Yahapalana Govt. has unfinished business to complete
With the Presidential elections scheduled for year's end, the citizenry will be called upon to make choices that will determine the future trajectory of this country. As at this point of time, people have mixed feelings as to how to respond to the challenges that confront them when making such choices.
When weighing the pros and cons of one political camp or the other, it is inevitable that the more recent performances of the political formations that present candidates at the Presidential Elections are looked at. The voter will compare and contrast the record of the Mahinda Rajapaksa- led Government from 2005 to 2015 against that of the Yahapalana Government of President Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The former Government’s claim to fame is based on its defeating the LTTE and bringing the armed conflict to an end. However, it failed in the task of healing the wounds caused by the protracted war, nor did it take the next step to address the root causes of the conflict. Additionally, they took no steps to prevent the actions of extremist forces, who created a new front, by launching a hate campaign against the Muslims.
The other major achievement touted by the Rajapaksa Government was the launching of several grandiose projects, following the conclusion of the war. However, many of these were of questionable value and were a strain on the national Budget. Corruption also snowballed into unprecedented proportions
The Hambantota Harbour, the Mattala Airport, the Port City project and Mihin Lanka were hastily launched without adequate study of the feasibility of the projects, or the benefits that could accrue to the country. This resulted in a massive debt burden without a corresponding generation of income, to pay off the debts over a period of time.
Besides, the Hambantota Harbour and the Port City project facilitated the introduction of the Chinese footprint into the country, resulting in countries such as the USA, India and Japan competing to counter Chinese influence in the country.
What was, however, most alarming was the drift towards authoritarianism by the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government, with the media and media personalities being at the receiving end. Space for the expression of dissent, an essential ingredient in a democracy, began to reduce, and there were many reports of attacks on those engaged in such protests, with even individuals such as Lasantha Wickrematunge paying for it with their lives.
It was in this context that the Yahapalana Government assumed office in 2015, with a pledge to change the situation in the country. Despite the many failings of the Maithripala Sirisena- Ranil Wickremesinghe Government, they did succeed in halting and, in fact, reversing the authoritarian trend set in motion by the previous Government.
The democratic space opened up and media freedom restored to its rightful place. The criticism of the President, the Prime Minister and other political notables in Government, in the strongest terms, goes on without any repercussions on such critics. In fact, the media that supports the Opposition is much stronger than that supporting the Government.
The minorities began to breathe more freely with the advent of the Government, and have not been targeted by any section of the Government. The only time the minorities have suffered is when Muslims suffered attacks in Digana and in Minuwangoda and the Kurunegala districts, following the April 21 terrorist attacks.
But, even here, it was the failure of the Government to take action to prevent the attacks, rather than any encouragement on their part, that allowed the incidents to take place. The Government did move in to quell these disturbances, but only after most of the damage was done. Hundreds were arrested and produced in courts, unlike during the Alutgama incidents under the previous regime.
The Yahapalana Government can also claim credit for strengthening institutions s u ch as the Independent Commissions and the Judiciary. The 19th Amendment has pruned down the powers of the Executive Presidency, while the Constitutional Reform process has moved forward in terms of some of the agreements reached with the Tami National Alliance, the main political party representing the Tamils.
One of the areas the Government has been unable to make headway is with regard to the main Election pledge to abolish the Executive Presidency. Nor has it succeeded in ensuring the reform of the Electoral system.
With regard to the economy, the Government has struggled with the massive debt burden, but whatever development projects undertaken have been ones where the public benefits directly. One of the biggest setbacks for the Government has been the Bond scam indulged in by Arjuna Mahendran and Company. The comparison between the two Governments almost boils down to one between tangibles and intangibles. The previous Government’s claim to greatness is its development drive, albeit creating a massive debt burden for the country, as well as resulting in widespread corruption. The present Government’s main achievements are its restoration of democracy and other reforms in the field of governance.
Despite all the laudable goals set out in the Yahapalana manifesto in 2015, the breakdown of the working relationship between the President and the Prime Minister have greatly contributed to the Government’s inability to deliver on all the promises made at the last Elections. Consequently, it has left those who voted in the Yahapalana Government, disappointed, as a result of the failed expectations.
They will hope for a new Government to complete the unfinished business of the Yahapalana agenda. However, only the future will reveal whether a Government sympathetic to such an agenda will assume office or not.