Yahapālana Catalysts Must Not Betray Peoples’ Movement

By Chandra Jayaratne –February 1, 2017

Chandra Jayaratne

A strategic position paper for consideration by the top teams of NMSJ, Purawesi Balaya and FUTA

This is an open letter submission to the leaders of National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) initiated by late Most Reverend Maduluwawe Sobhitha, Purawesi Balaya and Federation of University Teachers Association (FUTA), who were the shining stars that organized a collective, that became a peoples movement and gave rise to the power booster force behind the Yahapanaya commitment based political movement, which managed to achieve a regime change in 2015, previously thought impossible by most citizens.

This submission draws out the key accountability that now vests on the shoulders of the present leaderships of NMSJ, Purawesi BALAYA and FUTA to ensure,the presently appearing derailed Yahapalanaya regime to get back on track and deliver on its social contract.

SOCIAL CONTRACT WITH THE YAHAPALANAYA GOVERNMENT

Is it not timely that the Top Teams of NMSJ, Purawesi BALAYA and FUTA ask the and seek an answer to the following strategic questions?;

• Did the political collective with whom NMSJ, Purawesi BALAYA and FUTA signed a contract in late 2014, embrace the latter with a binding commitment to the Yahapalanaya principles which formed the bedrock of the contract signed? Or did the political collective embrace only the organizations as a collective ( ie. not the Yahapalanaya principles)to achieve their narrow short term political objectives?
• Did NMSJ, Purawesi BALAYA and FUTA accept for well over an year, the intransigencies and significant violations of Yahapalanaya principles by the new regime and give the benefit of time and doubt to the new regime; allowing these as mistakes which crystallized during a learning curve; and in the early days did not pose a strong challenge to the regime as the pending August elections linked political stability could have been adversely affected?
• Did the NMSJ, Purawesi BALAYA and FUTA adopt the governance environment under the previous regime as the bench mark for comparison of the new regime, as against the promised Yahapalanaya principles led bench marks?
• Did the easy accessibility to the leadership of the new regime, their patient and sympathetic listening, and approach of agreement and promise of action persuade the NMSJ, Purawesi BALAYA and FUTA to be satisfied, even when challenging situations arose during the period of governance by the new regime?
• Were the risks of a re-emergence of the earlier regime persuade NMSJ, Purawesi BALAYA and FUTA to lower expectations of principled governance by the new regime?
• Does NMSJ, Purawesi BALAYA and FUTA realize that their political support contract with the new regime, in fact created a social contract with all citizens of Sri Lanka represented by the collective of civil society that supported the new regime?
• Is it not timely that NMSJ, Purawesi BALAYA and FUTA compile a score card on the two years of governance by the new regime, taking account of the social contract commitments as well, with the assessments looking not only at a snap shot of situation today/to date, but also projecting in a continuum the likely future up to 2020, in the event the new regime does not adopt strategic change management and leadership change actions?

Is ‘Business As Usual “by the New Regime Acceptable?

In the light of the following strategic commitments made by the new regime, ‘Business as Usual’ based a continuation of bad governance practices of the past regimes, is untenable and will be a total disregard of its social contract commitments;

• The ground breaking and unique focus of the 2015 elections, where the key campaign slogan was “Yahapalanaya’, as against promise of hand outs to voters
• The Social Contract with All Citizens created based on Manifestoes of both 2015 elections and political platform and other commitments articulated by the leaders of the new regime
• The contract with NMSJ, Purawesi BALAYA and FUTA and others in the Collective
• Sustainable Development Agenda 2030, adopted by world leaders in September 2015 to be implemented at national level starting from 1 January 2016, incorporating three dimensions of development: economic development, social inclusion, towards ending poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all.
• Global Environmental Protection and Climate Change Commitments (COP21) committed to in December 2015, adopting the first-ever universal, legally binding global climate deal
• Commitments arising from the International Anti-Corruption Summit in London, where Sri Lanka endorsed the agreed action agenda
• Commitments arising from the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, including the establishment of Independent Commissions
• Constitutional Council led initiatives and other effective processes assuring High Posts are filled by candidates with independence, capability, integrity, track records of high achievement , commitments to ethical conduct and upholding societal norms
• Sri Lanka’s Commitments to the UN Human Rights Council
• Sri Lanka’s Commitments in securing the IMF Standby Facility
• Sri Lanka’s Commitments under Open Government Partnership
• Expectations and Commitments requiring Professionals to report non compliance with laws and regulations
• Introduction of a Code of Conduct for Legislators
• Paffrel March 12th Declaration signed by all political parties

NMSJ, Purawesi BALAYA and FUTA must constantly remind the new regime and advocate that “Business as Usual” cannot be an option open to leaders in governance.

Consequential Impact of the Social Contract and Democratic Space Created

It is accepted with due recognition and with great relief, that effective January 2015 significant advancements have been made in creating a democratic space with opportunities for NMSJ, Purawesi BALAYA and FUTA as well as citizens at large, to enjoy greater security and safety, freedom of operation and expression, within an acceptable framework of upholding at most times the rule of law and justice.

What the new regime has failed to realize is that with this democratic space and freedoms in place, that those in governance can no longer be untruthful , issue wrong official statements to mislead the public or try to get away making misrepresentations; nor carryout executive actions cloak and dagger style; and act without transparency ( communicate one aspect and target real issues non transparently targeted eg. present Hambantota deal presented as a Debt equity swap but packaged as a sellout outright near freehold); nor engage in nepotism, cronyism and execute corrupt transactions.

Read More