COVID-19 and General Elections

COVID- 19 is across the globe, nevertheless, out of the 210 countries effected, some including Sri Lanka have successfully curbed its spreading up to an extent. No country has found a vaccine or medicine to cure this disease. Therefore until we find a vaccine or proper medicine the virus can not be reduced to zero. It is also not possible to say when we can achieve this zero level. therefore no one can propose any lockdown as a precautionary measure.

During the past too there were many similar viruses such as American Polio epidemic, SARS/ MERS, Swine Flu, Bird Flu, HIV/AIDS, West African Ebola killing millions of people across the world. But no proper vaccine or medicine has been found so far. there are 37.9 million people who were effected with HIV/AIDS and continue to live.

Although the situation is so unfavourable to the world, no country will keep its people locked up totally or partially for an unlimited period. It is a world accepted, tested and proven phenomena, that under no circumstance or reason can the authorities keep a country closed.

It is same with Sri Lanka. there is definitely a risk element up to some extent when opening up, but you have no option other than opening the country, with restrictions, public health controls and strict guidelines issued to the people. That is how you face any global pandemic. Otherwise countries would collapse, so no country wants that to happen.

In addition to opening up, in Sri Lanka we have another issue the authorities have to handle with care .that is the upcoming parliamentary elections. This country has been under a presidential system since the prevailing constitution was adopted in 1978. We have the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary. Those are the three pillars strengthening democracy and governing the country. It is a constitutional requirement that we hold parliamentary elections every 5 years. We can not avoid this because it is a constitutional requirement and a supreme right given to the people to elect their representatives periodically .therefore it is with confidence that one can say that the people are bound to offer their support to hold elections without postponing it. It is true that there is a deadly epidemic in the country and 9 people have died up now, but comparing these numbers to other countries, we have handled the pandemic with utmost care and extremely well. We’ve proved that we are one of the best nations when it comes to controlling a virus.

We have to think positive now; what is needed today is to make this country self sufficient in food and agriculture and produce a healthy young generation. We also need to change the proportional representation (PR) system and go back to electoral system. Otherwise we are not within the basics of Westminster system of parliament. To do all that we need a new parliament.

Our people are well disciplined and experienced enough to handle any difficult situation and will move carefully, distancing away from this virus and take part in the general elections.

SARATH WICKREMASINGHE

COLOMBO 5