{"id":96853,"date":"2022-08-03T09:21:22","date_gmt":"2022-08-03T09:21:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/?p=96853"},"modified":"2022-08-04T03:31:08","modified_gmt":"2022-08-04T03:31:08","slug":"fast-track-critical-system-changes-in-the-electoral-system-and-hold-any-election","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/fast-track-critical-system-changes-in-the-electoral-system-and-hold-any-election\/","title":{"rendered":"Fast- track critical \u2018System changes\u2019 in the Electoral system and hold any Election – By Bernard Fernando"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fast- track critical \u2018System changes\u2019 in the Electoral system and hold any Election – Bernard Fernando<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

\"Sri<\/p>\n

The writer\u2019s attention was drawn to the recent clarion call by several Political Parties, Opinion makers and Academics harping on the urgent need to obtain a fresh \u2018People\u2019s mandate\u2019<\/strong> \u2018through a \u2018General Election\/Referendum. This urgency was triggered by the peaceful and intelligent youth at the \u2018Aragala Bhoomiya\u2019 who opened the doors for radical and far reaching \u2018System changes\u2019 aimed at \u2018Abolition of Executive Presidency\u2019 (Gota – Go-Home) and election of a new set of patriotic \u2018Political Professionals\u2019 to the Parliament(Curse the \u2018225\u2019) including the entire Political and Public Administration system. The corollary is to legislate a People- based New Constitution coupled with \u2018Electoral and other Reforms\u2019 towards rapid Economic recovery and Peace, leading to sustainable development of the Country. In the context of such National urgency (Not political expediency), the clarion call is fair and reasonable.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, the callers have seemingly not given due consideration to the danger that if such General Election is held under the existing system without rectifying the critical \u2018system errors\u2019, the Parliament will again be teeming with another cursable set of \u2018225\u2019 throwing the country into further disarray ! We have experienced their \u2018bravados\u2019 over the last 74 years with a majority of dishonest, selfish, unsuitable, corrupt and unprincipled politicians continuing to represent us in the Parliament to date.<\/span><\/p>\n

A glaring example is the dismal failure of 5 consecutive Govts. (1994 to 2021) to abolish the \u2018Executive Presidency\u2019 which was the \u2018Best Selling Proposition\u2019 (BSP)\/\u2019Chanda-gundu\u2019 carried in their Election Manifestoes to bait the innocent voters.\u00a0 As such, can we simply expect a Govt. produced under the same old Electoral system, ( hopefully after March 2023) to approve the far-reaching \u2018System changes\u2019 sought by the Peaceful \u2018Aragalaya\u2019 of our intelligent Youth? In short, it would again be a case of \u2018asking for feathers from Tortoises\u2019 and waiting for the \u2018Godot\u2019, because majority \u00a0will be \u2018back to business as usual\u2019 where their pangs of \u2018Power Hunger, Selfishness and rivalry\u2019 will automatically re-appear in the House to negate the \u2018System changes\u2019 that challenge the traditional Parliamentarians, triggering another curse of the \u2018225\u2019!<\/span><\/p>\n

Why do Voters fail to elect most suitable candidates?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Hitherto, our voters have exhibited a good sense in changing Governments. But in regard to selection of individual candidates they have failed. For example they have over the years, voted Tele-drama actresses, Cricketers, Drug\/Illicit liquor\/Ethanol\/Sand Dealers, Bookie owners , \u2018Gamey Chandiyas\u2019 as well as candidates languishing in remand jail for criminal acts leaving young and suitable politicians in the wings ! Let us not hide the fact that out of sheer poverty, our simple voters are swayed by temporary handouts\/bribes in the form of cash and kind doled out by money throwing, notoriously popular politicians. Also, another stubborn fact is that many a times, people tend to rely on corrupt and crooked politicians to get illegal and undue favours done! However, given the realty that all those misfits are selected and listed by the power hungry party hierarchies to fatten their vote Banks, under the despicable \u2018Preference Voting\u2019 system, the voters cannot be solely held responsible as they are compelled to exercise a \u2018Hobsons choice\u2019 to select \u2018Mystical Horses\u2019 from lists replete with so called \u2018Political Donkeys\u2019!<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, the new generation youth at the \u2018Aragala Bhoomiya\u2019 and beyond with their slogan \u2018Curse the 225\u2019 and the six point programme have upstaged the \u2018System errors\u2019 in our current Electoral System accentuating \u2018People\u2019s Power\u2019. Therefore, it is absolutely imperative to fast-track critical \u2018System changes\u2019 based on <\/strong>Fairness, Result <\/strong>Accuracy and Meritocracy <\/strong>highlighting<\/strong> a true Sri Lankan Democracy, <\/strong>as detailed below, to the existing Electoral System\/Process, by an \u2018Interim All-Party Govt. before holding a General or any other Election. It is the only way to avoid a repetition of the curse of our Politicians in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n

Critical \u2018System changes\u2019 to the existing Electoral system before any Election<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n