Act for change

Thursday, 17 March 2011 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

TODAY Sri Lanka goes to the polls. Local Government election interest has been lukewarm at best and monitors are predicting one of the lowest voter turnouts in recent history giving a familiar tinge of disappointment to the proceedings.

It is no secret that Sri Lankans have lost faith in the governance system. If they ever had faith in the system it has disappeared in the mists of time. For them events have proved that it is people who count and the governance systems in Sri Lanka have no transparency or accountability to make them worth voting for.

The idea that Local Governments actually serve the people is an illusion that even the most optimistic would laugh at. Millions spent in campaigning is watched with amusement or apathy and is met with one question, what will they do for us?

This one question is what it boils down to. For a people used to corruption in every form and hue the idea that a public representative will actually do something for the people while putting his self-interest aside is the stuff of fairytales. Considering that event the General Elections saw a comparatively low voter turnout of around 60% one cannot be surprised at the unconcern for Local Government elections, for if the big boys cannot stamp out corruption then how can those in the little league be more honest?

To mourn this state of affairs is pointless. It is the voters themselves who have created this situation by not taking action against corruption and demanding better standards of honesty and efficiency from their representatives. If we want action then we must demand it with action. Bemoaning the state of politics and politicians in Sri Lanka will do little to bring constructive change.

The duty of a voter does not end with him or her casting a vote — in fact the opposite should happen. Once the candidate is selected then it is time to check up on his actions and make sure that there is accountability and transparency in his actions. It is the people that can end corruption. If the system has failed then we as responsible citizens should make it function once more. Perhaps the system failed because the people disregarded their duties.

The apathy of not caring about what happens, of disregarding payment of taxes, building of infrastructure and management of your area is a common mindset. Few people would be bothered to organise themselves into concerned citizen groups and question the decisions taken by those they have appointed to power. This is not something that can be done individually but the idea must take root within each person for it to even stand a chance of success.

Restoring efficiency to the Local Government system needs faith and dedication. The violent run up to the elections with deaths, destruction of property and threats does not bode well for the future. It is only the people who can make a difference and the time has come to show their intentions beyond a vote.