Good governance and presidency

As  passionate observers of ‘good governance’ we have already witnessed several breaches of this sacred concept by the ‘hybrid’ Government .They range from creating a jumbo Cabinet, making  appointments bordering on nepotism to Govt. corporations and overseas service to the ‘Hirunika Episode’.

The most recent is the insertion of huge media advertisements by Govt. bodies and corporations to mark the first year in office of the President. Though it happened at a lesser level than before it could have been avoided with a presidential decree as the pre-election promise of the Govt. was that it will put a stop to all wasteful and unnecessary expenditures of the Govt.

Now with the rumblings of the forthcoming local government elections, the media disclosed a couple of months ago that the President himself will give leadership to his party to ensure its victory at such elections.

In our view that too is going to be a breach of ‘good governance’ principles for the following reasons.

1) In terms of the constitution, the intended spirit of the executive presidency is for the president to function at all times as a ‘statesman’ depicting a ‘father figure’ for the entire nation devoid of any political affiliations. This picture was etched in the minds of the citizenry at the inception of the ‘Yahapalanaya’ Govt.

2) In the context of the ‘hybrid’ nature of the present Govt., it behooves the President to avoid any confrontation with the collaborating parties at an election except the presidential election.

3) Such president leading an election campaign at the lowest local Govt. level is tantamount to adding insult to injury

4) For an executive president, the country should come before party.

5) The local Govt. elections anyway should be de-politicised as what matters is the person and not the party.

We therefore exhort on the President to act as an independent ‘statesman’ and a father of all Sri Lankans irrespective of political hues, race or religion as long as he is in office. This no doubt is a harbinger for the abolition of executive presidency.

Such action will strengthen the roots of ‘good governance’ in Sri Lanka which we all yearn for.

Bernard Fernando

Retired Deputy General Manager-Bank of Ceylon,