Exemplary accord

THE SLFP's announcement of its Presidential and Prime Ministerial candidates, besides helping to clear the air on who will be contesting these prime positions on the SLFP ticket, effectively defuses attempts by some sections of the media to concoct misconceptions on these issues and sow divisions and tensions on them within the governing party.

If the opposition and its media backers were seeking to ignite discord in Government ranks by speculating wildly on these issues, all this has come to nought with the SLFP's announcement on its Presidential and Prime Ministerial candidates.

It is as clear as day that exemplary unanimity has prevailed in the governing party over the selection of key candidates for a future election.

The SLFP has not been rent asunder on the question of the Presidential front-runner, as speculated by some anti-Government newspapers. The selection process, apparently, has been decorous and peaceful.

The SLFP, has, in fact, done well to end misleading speculation on these issues, early. The selections cannot be faulted either because both Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and Minister Anura Bandaranaike are seasoned campaigners with a wealth of experience and knowledge at their command. Between them, they possess the potential to take Sri Lanka to a new future.

With the SLFP's choices of Presidential and Prime Ministerial candidates becoming public knowledge, the decks have now been cleared for a focused and clear-visioned election campaign.

The public too could get down to its chores, undisturbed by the privately-owned media's penchant to stir storms in teacups.

In a country which has an inebriating over-dose of politics and wearying talk shows on issues not immediately connected to the gruelling business of earning a living, timely, clearly thought-out decisions on political matters are most welcome.

In fact we believe that political leaders and their parties should address their minds to the acute problem of time lost as a result of sections of the public diverting their energies to issues which do not impinge immediately on the material and spiritual advancement of the country.

However, this is exactly what happens when sections of the privately-owned media stir the more credulous sections of the public into unendingly debating issues which have no immediate, concrete bearing on national advancement.

From this point of view, the recent decisions by the SLFP Central Committee on its prime candidates could be considered a very salutary development.

Quick, early decisions by political parties on contentious issues which are likely to distract the people from the task of contributing towards the development process, are not only most welcome but should be turned into a healthy trend in the internal decision-making processes of political parties.

Inasmuch as the productive energies of the people should be mustered for national development and they need to be reminded about the importance of the work ethic, the country's future needs to be entrusted to political leaders who have a sense of identity with the common people.

The SLFP duo of Premier Mahinda Rajapakse and Minister Anura Bandaranaike easily measure-up to this standard.