Friday, 3 April 2015 00:40
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The back-and-forth on banning full-face helmets is in some ways a symptom of a much-larger policy malaise in Sri Lanka.
Initially the full-face helmets became a bane for society as they were freely used by bank robbers and other criminals to prevent Police from identifying them. In an adaptation of the Sinhalese proverb ‘changing pillows to cure a headache,’ the idea to ban full-face helmets was proposed.
Predictably, this evoked the ire of citizens, who quite rightly pointed out that the ban on full-face helmets would only inspire future criminals to use other methods to disguise themselves and would not make any inroads to deterring crime. For example, ski masks have not been banned despite their appearances in crimes, so how does the helmet ban make sense?
While the subsequent events make for amusing reading, the fact remains that there is a need for a concise discussion on policy. The previous Government too was slammed time and again for failing to consult stakeholders on key decisions and provide long-term solutions. The helmet ban has unwittingly put the new administration under a similar spotlight. It is perhaps a flippant example but a telling one when the Government feels it can tackle crime by simply banning a safety feature and people feel so strongly about it they feel the need to protest.
Increasing crime has been almost an organic problem in Sri Lanka, exacerbated by growing income gaps and unmet aspirations. Crime is an even harder task to tackle for a Government that came into power blaring promises of good governance and rule of law. It is even more challenging given the long-term changes the Government has to put in place to effectively tackle crime. Empowering Police and streamlining the Judiciary is a mammoth task and one that will likely take years.
Laudable as it is, the simple truth is the Government has large tasks to deal with on its plate. Embroiled in pushing through the 19th Amendment and other reforms, it genuinely feels a call on whether or not to ban full-face helmets is somewhat trivial. Yet the matter is enough for people to seek Court assistance insisting that it is unfair by the people and does not ultimately deter crime. So the oversight in the policymaking process is still evident as ministers and Police make contradictory statements.
Clearly the Police need to be given more resources to deal with crime. Politicisation that crippled the Police force under the previous administration is hopefully being rolled back, but that is simply a start. Police need training, state-of-the-art equipment and the freedom to carry out investigations. Once sufficient evidence is found, then the case needs to proceed to Court and the offenders punished under the law. Moreover, larger socio-economic issues have to be dealt with to reduce criminal activities in the long-term. Such efforts are deeply linked to sustainable economic growth and equitable wealth distribution, challenges that would daunt any country.
However, the Government has to make a practical start and not be burdened by band-aid solutions that will certainly not cover their faces when the next election rolls around.
