Election Special : Sri Lankan Politics and the Guide to Choose Candidates

Sri Lanka is a country with a democratic political system, “Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka” as the name implies. We can drop the socialist part because socialist elements are diminished if not completely gone from the political system. According to Abraham Lincoln “Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, for the people”. Most important characteristic of democracy is citizens' participation of the governance of their country so as citizens of a democratic country, it is vital to have an idea of what our part in democracy.

Since Sri Lanka has representative democracy, citizens are eligible to vote and choose their representatives by elections. There are elections for both Executive and Legislative parts of a state. Judiciary is also in control of the executive branch. As citizens we may be complemented with the feeling of having total control of the state in our hands like democracy wanted us to; but in reality this is not happening.

Sri Lanka is the oldest democracy in South East Asia having being introduced to the universal suffrage in 1930. Even before 1930 part of the people have experienced to some form of limited democracy. It is heart-breaking for a democracy-loving Sri Lankan citizen to witness his country ranking low in Democracy index. Although it ranked as 3^rd in South Asia, that is no complement when most of the South Asian countries are in political turmoil or in the midst of political crises and unstable military-influenced governments.

We are having elections; a lot of them but when the representatives we choose to rule the government institutions are not doing their job properly, our country can’t be call as a good democracy. This situation is far worse in provincial and local government politics. We should understand that correct functioning of democracy does not only lie on the holding elections but also on the conduct of people who are being elected. 

Although people of Sri Lanka have more than 70 years experience of active political engagement, most of the early politicians were aristocrats. They were gradually getting hold of the plantation and commercial industries. Educated in Britain, they embraced western culture and ideology. Those, who we call the “Elite”, choose politics just to enhance their social status. Most of them welcomed British presence and displeased with giving universal suffrage and greater autonomy to the Ceylonese.

After getting independence from British, the elite had to rule the country but contrary to their conduct before independence, they were somewhat progressive. When British left in 1948, Ceylon had a functioning democracy, fast developing economy, and political stability. Leaders back then had plans for future development thus giving agriculture and plantation the utmost importance. Education was also placed in high priority. Above all past leaders respected democracy. Majority of politicians were not corrupt, politics was not the way to get rich but to serve people. Although educated middle class was present in political arena, they've contributed to the betterment of the state and upholding the democracy in Ceylon. With that new wave of different political ideologies were introduced.

As we all know, the turning point in Sri Lankan politics came with the 1978 constitution. President Junius Richard Jayawardene's intention of the new constitution was having a stronger state through strong central executive thus making president both the chief of state and the head of the government. Two main changes happened to the political system. First is creating the Executive presidency which has executive powers and can directly influence the legislative and judicial sections in the state. Second is the district basis election system in which several representatives are selected according to preferential voting system. There are several flows in the system. One is the tendency of the executive to turn in to more like authoritarian leader. Although Sri Lankan executive presidency is somewhat similar to United States of America, the checks and balances theory which was vital to the survival of democracy was not correctly administered here. Next major flow is the need of power and money to run for the election and secure a seat in ever fierce election battleground.  A candidate needs to secure vote in a large area. With preferential votes, internal conflicts within a political party may occur. Gradually politics become not a service to the public but a quick way to earn money. This newly found gold-rush attracted corrupt politicians whose intend is only to make money and expand their da-facto mafia. An uncorrupted, honest person cannot survive in this political underworld, only a thug or a fat cat can afford. This gradually alienates politics from educated politicians who are willing to serve people.

After three and half decades, political desertification is eminent in Sri Lankan political landscape. Sri Lankan politics is controlled by a bunch of thugs, goons, drug lords and fraudsters. Even the higher leadership doesn’t do anything to stop those contaminating politics even if they wanted to because senior politicians and party leaders need goons to be in power. Sad thing is educated and sensible people are in politics also succumbing to this evil political system.

As concerned citizens, there is nothing to be gain by blaming politicians or senior leaders; instead we should change the political system. At least, send sensible people who are willing to change the system. As voters, our options are limited. Although prevailing system limits alternative political ideologies or people willing to challenge the system, there may be still handful of determined individuals worth voting for. They may lack political experience, but have guts not to follow the present political bandwagon. Citizens should help to bring new breed of politicians who are young, vibrant and uncorrupted.

Criteria to select candidates in elections.

.  1. Education; 

    Unlike the other developed democracies, Sri Lankan politics is plagued with uneducated politicians. There should be minimum education qualifications to enter politics. Since knowledge without wisdom is useless, a politician should be sensible, competent and above all practical.  This is clearly visible in Sri Lankan politics. We have many university graduates in parliament but they are not doing anything to change this infected political system. Most of the candidates of the upcoming western and southern provincial elections have realized that the people are now urging for more and more educated people to come to politics. That is why you can see many election posters displaying candidates’ educational qualifications (most apparently their university degrees). It is good a political trend but we should not forget that in Sri Lanka if you are wealthy, you can get honorary degree; even a PhD. Who can assure the authenticity of their educational qualifications? Moreover getting formal education doesn’t guarantee a positive change of a person’s attitudes.

2. Family background; 

Society and especially family plays a vital road in person's character. Early Ceylonese politicians were sensible because they come from respectable families. Now anyone can climb the social ladder when he possesses lot of money. Money can't buy everything, certainly not humility.

3. Political ideology;

Political ideology is looked down upon most of the times. As a matter of fact although individual political parties or governments had their political plans ranging from leftist to far right, those didn’t comply with the national development goals. Even our country hasn’t got a clear national development plan. It is vital to give your vote to people who have a clear vision and a practical one. It is natural for politicians to come up with political manifestoes at election times but educated public should have knowledge to evaluate all the promises in it and come to a conclusion whether that politician’s promises are real and he/she has the ability to deliver them. As long as the public keeps ignoring the validity of political promises, cunning politicians will always fool us.

4. Criminal history.

There is a law in Sri Lanka preventing a person from holding a public office for some time, if that person is convicted by a court for certain offences. Political parties are discouraged from giving nominations to people with criminal history but enforcing law on politicians are very rare and most of them escapes conviction. It is a well known fact that majority of members of our parliament have some sort of criminal past and some even continues to rely on thuggery.

We can’t find Mr. Cleans in the politics. It has always been a dirty game but within the black and white, we may find certain gray area. That should be the place we look for. Sri Lankans had enough of it. We suffered in the hands of corrupt, incompetent and greedy politicians. Now it is time for us to think wisely and decide who our leaders will be.