{"id":143255,"date":"2024-10-12T05:08:31","date_gmt":"2024-10-12T05:08:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/?p=143255"},"modified":"2024-10-12T05:08:31","modified_gmt":"2024-10-12T05:08:31","slug":"time-to-drain-the-swamp-the-opportunity-to-make-significant-change-in-sri-lankas-political-economic-and-governance-landscape-by-aubrey-joachim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/time-to-drain-the-swamp-the-opportunity-to-make-significant-change-in-sri-lankas-political-economic-and-governance-landscape-by-aubrey-joachim\/","title":{"rendered":"Time to drain the swamp\u2026\u2026\u2026 The opportunity to make significant change in Sri Lanka\u2019s political, economic and governance landscape! – By Aubrey Joachim"},"content":{"rendered":"

Time to drain the swamp\u2026\u2026\u2026 The opportunity to make significant change in Sri Lanka\u2019s political, economic and governance landscape! – By Aubrey Joachim<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Time<\/p>\n

\"AubreyIf one thing has come out of the Donald Trump playbook it\u2019s the political clich\u00e9s that he has come up with. Some of these fit well into the Sri Lankan political context. One that is most apt at this point \u2013 with parliamentary elections around the corner – is \u2018drain the swamp\u2019.<\/em> The slight modification might be replacing \u2018swamp\u2019 <\/em>with \u2018cess-pit\u2019!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Three weeks after the Presidential election opinions are still divided. While the victors are going about their business as best as can be expected in the short elapsed time and limited ministers, the vanquished are still licking their wounds. However, they do not seem to have learnt the lessons that their vile stories, falsehoods and misinformation regarding the victor taught them leading into the election. They continue to spread lies and falsehoods in an attempt to discredit and destabilise the democratically elected President, his team and his policies.<\/span><\/p>\n

With the parliamentary elections just a month away the traditional parties seem to be in disarray. Some have already thrown in the towel. Most of the 222 \u2013 the previous 225 less the 3 NPP members \u2013 have also seen the writing on the wall and are not even contesting. Their lives will change to just being ordinary citizens facing the daily grind of ordinary folk. Their ill-gotten income streams will dry up. Some will be having nightmares and wet pants fearing the corruption investigations that are sure to commence under the new regime. They will surely miss their cushioned seats in the parliament building in the Diyawanna Oya<\/em>. I doubt Deshamanya Geoffery Bawa- who designed the building would have expected such a lowly bunch to have graced his architecture.<\/span><\/p>\n

The extended families and friends of the high and mighty must also be biting their nails. Their plum diplomatic postings, CEO roles in Government enterprises and agencies will see the sunset. The swamp was extensive.<\/span><\/p>\n

Much insight into the occupants of the seats in the last parliament came out during the 2022 aragalaya uprising. Many were found to be below par with little or no educational qualifications let alone human decency. If corruption, thuggery, dishonesty and disloyalty were the yardstick of performance they would have scored straight A\u2019s. This was the demographic of successive parliaments for the better part of the 76 years of Sri Lankan independence. This had led to a progressive deterioration in the governance and economic leadership of the country. The results were plain to see.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thus the unanimous cry of the body politic was for wholesale change of the of the lawmakers as well as for a system change. Following the ousting of the then incumbent President \u2013 replaced by a stand-in charlatan leader, the lead-up to the expected Presidential elections saw the formation of various cabals of politicians criss-crossing like pieces on a chess board in search of a parking spot. Unfortunately, lack of checks and balances in some parties saw undesirable wolves in sheep\u2019s clothing enter their stables. Another hard and bitter learned lesson!<\/span><\/p>\n

Here then is the opportunity for the wishes of the masses to come to fruition. Drain the cess-pit!<\/em> Voices on the ground are indicating that even those who in their scepticism did not vote for AKD are now regretting their actions and this shift is likely to turn into an NPP tsunami come November 14th<\/sup>. No wonder the traditional parties and the elitists are fretting. The dogs are barking and the proverbial barbarians are at the gate.<\/span><\/p>\n

The people must realise though that with AKD at the helm only half the battle is won. He needs the peoples mandate to control the parliament. He must have an able crew to help him navigate the choppy waters ahead. At this point the NPP are doggedly sticking to their plan of nominating qualified and capable individuals to attract the attention of the voters. Already the names of high profile academics and professionals are emerging as candidates. This is leading the other parties to scramble and gather similar types to represent them and mirror the opposite camp. At least one thing is guaranteed \u2013 an increase in the IQ and capability of the next parliament which will be like none before.<\/span><\/p>\n

The rest of the battle must be fought by the masses to ensure that the system change that has begun will continue into the future. For this to happen it is imperative that:<\/span><\/p>\n