REJECT LEADERS
REJECTING SYSTEM CHANGE
In SRI LANKA
Two years ago, the last ten days of July saw a brutal crackdown of a public uprising that craved a system change following an unprecedented economic meltdown that irreparably ruined the life of over half of the populace while turning that of another huge segment of society upside down.
The weeks-long and miles-long queues which were a common sight then were not the real crisis, as some politicians attempt to portray, it was only the tip of iceberg. Beneath it there were stories of hundreds of thousands, if not millions whose dream goals in life had been shattered, stories of comfortable lifestyles of thousands of families that had been overturned and stories of wailing of broken hearts over the uncertain future of their children.
Also, there was a story beneath it of a struggle to make ends meet with drastically and suddenly slumped income while the expenses had shot up over threefold within weeks.
With this coupling with the frustrating queues, the rage ultimately poured into Colombo streets was so powerful that an all-powerful exclusive President who was also the commander in chief of armed forces had to flee to a neighbouring county.
That is the backdrop against which people have been given the opportunity to decide their future and that of their children by way of electing the next person who is going to rule over them for another five years. In fact, what majority of people failed to realise when they offered the same opportunity eight times since 1982 was that this was an opportunity to select a programme that would uplift their life, no matter who presents it and not an opportunity to select without such a programme. They also failed to distinguished the programmes from empty promises. And 76 years since independence, those rulers so elected have accumulated a mountain of debate that will have to be repaid for generations.
Also, look at what the politicians are doing, what is the rationale behind President RanilWickramesinghe contesting the September 21 Presidential election as ab independent candidate? Has he abandoned the policies of his party, the United National Party? The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) whose leaders wholeheartedly supported President GotabayaRajapakse’ s economic policies and programmes also had plans now, in respect of Presidential election.
Politicians are jumping from one party to another these days, despite we never having heard about them joining others parties or accommodatingothers after agreeing on policies or social justice.
People know that almost all political parties have blood on their hands, one way or the other. People have to decide with logical thinking, by being well-informed and shedding traditional and irrational political bonds, preferring interests of the country over personal gains. Only that would change the system.
