A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
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Back to 500BC.
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Thiranjala Weerasinghe sj.- One Island Two Nations
?????????????????????????????????????????????????Sunday, August 27, 2017
Bequeathing Their Patrimony?
Several
newspapers reported a recent Gazette notification of the reversion of
Development Lotteries Board (DLB) and National Lotteries Board (NLB) to
the Finance Ministry.
These
two cash rich institutions, since inception, have been vested under the
Finance Ministry. In a surprise move, both were vested under the
Foreign Ministry three months ago in May, when one-time Finance Minister
moved to the Foreign Ministry.
Both DLB and NLB have now reverted to the Finance Ministry after the recent resignation of the Foreign Minister.
In
the 100 days Good Governance cabinet, a minister was appointed
designated Minister for Foreign Affairs, Telecommunications and IT on
January 12, 2015, which included the cash rich Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT).
Due to the minister’s very busy travel schedule, he could not visit SLT
for six weeks till March 23.
In
some countries, subject of Foreign Trade is known to be combined with
Foreign Affairs. However, vesting institutions with subjects not having
even the remotest connection to Foreign Affairs such as telecom, IT and
lotteries is unique to our Paradis Isle.
In
terms of prestige and status, so important to our worthy politicians,
Foreign Affairs take precedence way over Telecom, IT and Lotteries. That
being the case, what was the thinking behind our good governance
leaders, the President and Prime Minister, in vesting cash rich
institutions under the Foreign Ministry headed by senior party
loyalists? Was it to enable them to make some money on the side as
Foreign Affairs is devoid of opportunities such as tenders, development
projects etc.? Was it to enable them to provide employment for
unemployed supporters who hung flags and pasted posters in their
electorates prior to elections? Or was it some other grand plan?
For
a short period prior to and after 2015 Presidential elections, the
public were told, ministries would be allocated ‘scientifically’. All
that went awry after the constitutionally mandated 30 ministries had to
be exceeded to form a ‘National Government’ since the electorate did not
give either of the two leading political parties, a clear mandate to
govern. It resulted in the bizarre combination of subjects under
portfolios such as Policy Planning, Economic Affairs, Child, Youth &
Cultural Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Telecommunications & IT,
Highways, Higher Education & Investment Promotions, University
Education & Highways, to name a few.
The
current Prime Minister has been a regular visitor to western
democracies over the last several decades. He is also an avowed liberal
democrat. Our politicians, both in government and opposition, avail
themselves of every opportunity, besides creating numerous opportunities
to travel abroad at state expense, even on flimsy pretexts. Many
undertake study tours to observe democracy at work in western countries.
Nevertheless,
none of these worthies, despite all their study tours abroad have even
suggested a system of a shadow cabinet for the opposition.
The
benefits of such a system are many. Key among them would be of having
one opposition member to monitor workings of each ministry and raise
issues related to assigned ministry in an educated and intelligent
manner in parliament. Another benefit would be the gradual availability
of a group of members of parliament familiar with workings of
ministerial portfolios assigned to them. They would be the obvious
choice for cabinet appointment if and when the opposition party is voted
into office in the future. They would be able to make a far better
contribution to governance than a majority of square pegs in round
holes, currently holding office.
Needless
to say, for such a system to prevail, the opposition need be elected by
the people and not selected by the government in office, as is the case
at present
Presidents,
Prime Ministers and governments are elected by the people. They are but
temporary custodians of the nation, mandated to govern for a fixed
period, after which they need to revert to the people for a fresh
mandate.
Allocation
of ministerial portfolios and state institutions need be carried out
responsibly. The state’s best interest and not those of their political
and personal loyalists must essentially determine such allocations.
Ministries
and state institutions is not the patrimony of leaders to be bequeathed
upon political loyalists, friends and relations.