Promising leaders: Thoughts for reflection prior to elections

By Rev. Dr. Jayasiri T Peiris

We the citizens of Sri Lanka are expected to elect a President on 16 November. There are an unbelievable number of 35 contesting the said election. The ballot paper is over two-feet-long according to the National Elections Commission. New ballot boxes were imported. 

This election will cost approximately Rs. 4 billion to the State. We the citizens have to bear the cost. The candidates and parties will spend millions in addition to what the State spends. At the time of writing this article the postal voting is over and in less than a fortnight we would have elected the next President. 

How does one justify such excitement and use of resources and spending is a question we have to ask ourselves! Is it to come in to power or serve the people and the country? According to 2016 data, the President received an annual salary of Rs. 1,170,000. In addition, the President receives many perks.   

The candidates have presented their manifestos. It is appropriate to examine the manifestos in light of the teachings of religious leaders as the Sri Lanka is called the ‘Dhamma Deepa’ and many Sri Lankans pride in the fact there is so much religiosity. If so all Sri Lankans ought to be guided by the teachings of their religions. 

This is from a Christian perspective and hope there will be some reflections from other religious teachings in order to stimulate discussion. Jesus at the commencement of his mission proclaimed his manifesto. This reflection is based on Jesus’ manifesto. However, prior to Jesus presenting his manifesto, Jesus faced three temptations as recorded in the Gospel according to St. Luke. Jesus overcame all of them. Thus it is important to examine what Jesus rejected. 

The first temptation was to provide himself with food. Food should not be confined to what we eat. It covers clothing, education, health, housing, water and other basic human needs. We may even add environment. Jesus rejected it by saying man does not live by bread alone. Perhaps Jesus rejected the temptation to become a manufacturer and a supplier. 

If Jesus gave into that temptation of becoming a manufacturer and a supplier what would happen to the farmers and producers? Jesus knew the importance of permitting the farmers and workers to contribute to the welfare of the people. 

The second was to acquire an empire and power by worshipping evil – false god of mammon. There are many false gods such as caste, ethnicity, religion etc. The true God people are to worship in spirit and in truth is the God of creation who made all in God’s own image with characteristics of justice, love, mercy, truth etc. In God’s creation there is no empire and power, but belonging to all. Instead of worship the false gods, Jesus decided to worship and serve God without rejecting humanity. 

The third was to become a popular person by performing an extraordinary act – a miracle performer. The extraordinary in the present times could be many. It could be the promises the candidates make day after day at election rallies, like bringing rice from the moon. 

After rejecting these temptations, Jesus proclaimed his manifesto reading from Isaiah 61. Jesus’ manifesto was pro-victim. However, Jesus omitted the vengeance or the wrath of God section and later related two stories from their own history as alternatives to emphasise God’s generosity to the other races, religions, outcastes who his own community had rejected and despised. Jesus not only rejected the empire, but opted to serve taking the title ‘Son of Man’. He didn’t have any place to lay down his head. 

Jesus’ mission was the reign of God where equality and impartiality to all in God’s creation, peace and reconciliation would exist. It is also empowerment of all so that each person and community could live with dignity without discrimination based on gender and ethno-religious or any other human made negative and segregated concerns. It is to bring peace and reconciliation. Since the passing of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution there is no Executive President. The President will function as a ceremonial President who has no powers. Since we are under the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, the next President cannot implement his policies on any subject, as it would trespass on the territory of a duly appointed Cabinet Minister to whom the subject has been assigned. 

The President is not entitled to hold any portfolio as he will not be a Member of Parliament. The powers are vested with the Cabinet of Ministers. From the day the new President is elected the powers that were given to him previously is removed and are vested with a group; the Cabinet of Ministers who are appointed from the members elected to Parliament. 

The Cabinet is answerable to the Parliament and the Parliament is answerable to the citizens of this country. Henceforth, the President may, if he wishes to, chair the meetings of the Cabinet and offer his opinion on a memo through a Cabinet paper. 

He can even initiate a discussion on a subject close to his heart. Thus, the President that the citizens of this country elect will be without powers except to function as a ceremonial President just as William Gopallawa was prior to the passing of the 1978 Constitution. 

All those candidates contesting need to acknowledge and the people of this country need to realise that we cast our vote to elect a ceremonial president and we should not be misguided by the promises these candidates make. Jesus referring to himself said that the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve. He washed the feet of his disciples setting an excellent example of what servanthood is.