The more things change, the more they are the same. This truism must certainly be socking the Sri Lankan nation between the eyes as the people see how the country is being governed by its political leadership. Self-interest, clearly, is the common denominator running through politics - whoever is in power - and never has this been more apparent than today. While the cost of living has shot higher than ever before in the few short months between the last election, called we were told, to prevent the UNP from abjectly capitulating to the impossible demands of the LTTE and to ensure that especially the poor got a better deal, all that we have seen is a new set of leaders doing exactly what their predecessors did especially in the matter of indulging themselves and their friends and supporters at the taxpayer’s expense.

Look at the can of worms opened by former minister Ravi Karunanayake’s parliamentary question on how much the president’s so-called "advisors" cost the nation. The reply was juicy copy for the newspapers and enlightenment, if indeed any was needed, of how politicians dip into treasury coffers to keep those who helped them to get elected are well endowed. Sri Lanka, certainly, does not owe a living – and a very good one at that – with sinecures bestowed on many of those named and priced in that list ranging from old political war-horses denied parliamentary seats (but not pensions) and loyalists eased out of one position (for poor performance?) and accommodated elsewhere. The deserved publicity the reply to Karunanayake’s question evoked had Minister Mangala Samaraweera of credit card fame (remember?) throwing bell, book and candle at the accusers. "Former PM lavished US $ 18 million on crony advisors" screamed a Daily News banner. "Foreigner John Earl paid US $ 19,940 per month to select clothes and speech training."

There’s been no rejoinder yet from the UNP to this blast. To be fair, given that the allegations were published on Friday, a decent time span must be given for a reply. But that does not detract from the thrust of what we are saying that politicians from both sides of the divide have been ultra-generous to themselves and their friends in dishing out the gravy from public coffers. Undoubtedly tarring all with the same brush is neither wise nor fair. Talented people who can make a valuable contribution to the country must be hired to do the work that is crying to be done. While a few like Jayantha Dhanapala at the Peace Secretariat do such work without payment, and must be lauded for their exemplary patriotism, others must be paid a fair wage because they like most others must keep the wolf from the door. Nevertheless payments by the impoverished Sri Lankan state cannot ever match what UN agencies, multinationals and other fat cats offer. Within those parameters, fair payment cannot be grudged to the deserving (emphasis ours). But the sad story in this republic which calls itself both democratic and socialist is that too many of those pocketing tax rupees by the bushel are anything but deserving.

Even those with poor memories should be able to remember what members of the present government said when the UNF made available helicopter rides to various LTTE personages. But what is happening now? Soosai, who our defence correspondent says in this issue of the paper was responsible for the slaughter of hundreds of servicemen enjoys a helicopter taxi ride courtesy the SLAF to fly off to Singapore for medical attention. Given that there is no war now, although there is also no peace, we do not say as some would that such services must be denied. While we can hope that what diplomats call "creating conducive conditions" can help get the peace talks started, it would require incurable optimism to expect that gestures like this, whoever provided them, will persuade the Tigers to abandon their hard-line and talk turkey on terms that the majority will regard as reasonable.

Let us also not forget our old friend Mervyn Silva whose cutouts in Colombo Central proclaim that like Dutugemunu from the South, he’s been bestowed a deputy ministry from Colombo. Those who follow the game that is called politics know this worthy left the Hambantota district in the Ruhuna for electoral reasons and threw his hat into the ring in Colombo where he miserably failed to collect the required preferences. But voila!

Proportional representation (PR) and its national list enabled him to be conferred a parliamentary seat and now a deputy ministry. Considering JRJ’s attempt – thankfully abandoned - many years ago to accommodate both winner and loser at the Kalawana by-election in parliament, a defeated candidate being granted a seat in the legislature seems small change. But it strengthens our case that the more things change, the more they are the same.