Thursday, 20 June 2013 00:00
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ELECTIONS, it seems, are the great equaliser. During the last few days Sri Lankans have been witness to an interesting string of events that have been arguably sparked by impending polls, which underscore the power that voters still hold – should they chose to use it.
Events began dramatically with North Western Provincial Council Member Ananda Sarath Kumara, who belongs to the ruling party, allegedly verbally assaulting and forcing a female teacher to kneel before him last Friday for advising his daughter to wear a longer school uniform that reached below her knees.
According to the Police, the teacher who is in charge of discipline in the school had advised the Provincial Councillor’s daughter on Thursday afternoon and it had allegedly prompted the Councillor to visit the school and harass the teacher.
As headline-grabbing as this incident was in Sri Lanka, usually the events are then left to be vociferously discussed by the masses while the powers that be do nothing. The instance of Public Relations Minister Mervyn Silva tying a public servant to a tree with Police and media in tow is a fantastic reminder of this apathy. Yet startlingly in this instance the Police acted.
Kumara was arrested with startling promptness and presented in Court where he was further remanded till 27 June. But the real whopper was yet to come. The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), which has withstood not only numerous attacks on its patience by Silva but even embraced members with murder allegations, decided to sack Kumara from his post. Not only did they dismiss him, if reports are to be believed, he was forbidden from contesting any future election as well.
These are jaw-dropping developments to Sri Lankans used to seeing the main suspect of the Tangalle tourist murder initially removed from the party but later quietly allowed to re-enter it and a major suspect in the Baratha Lakshman Premachandra case openly attending Parliament.
UPFA Leader and President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday called for Kumara’s resignation and also found the time to make a personal phone call to the teacher and assure her that justice would be done. Police protection was also given to the teacher and her family over fears that Kumara’s supporters would attack her or force her to recant the statement she made to Police.
Such solicitousness surely deserves applause and the public can only wish that it be repeated consistently. Yet the simultaneous announcement of provincial elections in September might have laid significant weight on such conscientiousness. Mihinthale Pradeshya Sabha UPFA member Anil Pushpananda at least seems to have received the message loud and clear for when his son decided to get into fisticuffs with the school principal Pushpananda decided to take the right road.
He promptly brought the advanced level student to school and made him worship his teachers and obtain forgiveness, quite exemplary but one wonders whether such actions would have been so politically correct if the Kumara episode had not preceded it.
This is just one example of how morality, justice and all the other finer qualities usually disregarded in Sri Lankan politicians can come to the forefront if it is demanded by the people. Unfortunately, clearer eyes and broader minds will be needed before constructive results can be enjoyed by all.
