There are problems which a party in power cannot solve on its own and there are also problems which cannot be solved without a consensus on the part of all the political parties. In a situation where there are many problems which a ruling party cannot solve on its own, the main challenge before Sri Lanka’s politics is how to achieve such a consensus among the political parties for the purpose of solving these problems which are of national significance.
The main reason that has contributed to the failure of the political parties to reach a consensus among the political parties is hatred and suspicion that prevail in the power struggle. The political culture of Sri Lanka is such that the parties which come to power use state power to the maximum to oppress the opposition parties. This oppression affects not only the leading members of the opposition parties but also village level members and followers of those parties. On the other hand a party in power oppresses opposition parties on the grounds that they are at the receiving end when the situation is vice versa. In these circumstances, the opposition parties are determined to come to power as early as possible and by whatever means in order to put an end to their oppression. The government party too is compelled to follow a policy of keeping its power by any means due to fear of victimisation in the event of the opposition coming to power. This has also contributed to the violence that exists in the never ending political competition.
Unless this contradiction in Sri Lanka’s politics is resolved, it is not possible to reach a consensus among the political parties on any matter of national importance. That is why the Alliance for Democracy emphasizes the necessity of a programme of reform.
For this purpose an eleven point programme has been drafted and it was submitted to an all-party group of representatives summoned to the Parliamentary Committee room on March 27 for the purpose of getting an idea as to how it would be received by the political parties.
No government agrees to a discussion of a programme of political renewal. It has been a characteristic not only of the PA government but also of the UNP government in the past. The very idea that there must be a revival of democracy implies that the existing democracy is incomplete. However, every government in power would like to say that there is sound democracy under it. Therefore a government in power would inevitably oppose such a programme of reform.
The first to raise the question as to where we are heading and how it will end in an emotional tone was Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse, the Minister of Fisheries. He said that when the UNP was in power, they were accused of anti-democratic activities and irregular transactions by the PA and that now his government was being accused by the UNP, of similar offences. He also said that the country would benefit if all the parties got together and evolved a common programme, instead of making accusations and counter-accusations against each other. The opposition speakers appreciated Mr. Rajapakse’s approach.
The discussion summoned by the Alliance was attended not only by Mr. Rajapakse, but also by Mr. Rauf Hakeem on behalf of the Muslim Congress and Mr. R. Yogarajah on behalf of the Workers’ Congress all of which are partners of the PA government, and by Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe and Mr. Karu Jayasuriya from the UNP, Mr. Nandana Gunatilake and Mr. Jinadasa Kithulgoda on behalf of the JVP, Mr. Ananda Sangari and Mr. Mavai Senathirajah of the TULF, Mr. A. Adaikalanathan of the TELO and Mr. S. Vinayagamurthi of the Tamil Congress. Representatives of the all Religious Conference, the Association of Professional Organisations, the Editors Guild and other Trade Unions and Organisations, too participated as observers.
Although it was not possible to reach a consensus on all matters in the eleven point programme, everybody agreed on the necessity of programme of reforms that would help create an atmosphere in which all the political parties would be able to function honourably.
Everybody accepted the idea that the Executive Presidency should be made accountable to Parliament. JVP said that they stood for the total abolition of the Executive Presidential system, but that if all parties wanted a reform to make it accountable to Parliament then the JVP would not oppose it.
The question whether the President should have the right to hold ministerial posts in addition to the post of President was also discussed lastly. Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe’s view was that the President should have no right to hold any ministerial post. The Tamil Congress too held similar view.