Parliament’s collective failure

People’s anger against the continuous failure by the Parliament to resolve the political and economic crisis is growing by the hour. Civil protests shifting to Parliament from this week is a testimony to it. What started as an anti-Rajapaksa campaign, the public outcry of late has expanded to asking all 225 MPs to go home too.

Under pressure, several MPs however, have been vocal on the role of Parliament. They have confessed that people have lost faith in their elected representatives and failure to resolve the crisis would spell doom.

Former Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena on Thursday was emphatic. “The President can dissolve Parliament at earliest in April next year. If we want to hold elections before that we have to pass a resolution to dissolve the Parliament. I will be the first to place my signature on such a resolution. People are demanding a solution from the 225 in Parliament to their problems but if they are unable to do so an election is the only solution,” he said.

SJB MP Eran Wickramaratne threw back the challenge to Abeygunwardena saying, “I urge the Government to bring such a resolution and we will support it.” SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva too endorsed that view and said election was the only way out.

Thursday’s vote to select a new Deputy Speaker also sparked fresh debate on the melodrama in Parliament. Apart from massaging their own egos, MPs accusing each other is the order of the day providing live entertainment to people.  

Yesterday Parliament adjourned abruptly amidst heated scenes inside the Chamber with SJB MPs Manusha Nanayakkara and Harin Fernando trying to remove the Mace. This was after SJB MP Heshan Vitanage was in the Chair when the two SJB MPs began voicing their anger against the use of tear gas and water cannons. The Speaker adjourned the sittings and Parliament is scheduled to meet next on 17 May. This is the second recess whilst social unrest is growing due to shortage of essentials. Despite criticism in Parliament, some MPs have emphasised the need for continuous sitting to resolve the impasse. SJB MP S.M. Marikkar yesterday made a valid point when he questioned if Parliament could meet in succession to debate and pass the National Budget, why not when the country is facing its worst ever crisis.  

Growing scrutiny of MPs and the failure to redress people and loss of faith has also prompted activists to accuse that the Parliamentarians are adding to the waste in the country. It is estimated that the cost of a day’s sitting is Rs. 10 million and since the Sinhala-Tamil New Year break, the Parliament has met seven days indicating a total expenditure of Rs. 70 million. However the failure of collective action has led to the worsening of the political crisis.

People’s expectations are that their elected representatives will act in the national interest, and take the country out of this morass. Thus far they have failed. One could blame the Constitution for the impasse but given their collective incompetence and loss of public faith, the Parliament perhaps is the only safe house for MPs at present. It is in their interest as well as in the best spirit of democracy that the true role of Parliament is fast ensured. The people are regretful of whom they elected to represent them in Parliament and failing an already disillusioned nation could fuel anarchy in the country to the extent of total disruption.