Insight By Sunil Kumar For Lankaweb

June3rd. 2024

For President Ranil Wickremesinghe who was not elected by the people of Sri Lanka but appointed by SLPP MPs to replace the ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the President now campaigning  to sustain his grip on the Nation`s leadership on the basis  that he alone stabilized the economy through an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which led to a $2.9 billion loan to help the country recover from its severe socio-economic crisis and despite claims of economic recovery, Sri Lanka’s prospects remain grim.The country is not out of the woods yet as many factors currently indicate.There is also the spectre of the deposed former President and his allies lingering in the shadows continuing his existence with  impunity the financial disaster he caused together with his allies where they  need to be held accountable and the severe financial losses they alone caused the country addressed which really is a travesty of justice.

A recent media quote  suggests that “Despite discussions and presentations about economic recovery, most Sri Lankans are still grappling with the aftermath of the worst socio-economic crisis since independence. Widespread protests erupted due to skyrocketing prices and shortages of essentials, including food and fuel, aggravated by past external debts. Militarization is at an all-time high, with security forces curbing protests and suppressing the rights of non-majoritarian communities, especially in the north and east. Surveillance, harassment and unlawful arrests are common “which is no myth nor conjecture as this appears to be how the present hierarchy maintains its status quo with  rank disregard to the democratic statutes initiated in the Constitution but the people remain resigned as they probably do not wish to ursurp or negate the good initiated by the present regime over the colossal hardships endured in the recent past where for now at least there is some respite.

Remarkably President Wickremasinghe now appears to be vague in fulfilling his promises to hold presidential, local government, and parliamentary elections where initially, local elections were set for March 9, 2023, but were postponed, citing a lack of funds, despite ongoing numerous government expenditures that suggest mismanagement and mishandling of protocols and priorities.

Numerous protests have been forcefully suppressed, leading to the disbanding of the protest movement. Subsequently, the elections commission indefinitely postponed the elections, even defying a Supreme Court Order where this delay is seen as a tactic for President Wickremesinghe to gain time and support for his presidential re-electon bid.As to whether it will succeed is a matter for conjectures as the opposition to his  Presidency with no constitutional mandate is something that is growing despite the inroads gained towards Sri Lanka`s current well being albeit superficial given all the problems the average Sri Lanka faces today where delaying elections may not augur well for him as well as the country in the long term.

It is somewhat  disconcerting that relative to this, the UNP General Secretary  has proposed postponing the Presidential and General elections by at least two years through a parliamentary motion or referendum, claiming it will prevent bankruptcy and rebuild the economy. He argues that spending on elections is wasteful and believes economic issues can be resolved within two years which of course is a mere matter of opinion not necessarily a viable solution to the country`s woes and the dissent of the people who oppose it.

History has proved that Sri Lankan Regimes  in the past that have postponed elections have had disastrous outcomes where direct voting is the most democratic decision making mechanism as opposed to referendums which  have often been manipulated to reflect ruling elites’ interests rather than the people’s will and in this case too the consequences could prove to be dire.

Quoting from the same source as previous quoted -“All democrats and progressives, regardless of their political affiliations, must resist any attempts to erode democratic rights through the postponement of elections. Such actions not only undermine democracy but also pose a potential constitutional crisis. Safeguarding citizens’ voting rights where ensuring a functioning democratic process are paramount.“

Hopefully the Presidential and General Elections will be held with no further delay in the best interests of the country as the progress desperately needed could be at risk and all the impending factors weighing down the development of the country needing to be alleviated in an already struggling environment where it is the Will Of The People that needs the greater priority.