Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero; In Remembrance.

A sad day indeed for Sri Lankans. The passing away of Venerable Maduluwawe Sobitha thero, the Chairman of the National Movement for a Just Society had shocked us. We grieve not as Buddhists or members of a certain political party but as Sri Lankans who expected a change and fought for it.

Although Sri Lankans knew Sobitha Thero as the key player in the resent regime change, his social activism dates back many years, leading several political campaigns for just society. Sobitha Thero, not having a rigid political afflictions had always been in the common man’s side in the struggle for democracy, equality and justice. Whenever a progressive political change has happened in this country, Sobitha Thero had always been in the forefront of it. Even as the chief incumbent of a Buddhist Temple, Kotte Sri Naga Viharaya, the Thero had leaded a modest life dedicating his life to social progression compared to some monks who went on to developing lavish temples and focusing on worldly goods which is contradictory to the essence of Buddhist teachings.

Sobitha Thero’s activism came to its pinnacle with his work in the Presidential Election in January 2015. Even before the election Sobitha Thero had raised his voice against the nepotism, corruption and undemocratic governance of the previous government. Sobitha Thero had always in the stance of changing the system rather than the people who were running the system. The Thero understood the fact that if we change the people who govern without changing the system they govern, the replacements will be ineffective. He had proposed several changes to the system even before the Presidential Election such as Independent Commissions, Corrupt-free governance and accountability mechanisms.

The opposition always criticized the previous government but never found a suitable candidate for changing the system let alone a better system itself. There were speculations about who shall be the common candidate as opposition had decided to put a common candidate to the presidential race. Sobitha Thero’s name also surfaced and some had doubted how a Buddhist monk is able to contest for the election.

Although most of the supporters of the previous government do not know it, it was Sobitha Thero who initially supported Mr. Rajapaksha BUT on several conditions to ensure democracy. As this author can remember in one occasion, the Thero has stated that Mr. Rajapaksha will be the ideal candidate if he scuttles the undemocratic 18^th Amendment, introduces Independent Commission and Eradicates corruption. But since there was no positive response from him, Sobitha thero had to look for someone else and Mr. Sirisena was an ideal candidate. The rest is history.

Although Sobitha Thero was in the forefront of the regime change, he was the first person to criticize it as well. The lack of progress in the ‘Yahapalana Government’ was appalling and it is no doubt that the Thero was highly dissatisfied with the aftermath. First, the three-month interim government period was extended, hundred Day program was just a broken promise, and the most important change promised, enacting the 19^th Amendment was intentionally delayed. 20^th Amendment and shifting to new electoral system was never done. It is ironical to see that the ‘Father of the recent political change’ has to go on protesting against the ‘Yahapalana child’ in April 2015 to enact the long awaited 19^th Amendment which was the keystone of a new political change.  

Sobitha Thero openly criticized the present government and its lack of progress. It is an open secret that the Thero was really disappointed with it and it must have affected him very much. Surely there shall be a sense of betrayal by the present government’s highest offices. It was not only Sobitha Thero who was betrayed but 6.2 million Sri Lankans who had voted for a change. Resent events suggests that the successive government is similar the previous one if not worse.

People lobby for political movements for many reasons. Most lobbying was done as an investment in the future earnings and favors from the successive governments. Among them, Sobitha Thero was a true patriot and person with high moral standards as he never expected any return or favor from the people who was raised to power by his activism.

It is so heartbreaking to see some people who were posting defamatory comments and celebrating Sobitha Thero’s passing away mostly in social media. Indeed they are the people who never knew the political history of Sri Lanka, how the struggle for ‘Good Governance’ was initially won in January 2015 and subsequently lost by the activism in the civil society and how the people currently in power had betrayed the activists who really helped them. Most of the ‘post-sharing internet radicals’ who use the internet behave as ‘monkeys handling straight razors’ showing their lack of character and how they were brainwashed.

There are lessons to be learnt from the altruistic life and disappointing passing away of Sobitha Thero. It brings us to the bitter realizations that no matter how you intend to change the world for better, the dark forces always win. No matter how good you are, if you are not in the winner’s side, everyone will eventually betray you. At the end of your life, bitterness, regret and disappointment will be your only companions. Last but not least, you will be disgraced even after you were dead and eventually be forgotten.

Ven. Maduluwawer Sobitha Thero, May you Attain Nibbana as it is the only retreat with the eternal peace. 

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The Never Ending Saga of the Rioting University Students

(Photo Courtesy : http://www.asianmirror.lk/ )

University students, according to some, the eager young minds that are going to take the future of our country, were always in a disadvantaged position in their quest for winning their claims. It has been recently proven again by the police crackdown of HNDA (Higher National Diploma in Accountancy) students at Colombo 7 last week. Unlike the previous protests, even though the similar brutal treatment was received by the students, the media, civil society groups and politicians condemned the attack. Even the prime minister has ordered an investigation in to this incident.

There is an inherent nature of the human being to rally against oppression. When some external force blocks their liberty, individually or collectively humans rise against it. The tug of war between the authorities and their subjects thus begun and it was virtually unchanged for millennia. Students, who were in the lowest social class in terms of their bargaining and economic power had always pushed into collective actions against the authorities. The authorities have the reins to control the system so naturally, the students’ demands for changes which often been bluntly rejected. Throughout the history, youth were in the vanguard of social change. It might range from a simple change in their educational facilities to a broader change in the whole society. American Anti-War Riots in 1960s by the new hippy generation which came to its pinnacle with the killing of Columbia university students, demonstrations against Margret Thatcher and recent UK student riots in 2010 against rise of university fees were several examples.

When discussing this matter, it is natural to venture in to the youth activism in general which Sri Lanka had plenty of examples in 1971, 1988 and 1983-2006 by both Sinhala and Tamil youth for political and economic freedom but for the sake of the HNDA incident, it is better to limit the discussion to student movements centered in educational institutions. It is also important to note that institutions, mainly universities are a breeding ground for social movements as well.

Why students riot?

As discussed above, for a conflict to arise there should be two or more parties with conflicts of interest. When their powers are divergent, group with lesser power will always be kneeling down to the other. The power is not entirely depending on the money and institutional structure that is controlled by a group by also depending on the social impact and bargaining ability as well. The two parties in this conflict; student community and government, each is superior in their own sphere making a compromise impossible.

Almost all of the reasons of students to rise against the authorities are entirely legitimate in terms of the free education system of Sri Lanka. Unless that system got changed (by a policy decision which no politician would dare to make), Sri Lankan students should be entitled to all the associating privileges coming under free education from grade 1 to university. It is not only meant having lecture panel and a place for the students to learn but also up-to-date curriculum targeting future needs, quality of human resources and most importantly, adequate infrastructure.    

Sri Lankan university system is plagued with shortages of suitable degree programs to suit the need for the future. Lack of standard among different degree programs and non-degree programs is also a problem. That was resulted in two of the most intense student standoffs in recent history; last week HNDA students’ clash and Allied-Health Science students’ problem. It is also a breeding ground for clashes within the universities and non-degree awarding government institutions such as National Diploma in Technology (NDT). Conflict with private universities (now it resorted to Private Medical Colleges because for better or for worse, all the other degrees are awarded by private institutions in Sri Lanka except Medical Degree) is another clash point.

For some of the inter-institutional crashes such as University-PMC and Allied Health Science, professional bodies such as Medial Professionals Trade Unions are also engaged making the problem harder to solve. The intervening parties might have legitimate reasons for opposing PMCs and rival non-degree institutions since it is a matter of their professional integrity. Non-standardization and popular political promises given by politicians without thinking of the consequences make the problem worse. For example, as in the case of HNDA, a policy decision was made long before to give the degree status to HNDA and to increase the course duration to 4 years. When the government refuses to keep that promise, it is highly unlikely that the students would not go in to a confrontation with the authorities who shattered their legitimate expectations.

Infrastructural problems are much easier to solve but requires money. It is not exaggeration to tell that most of the university infrastructure is not even suitable for minimum human habitation standards let alone for education. This is most prominent in university lodging. Most of the hostels are in dilapidated condition. Even the newly built ones boasted by the former Higher Education Minister ‘Sumanaweera Banda Dissanayake’ as of highest caliber are plagued with problems. Student clashes in Sabaragamuwa University and continued student movements in the University of Colombo for better hostel facilities were still unanswered. It is not that the government lacks monetary resources but improving education is as not lucrative as building highways, mega-cities and boasting about them by organizing musical shows costing millions of rupees. Every government had invested in votes rather than the general welfare of the people. It is apparent to the politicians that the university students or their family member will never going to vote for them so why bother? Investing in votes is the most ferocious form of misuse of public money. It is the tax money of the general public not politicians’ private donations that are spent here after all.  

Unlike the student movements fuelled by socialist ideology in the seventies and late eighties contemporary university student is highly motivated by capitalism. Even the lucrative slogan of ‘free education’ is considered as a path for upward social mobility by gaining wealth. As we all know, education is the only path for a lower and middle class person to gain wealth and to be part of the capitalist dream. Even though significantly weakened by the resent world economic and social unrests, the capitalist ideology still has some momentum thus it is inevitable for the young mind of university student share the Sri Lankan Dream. It is ironical that ultra-capitalist United National Party government has shattered that dream of HNDA students. Thus not getting the degree recognition will weaken their bargaining power in the job market.

Are students troublemakers?

The short answer is no. Students turn to confrontation with the authorities (not referring to the internal clashes and rivalry within the student factions) as the absolute last measure. Every confrontation is ended in the similar manner. Students march in to the authorities, police are deployed, confrontation and brutal crackdown by the police, injuries, arrests followed by their release, social disapproval, many press conferences then gradually the situation subsides but student claims remain unanswered if not partially resolved and in the end, everyone will live happily ever after except the university students who bears the trauma, disappointment and anger for the rest of their lives.

Nevertheless, protests and confrontations coupled with violent confrontations with the authorities were somewhat effective in recent years. In other words, rioting is the only proven method for their pleas to be heard by the deaf ears of the authorities. More violent the confrontation and injuries, better the outcome will be. Sadly, injuries are the only means to direct the public uproar against the authorities. ‘We need to cry for the milk to form’ is the justification used by the students and they have proven it over and over again. Martyrdom is now the only means of resolving problems while student martyrs are hailed as heroes; this acts as a precedent in future student problems also.   

The question we need to ask ourselves is do all these need to be happening? A university student is not a thrill seeker or a daredevil stuntman who always looking for trouble with police. If the government is always keen to ensure free education, it is not wasteful for them to listen to students’ pleas. Now students are the people who share the same ideology with them after all.

Several changes should be made in the governance to resolve the students’ problems.

• Adamant nature of the government and ministers when dealing with students should be changed. Government has a responsibility to ensure the well-being of students and they should be treated with respect. 
• Government should give priority to the reasonable demands of students (most of demands in fact are reasonable)
• There should be a higher education policy and standardization of degrees and certifications by non-degree awarding institutions to solve the inter-institutional clashes once in for all. Recognition and validity of existing course should be retained if not improved.
• Rules of engagement of the police need to be radically changed. Poor riot control training and attitude resulted in many deaths in the past and continuous tarnishing of public image of police. Lack of negotiation skills of police officers is the main problem. Not one of the senior police officers has been trained on negotiation and conflict resolution. Without that a police officer will be a thug with license to kill as the current police media spokesperson has proved over and over again. Proper training and education will improve the situation. It is important to address the situation as soon as possible before another group of students become victims of police brutality.

University student can be compared to a flame; full of energy and eager to light up the world with wisdom. But that energy can also be used to incarcerate everyone. They can be hazardous material to handle but somehow the authorities should be wise enough to direct that flame productively for the sake of our country’s future.   

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Merits and Demerits of the Executive Presidency in Sri Lanka

There are many political systems in the world. The political system of Sri Lanka, which was subjected to numerous changes since the independence ranging from socialism to neo-liberalism, reflected the mindset of the politicians who were doubtful as to what should be the system to govern Sri Lankans. One of the most controversial changes happened to Sri Lankan politics was the introduction of the post of Executive Presidency. By being the supreme leader who holds the reins of both the state and the government, he has enormous power vested in him. There is an ongoing debate on the role of citizenry in an executive presidential system.

The second republican constitution had introduced the executive presidency to Sri Lanka. It was mainly adopted from the executive of France and the United States. Late president Jayawardena was expecting a strong unbound leadership who can make firm decisions to bring the country to prosperity. It also came as an answer for the political instability plaguing the country.

Sri Lankan executive president is both the chief of the state and the leader of the government. Although according to the constitution, he is responsible for only the executive powers, indirectly he is like a giant octopus whose tentacles spread all over the executive, legislature and judiciary of the country. He is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, the leader of the cabinet and the supreme authority who shapes the foreign policy.

Every countryneeds a strong leadership who can take quick and firm decisions. That need is more prominent in developing countries like Sri Lanka. When the decision makers of the country engaged with bitter rivalry and prone to interference from partisan politics and political pressure groups, opportunities to take unpopular decisions which give benefits in the long run will be lost. In emergency situations, executive presidential powers will decide whether the country survives or falls into anarchy.United States and France are good examples that show how executive presidency can steer a country in a stable and progressive way.

With great power comes great responsibility. The main hitch in executive presidency is the possibility of the president becoming corrupted by the power. That’s why although most of the presidential candidates come to power by promising to abolish the executive presidency, when they get elected, try to secure more and more powers without adhering to their promise.Appointing family members to important administrative positions, politicization of the civil service, corruptions, interfering with the judiciary are some of the immediate consequences of the executive acting like a dictator.

A country needs a leader who is accountable to people. Absolute power in governing a country should never be given to a person without proper methods to control them. In conclusion I believe in the need of a more controlled and accountable executive for our country.

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Western and Southern Provincial Council Election Aftermath

Western and Southern provincial council election has ended. The interest for elections among Sri Lankan have faded away considerably during the last five years. Specially provincial and local government elections were done in rations so it is not wrong to say that every year citizens experience an election. The result of this election was predictable from the beginning but we have witnessed significant development in the political arena so an analysis of the outcome of this election will not be a waste of time and effort.

Provincial council election of Western and Southern provinces was held in a situation where we have experienced an array of elections back to back. People were fed up with them. It is apparent that the ruling party’s objective of this election is evaluating its popularity among the people.  This election was held in the midst of a United Nations resolution against Sri Lanka. UPFA government has urged people to vote in this election to give a message to the international community saying that no matter how tough international reaction is, the people are in with the government. Sri Lankan president being the leader of the government tested the possibility of winning in an early presidential election which was suspected to be held in the end of 2014. Sri Lankan government and the ruling party were heavily criticized by both the opposition parties and civil society for being undemocratic and authoritarian. There were allegations of corruption, violation of media freedom and fundamental rights as well. The ruling party wanted to give a clear message to the opposition that they still have the popular support and it is impossible to topple the government.

It is useless to even talk about the election violence, use of public property for election campaigns and violation of election law because those actions have become an essential part of the election culture in Sri Lanka. It is more interesting to look at the candidates of this election. Only a handful of candidates from both provinces have the necessary qualifications and capabilities to serve people genuinely. What we can see it the emergence of small “family trees”. Majority of the candidates are sons, daughters and siblings of politicians. It seems to be the younger generation is eagerly coming forward to pick up the political baton. Models, actresses, actors and business tycoons have also contested. Most of the candidates were aware of the fact that the general public prefers people with good educational background so most of them have put their educational qualifications in the election posters. One candidate in Colombo district has gone to such extreme that a large photo of him getting his degree from one the most prestigious universities in North America was distributed alone with his placards. It is a good move that more and more educated people are getting in to politics nowadays but will they be sensible for the people’s needs? Will they ensure good governance and rule of law? Models turned actresses were also contested for the election. There were a lot of them but only a handful got nominations.

Janatha Wimukthi Peramuna (JVP) with the leadership of Anura Kumara Dissanayake was ready to contest with a new approach. JVP voter base was severely affected with the breaking up of the party in to three factions. Sarath Fonseka’s Democratic Party came to the election with confidence. They have secured and thrived as the 3^rd power suppressing the JVP. Populist politics played a huge part. If a candidate can build a personality cult, he or she can win this election with ease. Candidates such as Hirunika Premachandra who presented herself to be the adopted daughter of the first family, Udaya Gammanpila who had gained popularity by turning up to the general public to find money for election campaigns, Malsha Kumaranathunga, popular media personalities who got unprecedented media coverage and backing from a media organization were all part of this new breed of political candidates who tried to make themselves larger than life personalities.

The result of the election was highly predictable. UPFA, the ruling party won the election but their voter base was affected in some polling divisions. The United National Party was further spiraling in to submission. Sarath Fonseka’s Democratic Party seemed to have broken up considerable amount of votes from the two main parties and they have got the majority of the swing votes. The JVP’s revival was short lived. They’ve failed to make a mark on the people’s minds. Candidates who had made personality cults out of them were really successful. Almost all of them got huge number of preferential votes no matter what their political party was. Only sensible thing in this election was done by the Matara district voters. They had the courage to chase away the two actresses who contested.

Voter turnaround was very low suggesting that the people were no longer interested in elections, especially provincial council polls. They are fed up with the cheap partisan politics. It is a well known fact that Provincial Counsels are white elephants. The general public hardly noticed any significance of provincial politics. Many young and educated politicians were elected. It is a good trend to make room for the next generation, a new breed of politicians.

Political parties got overwhelmed by their victories that they’ve forgot to look at the bigger picture. People are anticipating a change of the political system. It should not be interpreted as a complete regime change but faith in good governance should be ensured. More democratic, less authoritarian and most importantly less corrupt rule is needed. Infrastructure development alone can’t satisfy the people. If the present politics failed to make the change that people requested it to deliver, they may choose some other group that willing to do so.

When we look at this election merely as a provincial council election, it has no significance at all but this is one of the political game-changing moments for the ruling party and the opposition. He, who understands the message given by the people and alter his course, will have a future so this provincial council election can be considered as a significant landmark of Sri Lankan politics. 

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