PC polls: Why incur such expenditure to activate the giant white elephant?
The PC election issue which was on the backburner for almost five years or so, has now come into the limelight. It is beyond the comprehension of most citizens, as to how a sensible government could possibly think of having whatever election, taking into consideration not only the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic but also the large expenditure amounting to a whopping Rs. 500 million that will be wasted on this exercise, only to activate yet another giant white elephant with political power!
It is obvious that the PC politicians all of whom had been ‘jobless’ for quite some time now are desperately calling the shots to have PC elections, as for any politician, to be without power is as good as being dead wood.
Most PC politicians are not only close relatives of senior politicians at the centre but also many work hand in glove with most party politicians to share the spoils and enjoy other fringe benefits that are on offer.
On the other hand, the mainstream politicians on both side of the divide are dependent mostly on both PC and local government politicians to pile up their socalled ‘ manape’ to enter Parliament. Put shortly, it is a well-known political symbiosis of inseparable binding for their own survival and prosperity.
The Provincial Council system is a result of the Indo/Lanka peace accord which was signed on July 29, 1987 by Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and President J.R.Jayewardene not only to bring about the muchneeded peace at that time but also to devolve power to meet the aspirations of the Tamil people. Unfortunately, it achieved neither. Worse, now we are burdened with an expenditure of almost Rs. 600 billion per annum as recurrent expenditure by way of salaries and wages and to provide 455 elected party members employment!
Under these circumstances, and with the drafting of a new constitution in progress, it is very surprising to many, that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa too has consented to go ahead with PC elections, once the present legal impasse that is preventing the govt. from conducting same, is sorted out in Parliament.
I wonder whether the President with two thirds majority in Parliament and supported further by the 20th Amendment is finding it difficult toprogress and achieve the ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour’ without politically functioning Provincial Councils. Or is it more than what meets the eye?