Mediaboss Marketing

Democracy triumphed against all odds at Thursday's Presidential Election which saw Maithripala Sirisena as the sixth Executive President of Sri Lanka. It was a momentous event that reaffirmed

Sri Lankan collective faith in pluralism and democracy. Despite the many rumours that circulated to the contrary, there was a smooth transfer of power from outgoing President Mahinda Rajapaksa to new President Maithripala Sirisena, a veteran in the political arena with over four decades' experience.

The new President as well as his Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe hit the right note at the very beginning, starting with a simple swearing-in ceremony at Independence Square, the very place which symbolises the country's freedom from tyrannical colonial rule. Simplicity and humility are the hallmarks of President Sirisena, a true son of the soil from the rice bowl of Rajarata.

During his brief, nationally televised speech at Independence Square, the new President identified several challenges before his administration. He said that he will crusade for an economic, social and political transformation in the country as pledged in his election manifesto, adding that he is committed to build a society where freedom, democracy, people's sovereignty and law and order reign. In short, he promised to build a new country in 100 days.

This is indeed the need of the hour as all these cherished values had taken a beating under the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime which brazenly disregarded all norms of civilised conduct and democracy. This was most evident in the way the previous incumbent conducted his re-election bid. According to one conservative estimate, he had spent at least Rs. 250 billion on the campaign, from giant cut-outs to utterly revolting TV advertisements that ridiculed the Common Candidate.

The State media, including this newspaper, were used in the most shameless manner to promote the previous President who was seeking an unprecedented third term, with not one inch of room given to the Common Candidate or to any of the other 17 candidates. As President Sirisena highlighted in his speech, it was his political maturity and mettle that enabled him to fearlessly withstand this barrage of mudslinging.

It is indeed vital to restore democracy, freedom, people's sovereignty and law and order in the shortest possible period of time. Having ended the three-decade old conflict, the previous President had a golden opportunity to become a revered leader like Nelson Mandela by bringing all communities and religious groups together and strengthening democratic institutions. However, he eschewed this path and chose to tread in the opposite direction by steadily undermining and weakening all democratic structures and sowing ethnic and religious discord for short-term gain.

As John Acton said years ago, "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely". Mahinda Rajapaksa embodied this perfectly through the passing of the draconian 18th Amendment which removed Presidential term limits and repealed all the independent commissions appointed through the 17th Amendment. He spent government funds lavishly on fruitless projects, most of which were named after himself. Even the opening ceremonies of these projects cost millions of rupees. The intimidation of independent media and human rights groups and the tacit approval given to extremist organisations such as the Bodu Bala Sena were other factors that led to his downfall. His close and extended family was given a free rein to ride roughshod over the populace and engage in acts of massive corruption.

As the Presidential Elections showed so decisively and clearly, the people had flatly rejected these anti-democratic measures. The voters rejected communalism, nepotism, corruption, injustice and authoritarianism. The people have rightly demanded a country free from these despicable acts.

In line with its promise of good governance through the Maithri Palanaya (Compassionate Rule), the Maithripala Sirisena administration should, among other things, take steps to Amend the Executive Presidency to prevent the concentration of unlimited power on one individual; Repeal the 18th Amendment and bring back the 17th Amendment and its independent institutions; Reinstate Chief Justice Shiranee Bandaranayake; Restore the rank, medal and pension of war hero General Sarath Fonseka; restore law and order; establish a suitable mechanism to probe the mega deals of the previous administration and bring back any monies stashed abroad by corrupt individuals; check waste and corruption; appoint competent persons to head all Government institutions; restore complete media freedom; eliminate drug abuse; reduce the Cost of Living and fuel prices and depoliticise the judiciary, police, administrative service and the foreign service.

Read the original:
A triumph for democracy