Mid-way through the slew of lost votes, Parliamentarians loyal to MP Mahinda Rajapaksa decided to boycott the House as it was painfully evident they could not show majority in Parliament. The sessions when Parliamentarians clashed in the House underscored the unsustainability of the Parliamentarians loyal to Rajapaksa continuing to attempt defending their numbers as the result was a loss of respect for the House and deserved censure from the public. Since the decision not to participate in House activities by the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA), Parliament sessions have proceeded peacefully but the stalemate between the Executive and Parliament remains in place. 

Another motion to curtail access to public funds by the Secretaries of the Cabinet Ministries appointed by President Sirisena after 26 October will be taken up in Parliament today. The possible lack of access to public finance would be a significant hurdle for the Sirisena-Rajapaksa Cabinet, especially since payment of salaries, disbursement of Samurdhi, and implementation of other policies would be hamstrung by such a situation. Moreover even though a Vote on Account has been prepared, whether it will be presented before Parliament remains unlikely as long as the present status quo remains. 

Approval of pending debt payments in 2019 and raising the necessary funds at moderate interest rates to meet payments on time and not increase the debt burden of Sri Lanka also needs a stable Government, and these are imperatives that cannot be suspended for a long period of time. Despite criticisms, it is important for the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) be completed as it would give confidence to rating agencies that Sri Lanka is serious about its macroeconomic stabilisation program, which would in turn encourage international financial markets to moderate interest rates when the Central Bank attempts to raise funds for debt repayment.          

These serious reasons call for an earlier rather than eventual resolution to the current impasse. It is tempting to see the meeting between President Sirisena and Speaker Jayasuriya and the meetings scheduled to take place today as the start to a reconciliation process between the Executive and Parliament.  But such hope is counterbalanced by the repeated statements of President Sirisena insisting he would not accept MP Ranil Wickremesinghe has Prime Minister and the United National Party (UNP) taking an equal steadfast stand that they wish to return to the status quo that existed before 26 October in Parliament. Given this situation, it is also likely that President Sirisena will wait for the Supreme Court decision before taking a decisive step. Sri Lanka is tensely awaiting the day when it can have a Government and Cabinet that is accepted by all.