Sri Lanka: President Sirisena’s first 100 days

• “Anything one man can imagine, other men can make real” - Jules Verne, Around the World in 80 Days

President Maithripala Sirisena

By Asanga Abeyagoonasekera Fifty-one days have passed and 49 remain to fulfill the election promises of the 100-day reform program introduced by the newly-elected regime in Sri Lanka. People are questioning the delay in implementing certain key promises and the public is concerned that this may be another unfulfilled election promise. According to a top constitutional lawyer, Dr. Wickramaratne, the proposed simultaneous implementation of both constitutional and electoral reforms lacks practicality. Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha, a leading supporter of the president’s coalition, has also expressed his dissatisfaction at the delay in the implementation process. He especially noted the delays in the reestablishment of the 17th Amendment, the abolition of the Executive Presidency and the new electoral system. The remainder of the 100 days will see the implementation of the Right to Information Act (RTI). The successful implementation of this Act will strengthen individual citizens to question political authority and enhance transparency. According to some media reports, its implementation has been postponed. An important Act such as the RTI should ideally go through a process of considering citizen input and discussions with the public before being presented in Parliament. India went through such a process and certain areas are still under improvement. The 100-day reform program promises a lot of good but the practicality of this being implemented in such a short a span of time is a concern that has been flagged by this author in previous columns. Of the social media groups that are monitoring the daily progress of these reforms, www.100days.lk indicates that only nine promises have so far been fulfilled out of 25. What people would like to see is a better political and economic environment than what existed during the previous administration’s tenure.   Public dissatisfaction This is the underlying reason they voted for a change. If the 100-day promise is not fulfilled it will lead to serious political issues arising from public dissatisfaction. What the new Government should focus on is the essential list of priorities within the 100-day reform promise. A focus on flying around the world with themes such as around the world in 100 days is not a priority for the people. In Sri Lanka, the construction of the lotus tower, which aims to be the highest tower in South Asia, is a symbol of wasteful expenditure initiated by the previous Government, at the risk of neglecting priorities such as poverty alleviation. Contractual commitments to China and India remain a serious decision and challenge for the new Government as they decide whether these should be continued or discontinued. The Colombo Port City project called in a massive Chinese investment of $ 15 billion to build a construction similar to the Palm City of Dubai. The housing project led by the Indian TATA group costing $ 450 million is still under the new Government’s evaluation. These important decisions will be made by the new Government which will eventually face a general election in a few months. Whether former President Rajapaksa will contest at these elections and how the coalition will contest are among the vital questions at these polls. The massive rally organised recently by supporters of the former President indicate his possible return to politics.   Foreign conspiracy Speaking to the local press, former President Rajapaksa said: “See, the US, Europe and the West are not our friends. Pakistan helped us, especially Musharraf. What happened in my country and the insurgency happening in your country, RAW (India’s Research and Analysis Wing) is behind it.” This is a serious statement that reveals that he wishes to project his defeat as an international conspiracy. Creating speculation about India’s involvement in regime change could affect Sri Lanka’s relations with them in the future. It could also stir negative sentiment among the Sri Lankan public. Sri Lanka lost its freedom to the British Empire two centuries ago because of a lack of unity. The local chiefs got rid of the local king with the support of the British and handed power over to the British assuming that the chiefs could play a larger role and ensure the country’s safety. Unfortunately, only later were the brutalities of being a colony under the British realised. If the 100-day promise is not fulfilled it will lead to serious political issues arising from public dissatisfaction. What the new Government should focus on is the essential list of priorities within the 100-day reform promise.Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe made an important remark at the 67th Independence Day celebrations: “We have now, once again, arrived at a period during which we can realise that objective. Groups that represent diverse communities, following different religions, political parties, civil organisations and various groups came together onto one platform, shedding their differences to achieve a common objective for the benefit of the nation.” To create unity and reconciliation among different ethnic groups should remain a top priority.   (This article was first published by the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, New Delhi at www.ipcs.org/article/south-asia/sri-lanka-president-sirisenas-first-one-hundred-days-4845.html)