Sri Lanka’s Reset
Sri Lanka has taken a decisive step toward reshaping its political and economic trajectory.
Three months have gone and still there is no plan from any party in Parliament. How can any country or institution assist one who has no plan?
Whoever wants to take charge in Sri Lanka must first disclose how they are going to set about it. Making statements that ‘We will put it into order’ Even SJB, the main Opposition party, hasn’t put forward an outline plan as to how they will set about it. What did the current President promise? What did the current PM promise.? What are their results? Can the country afford more of such vague promises? Three months have gone and still there is no plan from any party in Parliament. How can any country or institution assist one who has no plan? Challenges are many and very unpopular decisions have to be made.
Resistance from entrenched interests, such as trade unions, some corrupt business interests, political interests, mafias, monopolies, etc., has to be countered. Are they prepared to overcome them? Why go far? Are they prepared to reduce the Parliamentary allocation substantially, and even reduce the number of MPs from 225 to about 150 – on par with countries of similar size, population, GDP, etc. Parties trying to form a government must first agree amongst themselves on their Plan, at least on the following:
All laws must be equally applicable to all. Other than the First citizen of the country, all others (be it state employees or Parliamentarians) must be taxed on the same basis as others.
Advertisement
All parties joining must undertake that they will no longer do politics with these issues, nor will they withdraw from the interim government when it undertakes unpopular decisions on above issues. They must all commit to swim or sink together. None of those who served as Ministers in failed Governments, or who were Ministers in Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government which decided on vanity projects, should be given ministerial positions.
Same should apply to those Parliamentarians who voted for the 17th,18th,19th and 20th amendments, as it shows they neither have principles, nor care for the country. Corrupt and convicts too should be kept out. To the party leaders who want to form the government, may I say, first divulge your plan to the country. Please, do not tell the country that you have a better plan. You can afford to fail but not the country or its people at large!
Advertisement