As Sri Lanka nears its first election, while still knee-deep in the worst economic crisis in history, one would expect the ‘national leadership’ to have got its priorities right. But we are not known as the ‘land like no other’ for nothing.
After all the trials and hardships Sri Lankan politicians have witnessed the masses endure over the last several years, it is increasingly looking like – ‘Business as usual’ ahead of the election period. This, despite the need for significant reforms, and changes – structural, legislative and behavioural, to ensure Sri Lanka does not slide back into an abyss.
Today, the need of the hour is for broad political consensus to effect the reforms Sri Lanka has committed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and to showcase that Sri Lanka, which underwent recent political turmoil, is ready to speak in one voice on core matters. Sri Lanka as a State has entered into an agreement with the IMF, with a number of key countries who support Sri Lanka acting as facilitators. The agreement is not a political one, and is between the State of Sri Lanka and the IMF, any party which governs is bound by the obligations of the agreement.
Further, if our lawmakers were really keen to regain trust of the public, international community and potential investors, the Sri Lankan political spectrum will have to find common ground and deliver well-debated policies, and ensure policy consistency. The policies which are needed are national ones, and not political ones, they need to fall in line with a commonly agreed national strategy which will be honoured by future governments. Further, there needs to be prioritisation of short- and long-term goals, from which state expenditure plans should be drafted. Even today, many critics blame the Government and some in opposition for poor prioritisation of the limited funds the State collects. As such, Sri Lanka can ill afford populist policies, nor vote magnets, which are only aimed at political survival. Prioritisation of state expenditure will be difficult and bitter. There will be tough decisions to make, and invariably there will be some ‘winners and losers’. Change is never easy.
However, entrenched political culture remains rather unmoved, the cheap and divisive politics which does not spare any sector in Sri Lanka has even divided religious establishments. Everyone is either divided along party lines, or on some ideological basis. Today, some political parties like the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) are tearing themselves apart, claiming that each faction is doing so in the best interest of the party, and its legacy. A legacy of what, one may ask? This tragedy of errors, we call home? All mainstream political parties, and others who supported them in some form or the other to get into government share blame as to where Sri Lanka is today. The fact that the focus on political discord is about ensuring the ‘survival of political parties, upholding legacies and dynasties’ has nothing to do with what is the need of the hour. And that which is in need is a national agenda which has bipartisan support, to raise Sri Lanka up from where it is.
Increasingly we can see a return to the combative politics of parties being nearly at war, and counter anything the others introduce simply to deal a cheap political blow, with no consideration on the policies being debated. As elections creep closer it is likely that Sri Lanka will once again descend to expediency politics, where no party gives an inch, nor join hands for common good. The danger is that if the situation disintegrates into such petty politics, no one will be working in the national interest. And it is in the national interest, which we need policy makers to be focused on now, more than ever. It seems that despite the many crises Sri Lanka has faced, the ugly face of our political culture has not yet changed.
Given the unprecedented crisis Sri Lanka continues to face, where the State, through significant austerity measures, have managed to stabilise the ship in turbulent waters, a collective effort by our politicians to create a clearly defined national agenda which puts national interest first is vital for the island nation’s recovery. If the political class of Sri Lanka fails to change, despite all that we have endured over the last few years, where the hopes and dreams of generations have been smashed on the rocks – that are; corruption, poor governance and incompetence, soon the public may lose hope and believe that they may not have anything left to do, than to effect that change to the political culture through force.