Monday Dec 16, 2024
Monday Dec 16, 2024
Wednesday, 5 August 2020 00:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
I call on all citizens eligible to vote, please go to the polling station on 5 August and cast your vote – Pic by Shehan Gunasekara
The first JVP insurrection was in April 1971 under a leftist-leaned Government. The second insurrection was in 1988. With the killing of its leader Rohana Wijeweera, the members were brought in to mainstream politics through pardons and amnesties.
After 50 long years and in spite of very good ideas, well-articulated by its Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, mustering the support of many at political rallies and May Day rallies, why is it that they have not been able to dislodge the corrupt and uneducated lawmakers, who are either drug traffickers or dabbling in ethanol and other banned businesses in the recent past and who are jumping from party to party for their own political gain, while the voters categorically voted the party not the individual?
Many youngsters I have spoken to are saying they are not going to vote this time, as all are the same – driving in luxury vehicles when the voters do not know how to put the next meal on the table. This is tragic as they are surrendering their birth right.
I recall in 1994 after the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections all luxury vehicles were auctioned off at Galle Face Green just to mislead the public. Then they bought even more expensive luxurious vehicles when our roads can’t even carry them.
The previous President travelled in the most luxurious bullet proof Mercedes Maybach, check its price on the web. He also brought in lawmakers rejected by the voters through the National List, which is earmarked to bring much-needed technocrats to Parliament.
We had 94 lawmakers in the last Parliament who did not even pass SSC! Such entrants should be banned by a Constitutional amendment. The insane sum of money all the aspirants to become lawmakers on 5 August election is vulgar, considering almost one million of our citizens will not have a job by year end.
Has the Elections Commission received their asset declarations and tax returns? Is anyone monitoring the total spend by these aspirants? Where is this money coming from? Is it robbed from our taxpayers? Or is it ill gotten? We the voters need answers. Is it from drugs, prostitution, illegal arms trade or any other means?
I listen to a very informative program on Neth FM 95 MHz Balumgala every morning, I never miss it. This program should be voted the best radio program, it discusses the burning issues in the country with offenders’ and culprits’ recorded chats. Please listen to it.
I call on all citizens eligible to vote, please go to the polling station on 5 August and cast your vote. If you don’t like anyone, at least spoil your vote. May the blessings of the Noble Triple Gem guide our voters to do the right thing for the sake of our children and grandchildren.
This reminds me of the line ‘What have we done to this world?’ from Michael Jackson’s ‘Earth’ song. Buddhism is not a religion. It’s a philosophy and any one can follow it irrespective of religion and faith and belief in a creative god. We are all Sri Lankans and all are born equal.
