People should reject leaders who override legal, judicial system: Colombo YMBA General Secretary

The Colombo YMBA held a presentation and a discussion on the current situation in the country and the way forward, targeting the business community, recently at the BMICH which was attended by business leaders representing all communities. Javeed Yusus addressed the gathering representing the Sri Lanka Islamic Centre whilst Mahendra Jayasekera spoke from the Colombo YMBA. 

Jayasekera said the Colombo YMBA launched an independent movement under the theme ‘One Voice, A secure Country’ to educate and raise awareness among people about challenges the country is facing presently and what should be done to overcome them. 

“The business community as a very influential section of the country also has a duty to educate the people as to what actions are needed to put the country on the right track coming out of traditional silos they have been confined to in the past. The problem we have is that people do not give importance to socio-economic policies needed to develop the country when casting their vote at important elections as they are blindly aligned with a political party, colour or personality,” he said.

The YMBA has formulated a 4 point policy agenda that captures all present problems in the country and is currently holding meetings all over the country to educate the people. “The business community understands very well that in a company the system of internal controls will collapse if the senior management overrides it. It is the same thing in a country. If the leaders are over riding the legal and judicial system then in that country the rule of law will collapse. It is exactly what has happened in our country. Leaders are continuing to override our legal and judicial system and the result is that rule of law has broken down. This will lead to poor environment for business growth leading to poverty, unemployment, etc. People should understand this and exert pressure on leaders to act responsibly. If existing leaders don’t listen to people’s voice a new leadership will emerge from the people who will promise just that,” Jayasekera said. 

Commenting on the education system in the country he said that the existing education system annually, renders around 200,000 youth destitute after they sit for Advanced Level Examination forcing them to enter the labour market as unskilled workers. He also said that no political party or a candidate has offered any solution to this burning problem.

Javeed Yusus said that most political leaders will pay more attention to the voice of a business leader than an ordinary voter. Hence the business community is well-positioned to influence the trajectory of Government towards national wellbeing. The business community must also play a role in the eradication of corruption which has now become a cancer that is depriving the poor of many economic benefits which could otherwise have been received by them.

“As a country we have to further strengthen democracy. Many of us do not quite understand the value and importance of democracy. Democracy enables the citizens to correct the mistakes of Government while it is still in office by negotiations and applying pressure and by persuading those at the helm of office to do a course correction. In the event these attempts fail the citizen has the democratic option of voting the Government out of office at Elections,” Yusuf said.

A large number of people attended the event including General Mahesh Senanayake, the former commander of the Sri Lanka Army.