Wednesday, 22 April 2015 00:00
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The political tug-of-war between the Government and Opposition over the questioning of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his brothers is overshadowing essential reforms that should be much higher on the priority list.
On Tuesday Parliament was to handle the incredibly important job of debating the 19th Amendment to the Constitution that would concentrate on reducing the massive powers of the executive presidency and slot some of them under the prime minister. Numerous discussions between party leaders, much dealing behind closed doors and umpteen votes cast at the last presidential election were all for this key event. It was in fact the bedrock of the momentum that saw President Maithripala Sirisena ensconced as the Head of State and a goal reiterated endlessly by the two main parties.
The 19th Amendment to bring back the two-term limit to the presidency; appoint independent commissions and increase parliamentary oversight was to have provided an unprecedented boost to democracy in Sri Lanka. It was also to pave the way for the 20th Amendment, which would have streamlined the existing knotty election system, after admittedly some extra tinkering to assuage concerns of minority communities. This was to be the grand end of the ambitious 100-day plan.
Inauspiciously, to say the least, the most important days of the 100-day plan also coincided with summons from the Bribery and Corruption Commission to the Rajapaksa family. In what can only be seen as terrible timing the request to make statements fell on the same days when history was to have been made by Parliament. Opposition politicians jumped at the chance to derail the 19th Amendment that would have been beneficial to the country as well as future generations to defend former rulers who have been effectively rejected by the citizenry.
Incensed Opposition Parliamentarians started protests both within and outside of Parliament, going so far as to spend the night sleeping on the floor. Massive traffic snarled the roads to Parliament as hundreds of people carrying photos of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa defied a court order to express their disapproval over questioning their previous ruler.
The disturbances within the House resulted in two session suspensions and ultimately culminated in the Speaker postponing Parliament till 27 April. It is yet unclear whether the 19th Amendment will be debated when Parliament next meets and a voting date seems to be as far away as ever. Public interest was not just far from the minds of Opposition Parliamentarians but seemed to have altogether packed its bags and left town.
Ultimately the fracas prompted the Bribery and Corruption Commission officials to agree to visit Rajapaksa to record a statement. Former Cabinet Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s return has also provided new impetus to reignite loyalty towards the Rajapaksas with an eye on upcoming general elections but it comes at a huge cost. As politics and reform become jumbled up ever more confusingly the mandate provided by the people, more numbers than Rajapaksa received let it be remembered, to trim the powers of the executive presidency is losing its justly fought moment in the limelight. It is imperative the Government gets its ducks in a row before the public cooks its goose at the next poll.
