It is not exaggeration that normal characteristic of majority Sri Lankans have been tolerance and compassion. This has been very much due to the impact of culture norms, ethics, and values which fed Sri Lankan society for thousands of years. This nature of inherent tolerant and compassion of majority of Sri Lankans have been known by the world for centuriesand many are the instances to prove that. However, when observing the society today it seems people in their majority have lost their tolerance and compassion. This can be mainly attributed to the politics of the country after independence and the circumstances resulted. By now it seems that people in their majority have obviously lost their patient over the country’s politics and politicians. The downfall,politics has broughtto the country which was a strong economy on par with Japan by the time of its independence has frustrated and disappointed the people to the hilt.
In Sri Lanka intelligent and knowledgeable people who are aware of what is happening around and mindful of what is right and wrong are utterly dejected.Majority seem to have completely lost confidence and retain no trust onpoliticians whohavecome to bedescribed today as corrupted, unscrupulous and a lawless mob. Good governanceis what, majority got together to bring into power and expected thatwould bring decent, transparent and well-focusedrule to the country, has disappointed the SriLankans most. People expected uncivilized, corrupted, despotic, governance would be totally transformed or replaced by good governance once it came to power and had muchhopes on it. But in contrary to their dream of having the leaders of the caliber of Lee kuan yew who had zero level tolerance for corruption and Mandela who became instrumental for rule of law , democracy and reconciliation in South Africa, were frustrated and seem to have been ashamed of themselves over the good governance they contributed to bring forth.
The situation right now in the country somehow looks nor way good. People are in a dilemmaand they have not been left with a choice or alternative. They haveentirely lost the confidence and trust on politicians that had driven the country to the utmost failure incomparison with South Asian region and other Asian neighbors not only in economic development but in many other aspects of development too. So much so is the frustration of people on politics of the country that they have been driven to the extent of requesting military to take over the country. This is to where politicians who ruled over seven decades since independence has brought the countryand made the mindset of the people.
When looking at all developed countries in the world and all East Asian countries whichovertook Sri Lanka in economic development during last two tothree decades or so, had one thing in common that we lacked very much. That is non other than the visionary leadership and leaders with real will and love to see the development of their countries. These intelligent and determined leaders could developed their countries from no where to very much better off positions of development. Asian countries such as China, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Malesia, even Vietnam and Cambodia also provide evidence to the difference leaders can do. All these countries were those behind us by the time we gained independence. The difference of ours waswhen those countries had far sighted and visionary leaders who took decisions always thinking about future of their countries and overall development and wellbeing of the people, ours were those ensured their own wellbeing and political survival.They even today are engaged in doing the same. But the only good thing is people have now come to understand the reality and they have started dejecting the predatory politicians.
Now with a presidential election around the corner some names are read as aspirant candidates. But the wish of the people at the momentis somebody who is visionary and really determined to integrate and develop the country without prioritizing selfish motives as we have seen from those all along the line to be the leader of the country. Nevertheless, the question people are asking whether all these political parties which had lost credibility can produce such an intelligent, visionary, broad minded selfless leader. So, people are helpless. The innocent people, they really love the country. The majority Sri Lankans have shown very often they are ready to make whatever sacrifice if the sacrifices meant for the good of the country and its future. This is while they werewitnessing majority politicians doing the exactcontrary. As a result, it is just the responsibility and obligation those aspiring to become the country’s next president that it is not millions and billions of people who develop countries but few leaders who were visionary and really needed to guide their nation to development. They had their own plans and strategies for that. They were intolerant to corruption, waste ofresources, inefficiency and not indulged in nepotism and despotism instead won the trust and confidence of the people. They did not want to somehow hang on to power either postponing elections, having early elections or otherwise making laws to stay in power for ever. In the contrary people wanted them to stay longer. Examples from our neighboring countries are Lee Kuan Yew, Mahathir Mohamed. Now the recent example is visionary leader of India Narendra Modi. Modi’s visionary leadership carrying young India in the right path has been rewarded with the overwhelming majority in the reelection. India is one of the countries with highest young population in the world. India’s youth population is more than 40%. Modi has visionary plans to exploit this resource productively for the country by skilling them and employing them in better livelihoods unlike what Sri Lanka did in 1970s and 1980s when it had majority youth in its population. Two civil insurgencies killing many thousands of young people who had to be priceless resource under able and visionary leadership.
Thereforeon behalf of the country and the innocent public thehumbal request make from those who are eying in the highest most position is ,to be genuine, be different and be ready with your visionary plans and strategies to do the deference and build the pride of the country which is the dream of the innocent people in Sri Lanka. That’s what the country is thirst of and expect from you.
Chathura Jayampathi
Former Lecturer of
Political Science
University of Peradeniya
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