It will take donkey’s years to drill ethics into our parliamentarians
It has been normal or a standard practice among politicians, to fight among themselves in the Parliamentary lobby, but these crude tactics are nothing but to fatten their egos and definitely not for the betterment of the country. These politicians who are elected by the people, and some of them not so elected to represent them, are just engaged in a show of thuggery and not serving the aspirations of the masses who elected them with much expectations.
Most of us don’t know that these time servers who are elected just for five years, are taking us for a ride. None of them, denounces the perks and privileges offered to them and enjoyed with much abundance except for a few gentlemanly parliamentarians. Hordes of parliamentarians we see in the print and electronic media, invading the well of the House just to express their displeasure over trifling issues-- which we did not see in the good old days--except on a few occasions. An all-night session was performed by these parliamentarians several months ago in the well of the assembly, just to show disapproval over a certain issue.
There should be a stop to all these disgraceful acts. Corrective measures should be taken by the Speaker to curb this trend of unruly behaviour irrespective of party affiliations, to maintain the sanctity of this August assembly, the Parliament. Our politicians could take a lesson from the forthright decision taken by the former British premier David Cameron to step down after losing the EU referndum. 52% of the voters at the referendum rejected David Cameron’s call to remain in the EU and opted to severe all connections with the EU. Mr. Cameron respected their view and decided to step down from the premiership and the leadership of the Conservative Party, in a gentlemanly manner.
Would any of our own politicians resort to such action of stepping down from their high pedestals of power, if they faced such a situation? Instead we see our politicians vying with each other to buy millions worth of vehicles for their purported duties towards their constituents.
One high profile politician is yet fighting tooth and nail to grab power despite being discarded by the people after his two legitimate terms.
It might take donkey’s years to inculcate dignified Parliamentary ethics to these present day politicians of Sri Lanka.
The old adage comes to mind, when I analyse the behaviour of some of our politicians, ‘It is folly to be wise, where ignorance is Bliss’. Lionel Caldera Battaramulla