Quality assurance for our parliamentarians, the need of the hour

I was aghast at the recent visuals and their phonic recordings of proceedings at the so called ‘supreme body’, as would have been my fellow citizens.

The frequent citing of shortcomings; be it a road or a dilapidated bridge or an irregularity that provoke people to come out on to the road to protest are daily events, highlighted via TV news editions. The tax payer doles out salaries, perks, vehicles and even pensions to the worthies who inhabit parliament and Pradeshiya Sabhas. What may I ask is the return on the investment? Have these elected members discussed or sought to rectify these shortcomings, so highlighted at a local level before they are brought to the notice of the public?

When a policy of quality assurance is being mooted and implemented in many institutions of the government, should it not be foisted too on all elected ‘servants of the people’?

Shortcomings highlighted by media organisation; the elected representative of the people of that area must be brought to book and the details audited by the Speaker of Parliament. Not going to the electorate, not listening to the people etc are serious issues. A separate institution under the Speaker could record people’s complaints regarding their representatives at all levels. Defaulters brought to the notice of the public, so that justice can be meted out at the next election or salaries withheld based on the frequency and the gravity of highlighted shortcomings.

Should not the quality of verbal contributions at parliamentary proceedings, too be assessed? I notice that in many instances, inadequately researched statements are made, fake news parroted frequently can mislead the public . Such utterances I observe are often politically motivated and should have an inbuilt deterrence. They have no bearing on the development of this country, we all love. Quality assurance, I reiterate, is the need of the hour.

Dr Channa Ratnatunga Kandy