Rancour free campaign needed

The country is entering a new phase in its history. The next Parliament will have to charter the post-conflict reconciliation, rehabilitation and development of the country.

This is a challenging task that calls for widest unity and cooperation. The development of the war-torn areas will have to receive priority if such unity is to be reinforced. This calls for a new political culture and a new political agenda.

Usually election campaigns are full of rancourous politics. A glaring example was the Presidential election campaign 2010. In it few of the major issues faced by the country were discussed. What occupied the centre of stage were mudslinging, accusations and counter accusations. Even the language used left much to be desired.

Political opponents were vilified, humiliated and threatened. As new evidence is being unearthed a picture of a dangerous confrontation that was to take place comes to the focus. Fortunately, the magnitude of the President’s majority vote prevented it happening.

One often wonders whether the political rancour and acrimony that take centre stage at hustings is a sign of our underdevelopment or a by-product of the electoral system put in place by J R Jayewardene. Whatever it may be the time has come to put a stop to this rancour and acrimony.

Political rivalries and competitions have to be conducted on a higher plane. Sane political discourse should replace the mudslinging and character assassinations. After all, the election is to elect the legislators.

Citizens should be given a chance to select from among different policies and programs as well as between different candidates. When the personal factors are given excess prominence policies and programs remain unknown. Legislators as well as candidates aspiring to become legislators would not be then least concerned about policies. Instead they would be more concerned about boosting their egos and images.

Now in the immediate aftermath of the nominations all candidates are pledging to cooperate in the holding of a free and fair election. They, claiming to be paragons of virtue solemnly promised to abide by election rules and regulations.

Yet they flout the law at their earliest convenience. Posters, banners and cutouts have already appeared in great numbers in public places. In the city almost every lamp post has been used for personal electoral propaganda. This is the beginning of the cursed manaape (preference) war. It would be more decent and meaningful to use the print and electronic media for such publicity. It would be cheaper too.

Such vulgar display of image building not only arouses revulsion but also brings up the question of how our politicians have amassed money to spend on them. If Ministers and MPS who have been in office for more than five years need such publicity to get their image registered in the minds of citizens it is a sad reflection on their ‘public service’.

It is the duty of the voters to eliminate those that promote hatred and evil and elect more sober, disciplined and cultured legislators who could be trusted to represent them and manage affairs of state more prudently and wisely. Parliament should once again become a chamber of learned discourse instead of becoming a stage for street dramas of the type that local ruffians engage in too often. Even schoolchildren could be able to listen to the Parliamentarians debating without being exposed to unparliamentary language or indecent behaviour.

Electoral mathematics

Sri Lanka has scored another first. This time it is for being the most democratic country. The West keeps on telling us pluralism is the hallmark of democracy. It never gets tired of criticizing one-party states for being totalitarian.

Yet most western countries, especially the United States, however, cannot display any pluralism that exceeds two in number.

Sri Lanka is far ahead in pluralism. Its pluralism is more broad and hence by western standards more democratic. A total of 736 parties and groups have handed over nominations to contest the General Election. Can the United States reach this figure even in the 22nd Century?

The prize of course should be given to Digamadulla. There 28 recognized parties and 48 independent groups contesting the election. The ballot paper would exceed 125 cm in length. Leaving everything else aside, in electoral mathematics none could beat Sri Lanka.