ETHICAL BEHAVIOUR MUST BE ENFORCED
In recent times we have seen politicians behave in a manner totally unbecoming of their office and an insult to the citizens who voted for them. In many instances Provincial Councilors, even those elected recently to office, appear to think that strong arm tactics are an essential component to display their political strength. In fact similar to certain village headmen long years ago who had their coterie of persons to harass and frighten the villagers, now certain Provincial Councillors act like minor war lords having small groups of thugs who are ever ready to battle on their behalf, smash up vehicles and behave atrociously, surrounding any one whom the lord of the manor thinks is acting contrary to his wishes or wants to win plus points from those in the higher echelons of power. Essentially this situation commenced when bureaucratic regulations and actions were suppressed by small minded political minions who wanted to act as they wished and organised a band wagon of thugs to follow their directions.
One wonders whether those in the echelons of power don't see that this type of behaviour will be replicated and has already been replicated especially by youth in the many instances of crime we see in the country.
A politician or religious leader must be made to understand that once he is in office he is a public figure and his behaviour has an impact on the people who see him on TV or hear on news channels, his attempts to assault some other member of the council , throw files around and behave like a spoilt child , which in fact he appears to be, because he feels that people owe him largesse and he can throw his weight around. It is sad that those in the higher echelons of power do not take action against them, their silence appears to be an approval of such behaviour!
We talk so much of our development and progress and certainly Colombo is a beautiful city as are so many other cities but one tends to think that our patterns of behaviour are boorish and uncultured. Many of those in positions of power seem akin to the drivers who suffer from road rage!
It is their attitude that also filters down to the bureaucrats who serve in their ministries and departments. These public servants often seem more dependent on ministerial requests than departmental regulations and needs of whatever subject they are handling. People come seeking information, send letters a dime a dozen complaining of the broken down facilities they have in their village , the pot holed roads that will break more bones in their already aching bodies , broken culverts and bridges, the closing down of the primary schools and difficulty of travelling to schools that are located far from their villagers. But they seldom get even an acknowledgement to their letters. In fact the recent instances of contaminated water due to factory refuse and the public outcry and disastrous consequences could have been avoided if the bureaucrats had informed through their officers to the relevant Ministries and taken necessary action.
Sadly even some of the law enforcing officers too appears to have this same lethargy with regard to taking action to quell the breakdown of law and order unless they get a political nod to do so as was apparently seen in the latest fracas when the Opposition party members were attacked at Hambantota.
It really is time that those in the higher echelons of power instructed their politicians and the bureaucrats especially those in the law enforcing section to ensure that law and order prevails in the country or else in the future we might see many more such instances when thugs and underworld figures gradually erode the democratic rights of the people.