Govt. needs to move away from rhetoric

With gung-ho zeal, the current administration set out to dismantle the old order and replace it with an NPP style administration which it promised will be a people-centric one. But so far what the public has heard is a lot of rhetoric and seen some theatrics.

There have been a lot of media shows like with all other Governments when they newly take power. Politicians have stopped cutting ribbons, stopped putting their names on plaques, ministers are taking train rides to “understand the problems faced by commuters” (it’s not rocket science to figure that out if you’ve lived in Sri Lanka and used public transport), cleaning drains and waterways, etc. These are all eye candy particularly for the party supporters but when it comes to addressing issues like why the Government continues to defend the former speaker Asoka Ranwala over his fake PhD, the outcome of the investigation into how a deputy minister was allegedly fooled by an imposter who obtained 17 passports in his name and other such issues, the Government side has been evasive.

There is also a subtle move by the Government to keep vital information from the public. For example, the President has appointed several committees including one that looked at the issue of salaries/pensions of MPs. The report was submitted to the President over a month ago but the public is yet to know what its contents are. 

We’ve heard from a minister this week that the Government plans to import new vehicles for all MPs. What will change is the manner in which the vehicles are imported but they will be imported nonetheless. This is backtracking on the NPP’s ill-thought-out election promises to do away with perks for MPs. It is important for MPs to be paid well and given perks so that they can carry out their work as MPs. Unfortunately, it’s the JVP/NPP that demonised politicians and said they should be stripped of privileges but when in power, they realise that many things are easier said than done.

There are some highly questionable decisions which this Government has announced. One is the decision to lease out the presidential bungalows and ministerial residences to the private sector which is highly problematic given their historical/archaeological value. For this too a committee has been appointed and it is hopeful its recommendations will be made public.

After the return from his recent state visit to China, the President has also taken to election campaign style talk threatening to cut the security of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and throw him out of his official residence. 

Former presidents enjoy benefits under the Presidents Entitlements Act which provides for the grant of official residence and other allowances and facilities to former presidents, their widows/widowers, payments of pensions, secretarial allowances and provision of official transport and other facilities, all provided for from Consolidated Fund.

If the law is repealed, it will apply for those presidents holding office only once the law is repealed but will not have an impact on those enjoying these benefits at present. The Government can decide on what residence to give former presidents but the obligation is to provide them the entitled facilities.

The Government’s ‘gallery style’ talk can’t distract from the real issues at hand including shortages of essential goods and the high cost of living and many other problems the public is grappling with. Without going gung-ho over issues intent at scoring political points, it’s time for Parliament in particular to enact important laws that were promised and stop blaming past mistakes for this Government’s failure to deliver on its many promises.