Those in Government need to be more proactive

The Late Queen Elizabeth famously said, “I have to be seen to be believed.” This is not only true of members of the British royal family but all public figures including elected representatives. After people vote their representatives into office, they expect to see and hear from them and not have them hide away only to surface again when another election is around the corner.

Not being seen or heard is a malady that is afflicting many in the ruling National People’s Power (NPP). President Anura Kumara Disanayake does appear from time to time at public events and was very active during the Local Authorities election campaign but other than that he’s not been seen or heard much.

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya is even more aloof although the education sector, which comes under her purview, is embroiled in one controversy after the other. She’s yet to hold a press briefing and face questions from journalists on the problems in the education sector. She did surface after the deadly bus accident at Kotmale to visit some of the injured in hospital and also visited some temples and attended a dansala for Vesak, maybe realising that politicians need to be seen and heard.

It’s true the NPP came to power with a pledge to break away from traditional politics but staying distant from the public is not going to help it in its political journey. The results of the recently concluded election is a pointer on the public mood, and it certainly isn’t great news for the Government. Attending weddings, funerals, school events and other public events are still highly sought after by the public and these can’t be ignored.

Take the case of the recent helicopter crash near Hingurakgoda where several service personnel were killed. The men were killed in the line of duty but there was no show by the President, who is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, or the PM at any of these funerals. There was not even a condolence message released publicly.

Some may counter argue that going to weddings and funerals isn’t the job of politicians, but the reality is they very much are. These are considered public duties in the country and people are not yet ready to be weaned away from them.

Most NPP MPs have lost support on the ground because they are unable to live up to the expectation of voters who are used to seeing their ‘manthrithuma’ turning up in their villages and towns and which they consider is an acknowledgment of the importance of the voters.

The NPP has denied its own MPs salaries and vehicles which is a major hindrance to them working in their areas. Without adequate fuel allowance, a driver and a vehicle of their own, how are MPs to travel to their electorates when they have recess from Parliament? The utopian ideas that the NPP put before voters during last year’s Presidential and General elections are self-destructive with some of the party’s MPs themselves now complaining of the difficulties they have in facing their voters.

Ministers are no better with only a handful of them ever seen or heard in public. Take the case of the Buddha Sasana Minister. There was a worldwide outcry recently over the news that some relics of Lord Buddha were to be auctioned by the Sotheby to which India acted promptly and lodged a strong protest and got the auction stopped temporarily. We are yet to hear a word from the Sri Lankan minister in charge of the subject. Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa who is the Cabinet spokesman is seen every week but he is yet to address the public on the worsening situation of the chikungunya outbreak and many other issues in the health sector.

These are some examples but areas that need the Government’s attention. The less they are seen and heard means the voters too will forget the NPP politicians before long and come the next election they might have to pack up and go home.