Remember lessons from the past when revelling in unlimited powers

Unlimited powers with a five sixths majority ruined this country in 1977.

I doubt that any sane person would disagree with me on this statement. Prior to this from 1970 we had a socialist government called the United Left Front which comprised the SLFP, LSSP and CP and several others -the United National Party was at the time reduced to eight seats.

Unfortunately the extreme socialist ideas of that government created frustration in the public and private sector but one must agree that there was discipline in the country in terms of finance, investment and governance. Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike ruled with an iron fist. Local industry developed including handlooms, ceramics and food production bringing down the cost of living and giving value to the rupee. I recall that I had to go for training to Malaysia and was given only three pounds and 10 shillings as expenses for a day apart from the lodging costs. The Prime Minister and her Cabinet travelled in economy class in the airline. My basic income was Rs 500 per month as an inspector.

If we continued that way, by now we would have been self sufficient in food, clothing and several other sectors. The people never realised the development in the country. There again the SLFP government went on a “witch hunt” by nationalising our estates owned by Lankans,bus companies, insurance companies,petroleum etc not realising that a government was there to rule and not run business ventures.

The other issue was the lack of a proper higher educational system - there were graduates with degrees and no employment. Then the next step was changing the constitution to make the country a “republic” and the extension of duration of Parliament which was also possible because of the large majority it enjoyed

The United National Party won with a five sixths majority in 1977 and brought in “open economy policies”. Then came the “drugs” and this country started to import all items including clothes, cars, etc killing the local industry. In the name of development we started the Mahaweli scheme as the money/commissions flowed to relatives and companies of ministers.

They killed agriculture. Of that I am personally aware as the Northern and Eastern farmers revelled in cultivation and most of them were well off economically. But the new Minister of Trade Lalith Athulathmudali made the blunder of importing chillies,potatoes, onions etc.

Now the voters have given the government an absolute majority, the rest is yet to be seen. It is my only hope that this government with the new President will be cautious in their new measures thinking of the “country first” and not the party!

All former Presidents are responsible for this situation in the country - Chandrika Bandranaike Kumaratunga vehemently promised to scrap the presidency, so did the present Prime Minister and Maithripala Sirisena who openly on stage swore to demolish it. It will go down in history the quality of leaders we have produced and who betrayed the trust of the people notwithstanding the architect of this Executive Presidency J.R. Jayewardene.