Like no other time in history except perhaps in the year of independence, Sri Lanka is at the cusp of a golden opportunity to right the wrongs of the past and propel herself towards becoming a peaceful and prosperous nation. After 30 years, the people of this nation live in a terror-free society and the political leadership can focus on something other than security and security concerns. It is a day we had all hoped for, but one we rarely imagined would come to pass. And now, when it is finally within our grasp, we appear to be well on our way to botching this chance to make things right.

Sri Lanka once boasted a proud tradition of statesmen and political leaders. They were men of integrity, of wealth – those who entered office, rich or honourable men who often left their positions penniless. They were leaders concerned primarily with serving their people, putting the country before self, the greater good before personal gain. Today, this situation is entirely reversed. Politics is a business to many, a means by which to fill up personal coffers and ensure the financial security of one’s family, country be damned. Even as a vast majority of our people are struggling to survive in these economically troubled times and unemployment levels soar, the political leadership is primarily concerned with constructing dynasties.

We are witnessing the enormous waste of public funds never seen before. Traveling with gigantic delegations, super class air travel, staying in the fanciest of hotels and wine and dine in style, huge tamashas etc. never once recalling those paying for this extravagance, the poor citizens of Sri Lanka, these politicians claim to represent. As we strive to rebuild our nation in the debilitating aftermath of a 30 year conflict, can we not, as representatives of the people, restrain ourselves? Although the government has taken no positive steps in this regard themselves, as a responsible opposition the UNP has constantly appealed to the EU to consider continuing to extend the GSP plus scheme for the apparel industry, in order to prevent large scale livelihood loss for millions of Sri Lankans. The government has merely resorted to vitriolic rhetoric against the international community that will only hinder our appeals to the EU. All this while spending with impunity the people’s money, while fully willing to render so many of them unemployed and destitute as a result of abominable conduct with regard to good governance and democracy.

At a time when India’s Congress Leader Sonia Gandhi has demanded austerity from all her party members, what has our leadership done to curb wastage and mismanagement in our small island? Why is it that the President stands in the way of the one constitutional provision that ensures transparent governance and state institutions free of political influence? Why has he allowed the 17th Amendment to be relegated to the dustbin after the historic amendment was passed unanimously by the Sri Lankan parliament? The people must begin to question the motives.

It is not enough to conclude the war and expect to live on that popularity forever. It is regretful that this government believes that their popularity thanks to the success of our military provides them impunity to commit murder and assault and to engage in corruption and wastage like never before. Every resource of the state is being used solely for the purpose of perpetuating the regime, whether it is Ministry resources, Treasury funds or the entire police force. Good governance, transparency and accountability are words that are not in this administration’s lexicon. They have all been abandoned while they are riding this wave of popularity that they erroneously believe shall never end. It is not enough that the Sri Lankan people merely take note of the offences of one member of this government or the other. It is time the citizenry opened its eyes.

I charge the government to refrain from contradicting itself. While it constantly bleats that the war is over and terror has been defeated, no moves have been taken to reduce defence spending wherever possible. Some Ministers utilize their security for a show of opulence rather than because of a genuine security threat. While slashing the salaries and benefits afforded to officers of our diplomatic corps struggling to improve Sri Lanka’s image abroad, the government continues to ‘reward’ loyalists with postings to some of the most expensive capitals of the world, often filling up our overseas missions with incompetent personnel who hinder more than they help the official duties of our embassies. Representatives at our missions are the face of our country in the international arena and it is critical, especially at this stage when Sri Lanka’s image has suffered such a severe blow to have competent and experienced people representing our interests abroad. Instead what we find is a bevy of political stooges, relatives of government members and other lackeys being given pride of place at our embassies abroad, resulting in our diplomats becoming a worldwide joke, never to be taken seriously.

Sri Lanka’s police force, the citizen’s first encounter with the law, has become the weapon of choice for the incumbent regime. Heavily politicized, the police department has lost the respect of the communities which they serve, seen as the perpetrator of violence against sections of the community at the behest of their political masters rather than a deterrent against crime and vice. The police officer is duty bound to uphold the law of the land, but his tasks have been politicized in every way. Even in cases of cold blooded murder of innocents, the police has agreed to look the other way. It is heartening however to know that even in these darkest of times, there remain police officers of integrity and principle in the force and it is hoped that these officers will be nurtured within the system and rewarded for their conduct. So long as OICs are recommended by ruling party organizers and until the independent Police Commission is established constitutionally, this deterioration will continue.

In a post-war phase, Sri Lanka needs a police force that will win the hearts and minds of the community, a force that stands steadfastly on the side of the law, even when it displeases the leaders of the day. I long to live a day when the humblest citizen can walk into any police station in this country and lodge a complaint against the most powerful person in Sri Lanka without fear of reprisal. I beg the officers of the Sri Lanka Police to become the kind of police official your children would be proud of – dignified, honest and above political interference. There is strength in numbers that cannot be denied and I firmly believe that if enough officers refuse to have their duties interfered with, it will be the politician that must eventually back down.

I long to see the day when there will be equality for all, in real terms. Equality cannot be measured in words, but in the way in which we treat every one of our citizens, whether or not they look different from us, whether or not they agree with all that we say or do. This government needs to focus on taking development to the outstations, to ensure that every child in this country has access to a quality education, to the English language, to a chance at a better future. There is a pitiful need to reward persons based on talent and competency rather than on political affiliation and loyalty. Too many positions, in Sri Lanka’s public service are being offered only to those faithful to the government. True vision would be to tap into talent that could be anywhere in Sri Lanka – whether a remote fishing village in Matara or inside the barbed wire fences of Menik Farm. To create this opportunity would be to forever quench the fires of separatism that might still be smouldering outside our shores. To take Sri Lanka towards this goal would be to see her reach her full potential.

The country remembers that when President Mahinda Rajapaksa came to power in 2005, he made a grandiose statement about merely being the custodian of Sri Lanka and not its owner during his tenure in office. Abolishing of the Executive Presidency was a pledge given at the last Presidential Elections. It must be honoured without seeking excuses. So long as this system exists it will not be possible to witness a truly democratic environment, where fundamental rights, rule of law, justice and fair play are guaranteed.