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Fillip to cooperative politics

Assurances by Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapakse that he is fully supportive of the Government's peace effort are likely to be widely welcomed by those sections of the public which are eager to see the ethnic conflict being resolved quickly by peaceful means.

A Southern consensus or an agreement in this part of the country which commands the allegiance of most sections of the people, is an essential condition for the swift facilitation of the peace process. The Opposition Leader's positive response is likely to prove invaluable in this situation.

By a happy coincidence Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has re-iterated his call for an end to divisive politics and in these statements by the two political leaders we see more than a glimmer of hope for a period of non-confrontational politics.

Much has been said and written about a political culture of compromise and cooperation between the main political parties of the South but to date very little has been done to make it a reality. Now that advocates of non-confrontational, constructive politics are at the helm of the Government and the opposition, the mechanisms and the concrete arrangements should be put in place to bring to birth this new brand of politics.

In liberal democratic states, it is issues and not personalities that matter. A persistent proclivity to dwell on the personal and the private, on the part of some politicians, has muddied our political system over the years. This has prevented politicians in both the Government and the opposition, from cooperating to further the common good.

The biggest issue facing this country - as is well known - is the ethnic conflict and many a well-meaning citizen of this land is hoping for the day, the Government and the opposition would bury confrontational politics and cooperate in the name of peace and harmony.

Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapakse's assurance that he would be cooperating with the Government in taking the peace process forward, opens the possibility of a better tomorrow for the people of this country.

The problems which have been plaguing this country over the years testify to the destabilizing and destructive impact of opportunistic politics. Opportunism in politics has been a principal factor in the non-emergence of a broad consensus on the ethnic conflict in Southern Sri Lanka.

We hope the principal parties of the South would now work towards a broadly acceptable peace formula which would compel all parties to the conflict to negotiate earnestly.

• Editorial of  The Observer - 06.02.2002:
  Co-habitation ethos
  

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