Democracy at its ironical best

Democracy, whilst being accepted as the best form of governance by most countries in the world, is yet known for many shortcomings.

The commonest of the shortcomings are:

• Misuse of public funds and time

• Populism

• Rule by incompetent, irresponsible and corrupt leaders

• Going for short term gains

• Money-power to influence voters

• Tyranny of the majority, leading to internal wars

In the August 5 General Elections in Sri Lanka, in a twist of irony, the people overwhelmingly voted into power leaders known for authoritarian governance, over liberal democracy.

The reason is that when comparing the two modes of governance, both of which the people had seen, they chose militarised authoritarian governance over liberal democracy because they had seen the aforesaid rampant shortcomings in the so-called ‘Yahapalana Government’ (The good governance Government)-irony upon irony!

Democracy is defined as ‘Government of the people, by the people, for the people’. Militarised authoritarian governance per se is contrary to democracy. But, what can anyone say when the people, exercising their democratic rights, have sacrificed liberal democracy in preference to authoritarian militarised governance?

This ironical situation reminds me of a speech made by Dr. Colvin R. de Silva at an election meeting in the mid 1960s. He referred to the capitalist bourgeoisies describing Communism and Marxism as a monster. Drawing a parallel, he said that in the days gone by, baby-sitters quietened babies saying, “Onna babo Billa enawa”. (Baby, the monster is coming) “But,” he said, “today’s babies will cry till they are shown the Billa.” What prophetic words! In the ensuing elections an SLFP-led Left-heavy coalition party defeated the UNP government and came to power.

Those of us who shouted

“foul” at the authoritarian actions of the Rajapaksa regime, will have to do some re-thinking. Just now, I am in a flat spin trying to reconcile with the reconciliation of two irreconcilables, democracy and authoritarianism.

Populism in politics is a dicey game. Leaders make promises without seeing the feasibility of granting/implementing such promises, purely to win votes, leaving the voters disappointed and angry when unable to fulfil the promises. The rift becomes highly volatile when the disappointed supporters have been the kingmakers and have ‘invested’ in large measure with a view to garner their private agendas having massive stakes.

The assassination of Prime Minister SWRD Bandaranaike, conspired by Buddharakkitha Thero in 1959, is a case in point. God forbid such an eventuality because this may be the last chance we have to raise our country to its true potential. A highly professional security apparatus is also the need of the day.

Great expectations are there that this government will deliver the goods. True, such expectations have been there with every new government, but those expectations were relegated to the limbo of forgotten things.

This Government, however, is a government with a difference. The leaders of this new Government have already achieved the ‘impossible’ many a time. How it will get the economy to an even keel will be a miracle yet unsurpassed.

Peace, on the other hand, is a different kettle of fish, and is most important. As for lasting peace, much would depend on how magnanimous the Government will be to the minorities, not forgetting what portents are there in tyranny of the majority.

The Government is in a commanding position where, should wise counsel prevail, and minority rights and aspirations respected, that elusive peace should be getable. Apart from internal squabbles that may arise, taming the SinhalaBuddhist extremists will be a Herculean task.

Rule of law is non-negotiable under whatever backing or pressure. The judiciary has now an additional role to play when the legislature and the executive fail the people. Failure and falling short of expectations on all fronts, including the judiciary, are the reality we are confronted with, and have been confronted for some time to this day.

(The writer is a Retired Senior Superintendent of Police. He can be contacted at

seneviratnetz@gmail.com)