Against the Govt.

Concerns highlighted at a public seminar titled, ‘Is this the Good Governance we hoped for '

Civil society organisations which supported the candidacy of Maithripala Sirisena at the last Presidential Election, this week issued a strong warning to the Government that it was taking a path leading the country away from the ideals that inspired the ‘political revolution’ of January 8, 2015.

Their concerns were highlighted in no uncertain terms at a packed public seminar titled, ‘Is this the Good Governance we hoped for on January 8?’ at the Public Library Auditorium last Tuesday. The seminar was organised by the 'National Movement for a Just Society' and the Purawesi Balaya organisation.

Addressing the seminar, Chairman of the National Movement for a Just Society, Prof. Sarath Wijesuriya said, civil society organisations were flashing a ‘Red Light’ to the Government, warning it was not respecting the views of the people.

He reminded both the President and the Prime Minister of their public pledge to abolish the Executive Presidency, at the funeral of this movement’s founder, the late Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera, “but this does not seem to be on the Government’s agenda now,” he stressed.

“We would like to tell the Government they have no moral right to work according to any agenda other than one set by the people.”

“We need to learn one thing from Mahinda Rajapaksa- that is, power is not eternal. Power is like a dew drop. Don’t become emboldened by it,” he further warned.

Former President of the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri said there was a widening gulf between the current rulers and those who heavily invested in the political transformation of January 8.

Dr. Dewasiri criticised the Government over attempts to reappoint Arjuna Mahendran as Central Bank Governor. “There is absolutely no justification for keeping him in this position. It shows just how the Government’s agenda runs counter to the agenda of the people.”

He added, the Government could not keep on harping on about a Rajapaksa resurgence to scare the public. “That time has passed.”

Literary critic Gamini Viyangoda said, the main reason for the failures was the power struggle between the two main parties, with party agendas given preference over the country’s agenda. “If the two leaders don’t set party agendas aside, we could have a terrible situation that none of us ever expected,” he warned.

Journalist K.W. Janaranjana said both the President and the Prime Minister feared several things. “They fear the saffron robe, they fear war heroes and they fear administrative officers. What are they afraid of ? Government has the power. It is time to take unpopular decisions.”

"While the Government feared enforcing the law against such persons, it was intent on enforcing the law on its enemies and not doing so on its friends," Mr. Janaranjana stressed. "Where’s the good governance in that," he queried.

Trade union leader Saman Rathnapriya emphasised that, what the country is experiencing now is not Yahapalanaya (Good Governance). “We are a long way from that.”

He called for a special court system to try those who allegedly indulged in corruption and embezzled public funds.

Attorney-at-Law J.C. Weliamuna and musician Sunil Perera also addressed the gathering.