Country before self??
The fast-approaching D-day, for the election of a new parliament and its members for the next five years, has once again given the voters to see and hear a plethora of candidates consisting of mostly former and new, as well as young and old politicians who are in the fray. They all claim that they are our best bets to serve us efficiently and effectively and also the constituencies.
Well nothing new and we all know that no sooner they are elected amnesia sets in for most. Be that as it may, what worries most of us is the massive amounts of funds that are being pumped into their political campaigns at will which is mind boggling indeed. Mass media and now with social media playing a major role, are presently inundated with large number of personal adverts of candidates contesting from main political parties. The best possible and scintillating tag lines and many creative captions are being used to promote themselves. The usage of very special and exclusive adjectives to polish and brighten one’s character, mostly found in glossy brochures and leaflets are absolutely phenomenal. Well one is at a loss to understand as to how Sri Lanka, with a bunch of such former patriots could get into a sorry state as we are now. Given the nature and intensity of competition among intra-party members, we all could see a media frenzy, so to say, during the next couple of days being the last lap towards their winning post. In this back drop, it is no wonder why bribery and corruption has become a norm in politics as speedy recovery of one’s money spent on the campaign is their top priority. Secondly, to make more money which is a vital requirement to contest next time. As such, it is a matter of serving oneself before anything. In this connection, a prominent minister recently claimed via an impressive advertisement in the week-end newspapers that he never stole a cent from the public money. BRAVO! BRAVO! Country before self, no doubt.
One is at a loss to understand as to how Sri Lanka, with a bunch of such former patriots could get into a sorry state as we are now!
With the grand old party in tatters, it is a foregone conclusion that the SLPP will sweep the board in most districts and will obtain a comfortable majority in parliament. Having said that it remains to be seen, whether the incumbent president’s wish to have more professionals with political knack to support him will come right or will he be loaded with the same old wine in new bottles. Former would see the country before self and later self before country - the most likely scenario.