Mandatory cremation, Easter attacks: Political footballs as election nears

There are certain issues that come up only during election campaigning only to be forgotten soon after. These include the subject of investigations into the killings of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge and ruggerite Wasim Tajudeen. These have not surfaced as often as they had in previous elections as candidates have got some new political footballs to pass around this time. 

These include the issue of the mandatory cremation policy of COVID-19 victims implemented by the Government of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and investigation into the Easter Sunday terror attacks.

On the cremation issue, the latest is President Ranil Wickremesinghe announcing that he will establish a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC), in consultation with other party leaders, to investigate into the accountability of those who recommended the mandatory cremation rule.

He gave this assurance during a meeting with members of the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU).

The President also addressed this issue during public rallies held in the Eastern Province last week where he said that a new law will be introduced to allow people to choose the manner in which they wish to perform the last rites of their loved ones and that there would be no room in the future for anyone being forced to go against their wishes.

In July, the Government also extended a formal apology to the Muslim community for the decision which caused them much distress.

Not to be outdone, the leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Sajith Premadasa has also been addressing the forced cremation issue when speaking to crowds in predominantly Muslim populated areas of the country.

He promised to pay compensation to those aggrieved by the forced cremation policy and punish those responsible for it.

The Easter Sunday terror attacks is another issue which has become political football. Both the SJB leader and NPP Presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake have met with the Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith who leads the crusade of the Catholic Church seeking justice for the victims. Both have promised new investigations into the terror attacks.

It is no secret that there is no love lost between the Cardinal and President Ranil Wickremesinghe and in the statement released this week by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Sri Lanka, the group made it clear that voters should choose anyone but the incumbent President on 21 September.

The Catholic Bishops did not spell out Wickremesinghe by name in the statement but one only has to read between the lines to know that their preference lies elsewhere.

So, two of the most popular issues that are being tossed around are the cremation issue and the Easter attacks while there is hardly any talk of issues like the full implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution and related issues. All candidates are shying away from addressing these issues knowing they are on a sticky wicket when it comes to addressing issues such as devolution of power, North and East merger and related issues at election time.

But on the cremation issue as well as the Easter attacks, candidates are aware that they can score political points and possibly gain many votes and hence embrace these issues passionately.

As political promises in this country go, these will also be forgotten soon after any of these candidates win the election, and they will surface once again when another election comes around. Till then some gullible voters will fall for these promises while the thinking voter knows that these promises are only meant for baiting voters.