Sri Lanka under Rajapakse regime becoming feudal kingdom with constitutional veneer
By Rohan Samarajiva Ph.D
The events of the past few months (and indeed the past few years) in Sri Lanka have puzzled me. The President and his coterie are flagrantly violating the Constitution and laws. That is shocking, but what is more shocking is the casual acceptance of this behaviour by all concerned.
PIC by: indi.ca
What is surprising is not that the President violates the law and disregards explicit directions from lawful authority, but that the citizenry seem to accept it. Not that the President tries to impress university teachers by inviting them to dinner at Temple Trees, but that most of them go, and some even kiss the hands of their host.
After much reflection, I have had to conclude that we are witnessing a head-on collision between Constitutionalism and Feudalism. Constitutionalism is respect for words on paper that say what power holders can and cannot do; it is basically about the widespread respect for law:
Constitutionalism as a theory and in practice stands for the principle that there are — in a properly governed state — limitations upon those who exercise the powers of government, and that these limitations are spelled out in a body of higher law which is enforceable in a variety of ways, political and judicial.
This is by no means a modern idea, for the concept of a higher law which spells out the basic norms of a political society is as old as Western civilisation. That there are standards of rightness which transcend and control public officials, even current popular majorities, represents a critically significant element of man’s endless quest for the good life. (Fellman,1973-74: 491-92).
This basic idea of constraints on power may not really be Western, as evidenced by the story of the cow seeking and receiving justice from King Elara 2000 years ago. But perhaps, that story was told because it was so exceptional. In any case, the story is from the Anuradhapura era, the highest manifestation of Sinhala-Tamil civilisation in this country (King Elara was Tamil).
Our proximate connection is to the Mahanuwara era, the lowest form of Sinhala-Tamil civilisation in this island, where the kings exercised absolute power, constrained not by abstract notions of justice, but only by the concurrence of the Sangha and the fealty of the Kandyan feudal lords (the British conquered Kandy when Sri Vikrama Rajasinha/Kandasamy and his feudal lords fell out).
One may differ from Fellman’s claim that Constitutionalism is a “Western” or Judeo-Christian construct. The Hammurabi Code, the oldest known body of law, is often used as an illustration of fundamental laws that even the king cannot change, and the acceptance of which constitute Constitutionalism.
This is not the place for an extensive historical digression, but one may hypothesise that complex urban civilizations with extensive division of labour require Constitutionalism, while the more primitive forms based on subsistence agriculture or hunting and gathering do not. This hypothesis would suggest that the Anuradhapura or Polonnaruwa civilisations included forms of adherence to Constitutionalism, while the lower forms of the Kandyan period did not.
We were introduced to Constitutionalism by the colonial powers, especially the British. Through experiences such as the Bracegirdle incident of 1937, where the colonial Supreme Court overruled the colonial governor, the local elites came to appreciate the practice of Constitutionalism and lived by its tenets for several decades after independence. Election promises could be, and were, broken, but laws were respected and obeyed.
When the 1945 Soulbury Constitution, especially the entrenched Article 29(2) (“the Parliament of Ceylon shall not make any law rendering persons of any community or religion liable to disabilities or restrictions to which persons of other communities are not made liable…”) and the provisions ensuring an independent civil service, proved too constraining, the politicians of the day did not simply disregard it as they do now; they carried out a Constitutional Revolution and got themselves a new, less-constraining fundamental law.
Despite the revolution carried out by an unlikely coalition of Kandyan feudals (Mrs Bandaranaike was a direct descendant of the signatories of the Kandyan Convention) and assorted Marxists (some with first-hand memories of the Bracegirdle victory), the basic idea of Constitutionalism was still alive. Otherwise why did they go to all that trouble?
The 1972 Constitution was an abomination: it stripped the safeguards for minorities and broke the back of the administrative service; its adoption without the participation of the Tamil parties created the conditions for civil war. It was replaced by the 1978 Constitution fully within the amendatory provisions of its predecessor. Even the removal of Supreme Court judges was done within the letter, if not the spirit, of the law.
J.R. Jayewardene kept fiddling with the 1978 Constitution, amending it over and over again and ruining its integrity. He was autocratic, but within the bounds of Constitutionalism; just like his friend Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore, who used the law to subjugate his opponents.
It took the next generation of Kandyan feudals to start eating away at Constitutionalism. The attack began with the appointment of a controversial Chief Justice under instructions to mangle the 1978 Constitution by interpreting it to permit cross-overs of MPs. Still the façade of Constitutionalism was preserved; just that an unprincipled Chief Justice was interpreting it in ways that served short-term interests of the then President.
But by corrupting the highest court, that descendent of the Ratwatte Disave, commenced the insidious final assault on the last bulwark of Constitutionalism and prepared the ground for the restoration of feudalism as the political framework of Sri Lanka.
The cruder violations of the principle of Constitutionalism came with the 17th Amendment, ironically intended to be the ultimate constraint on the abuse of Presidential power. Now the façade of Constitutionalism was torn off. The President (not the current one) simply ignored the parts she did not like, a practice continued by her successor but in cruder form.
The Supreme Court, then in the thrall of a lawless Chief Justice, proved no constraint. There is not enough evidence to assess the nature of the current Supreme Court, but given the grievous assaults the institution has suffered and the servility of the legal profession and the Bar Association, there is little cause for optimism. But, of course, there is always hope. Remember Pakistan.
So it appears that the political elite’s dalliance with Constitutionalism has about run its course, 60 years after independence. We are reverting to our native Feudalism: not just the ruling family but large swaths of the populace, including opinion leaders and intellectuals.
For example, Ven. Maduluwave Sobitha Thero, an erudite and eloquent senior monk, was quoted some time back in the Lankadeepa, saying that the legislature was superfluous; all we needed was a President who would be elected periodically and a judicial system. In the past, our kings used to appoint whoever they wished as ministers, so should our presidents.
There is no need to go through the complications of electing ministers or having them be accountable to parliament. Not pure feudalism, where the king can do anything, but close enough. And no suggestion that the presidency can pass from father to son, though of course there is no prohibition against the son running for office (the only one available in this truly home-grown form of government).
It appears that Constitutionalism of the classic kind has been found wanting. At the end of five decades of independence, we were still poor, still beholden to external powers, and still incapable of regaining sovereign control of the national territory. We had to shut down the city even to celebrate the 50th anniversary of independence. This was not seen as a result of bad economic policy (which it was), but of Constitutionalism.
When leaders with feudal mindsets gained power, there were no institutional brakes to stall their multifarious assaults of Constitutionalism, as there were in India, when Indira Gandhi tried it. The Left coalitions broke the back of the administrative machinery in the 1960s and completed the job with the 1972 Constitution, and the judiciary was corrupted in the 1990s.
The assault on the media that began in the 1960s reached its apogee in 2009. The private sector could not get out of its “deal” mentality and professionals, with a few honorable exceptions, lacked spine.
Now, Sri Lanka is reverting to its Kandyan state: an all powerful king and royal family; assorted feudal lords who serve at the pleasure of the king, but have limited power of their own. In the old days, the regional feudals gave the king revenue and troops, in exchange for the right to extract rents from the peasants.
Today, the regional feudals deliver votes to the king at the periodic elections, in return for the right to extract rents from the private sector. As in the old days, the Sangha are consulted and placated by the king with Benz cars and assorted gifts (a practice not started by the present President) and serve as a weak check on his power.
This is the larger context that explains the kissing of the President’s hands by university academics; the conversion of artistes to vandibhattayas; and the blurring of the lines between the king, the government and the state. When the President uses state resources to win elections or prints his visage on currency notes, he does not see that he is doing anything wrong, because he is no longer functioning within the “Western” frame of Constitutionalism.
When the President appoints his kith and kin and court favorites to positions of power and nominates them to run for political office, such actions are accepted by the more deserving party workers on the ground because they too interpret events from within the feudal frame.
When I question the handing over of scarce broadcasting frequencies to political favorites without any form of transparent process, journalists question my motives, because I am the one outside the dominant feudal frame that allows the king to reward courtiers.
Sri Lanka is no longer a country governed by law, but is a kingdom, with a thin veneer of Constitutionalism for external consumption. Dissonance exists only for a few like me, still unable to shed the Western baggage of the Magna Carta and Montesquieu.
The real question is, therefore, not about which individual wins the presidential election, but about whether we can (or should) get back to Constitutionalism. All successful presidential candidates since 1994 have promised to abolish the executive presidency; all have broken their promises. Constitutionalism is not words on paper, but broad acceptance across society that certain kinds of words on paper have binding authority and must be respected. It is what will give meaning to the word of a candidate.
Even if the executive presidency is abolished or the Constitution is amended, nothing has any meaning unless Constitutionalism is restored. What use are words on paper, when none respect them?
The larger question is the governing framework. Do university teachers rush to kiss the ring and vice chancellors prostrate themselves before presidents in modern societies? Can we have a modern economy, when the largest companies in the country obey patently illegal directions from regulators?
Is it normal to name a government-owned, money-losing airline for the head of state and paint the tail of the leased aircraft with his campaign livery?
These are symptoms of a transition from a Constitutional State to a feudal one.
It may be argued that today’s complex, globally-connected national economy cannot be effectively managed by a bunch of Presidential cronies, and that the procedures of representative democracy and checks and balances are essential, and therefore, there is no alternative to constitutionalism.
It may also be argued that every country has a constitution and that over time, as the economy develops and matures, as was the case in South Korea and Taiwan, constitutionalism also takes root. But if these were true, why is it that Sri Lanka is sliding back into feudalism, just as it is becoming a middle-income country?
Myanmar is governed feudally, but can a feudal system handle a complex economy like Sri Lanka’s?
As a colleague who read the first draft stated:
“A society embracing feudalism in whatever guise can no longer expect, at the same time, certain other cherished ideals including, but not limited to:
• meritocracy: the best performing persons assured to get best public/academic appointments
• fairness: everyone treated as equals, irrespective of wealth or family connections
• due process: transparent, consultative policy making and policy implementation in the public interest
• equality before the law, affording protection to everyone irrespective of social status or political affiliation
Feudalism, on the other hand, is inherently and fundamentally incompatible with all the above and other values. In fact, there can be no public interest whatsoever in a feudal society; only vested interests. Mervin Silvas, Sakvithis, Potta Naufers and their ilk will be the norm, not exception.
There won’t be a chance in hell for any bright, hard working, honest young man or woman with no family or political connections to rise in society professionally, intellectually, artistically or entrepreneurially — unless they sell their soul to the ruling oligarchy/family.”
Are there autochthonous (why do I use this word? Because the sonorous radio broadcasts of the Minister of Constitutional Affairs in the 1970 government, Dr Colvin R. de Silva, imprinted it in my brain; it means ‘home grown’) checks and balances?
Devo vassathu kalena
Sassasampattihetu ca
Phito bhavatu loko ca
Raja bhavatu dhammiko (from the 1978 Constitution)
Is the mismanagement of the economy resulting in factory closures and job losses, or the destruction of the value of the Employee Provident Fund, the modern-day equivalents of the rains not falling in time, thus resulting in famine and pestilence throughout the land?
As the kings were then seen as responsible for delayed rains because they failed to rule according to Dharma, will our modern kings also lose legitimacy, when and if the economy heads south? Is this it?
Zimbabwe and North Korea show that economic mismanagement by itself does not dethrone kings. A national conversation on Constitutionalism versus Feudalism seems a safer course.
I am persuaded that Constitutionalism, the rule of laws, not men, is most conducive to the happiness of our people. But I am open to persuasion that what is appropriate for the Sri Lankan climate is something else.
References
Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. 1978, as amended.
Fellman, David (1973-74). Constitutionalism, in Philip P. Wiener, ed., Dictionary of the History of Ideas: Studies of Selected Pivotal Ideas, vol. 1, pp. 485-92.
47 Comments
Even in Britain and certain Nordic countries Feudalism and Constitutionalism exist side by side today. Of course Feudalism is relegated to a quasi ceremonial role. So also in certain asian countries such as Thailand and Malaysia. In these cases the Royal lineage extends over centuries. In the Middle East we have kings who acquired royal blue blood only after the 1950's with discovery of oil. Bedouin Chiefs were appointed Kings by the colonial powers.
However it is only in Sri Lanka that Royal blue blood can be evolved in a couple of years, just at doctorates are presented to all and sundry by our institutions of higher learning. Just as our ancestors used to bow before the colonial rulers many of our educated people today prostrate themselves before politicians and leaders.
So this points to a weakness in our phsyche where we are prepared to forgoe our individuality, rights and dignity as human beings before a mortal of equal standing. What we achieve by doing so is the question. Maybe in the absence of god we have to create one who is in charge of our destiny.
dear writer,
i feel that this article is a call in the wilderness.as they say in tamil "nirvana nattil kovanam kattiyavan paithiyakaran" which roughly translated means in a naked country guy who wears clothes is a stupid person.though we are in 21st century with all the technological innovations improving the standards of life our mindset continues to be in 15th or 16th century where skirmishes between kings and kingdoms were common.srilanka seems to be an enlightened country with enlightened people.unfortunately people seems to be in grips of insecurity.the insecurity of their cultural identity.south korea and taiwan experienced the turbulence from 50s to 90s they also experienced military rule people were killed and law and rules were violated with impunity.but now they are prosperous becoz they dont seem to have this problem of cultural identity.unfortunately srilanka claiming to be unique becoz it is a buddhist country along with myanmar and thailand seem to be hobbling from one problem to another.as long as people having this insecurity srilanka will have kings like mahinda rajapakshe.if u see the same problem pakistan also faces it is insecure always talks of india trying to gobble it up and hence military is given blanket immunity from persecution for violation of rules.this mindset of exceptions being made becoz they are the protectors determine the societys present and future.srilanka and its sinhalese society need not fear from tamils across the strait they are not going to invade them they have their own problem so sinhalese arise awake and succeed.to succeed let rule of law is followed in letter and spirit that is the first step towards prosperity.
New York Times recommending Srilanka as the number one spot for Tourists and Investors for 2010. So things can't be that bad there.
Surely one has to have political affiliations to get certain jobs in any Country. I am sure Dr Samarajiva has traveled to, or lived in US Australia and Canada.After winning Elections they appoint their own to all major administrative sectors. So what is different.
As far I understand Mervin is a MP and has a doctorate. So how can you compare him with a convicted criminal Pottu Naufer?
I know a Treasurer, a very successful one who had only a secondary school education obtained from attending Night School. Bill Gates did not even complete his degree.
The current President has done a tremendous job so far against all odds, and sustained conspiracies hatched by Foreigners and the greedy and opportunistic politicians in Srilanka.
The impotency of the Opposition Politicians to counteract the roaring success of the President and the Goverment ,has forced them to conduct this "corruption campaign". Some of the Elite in Colombo either wittingly or not have been sucked in to believe that the Rajapaksas are corrupt "Villagers".
i suppose mr is doing a good job of promoting himself, through his goons and thugs, by putting up hoardings and banners proclaiming that he is the king of sl. therefore, a mindest has been created where even intellectuals and proffessionals, when they are before mr act and behave as if mr is a king/feudal lord.
this type of behaviour be these people emboldens mr more and more to disregard the rule of law, especially the constitution including the criminal disregard of the supreme court rulings. this type of behaviour from the leaders of a country sets a bad precedent amongst the general public to the detriment of the future of a country in its advance towards prosperity.
Mr Samarajiva;
I thank you for this article. Has this been published in Sinhala and Tamil as well?. The masses need to be educated on this. I trust the opposition will get off its collective backside and get this message out to the rural areas. The country is on the verge of a descent into a deeper darkness.
"What is appropriate for the Sri Lankan climate is something else"..?? is scary in the light of the popular perception as to who will win on Jan 26.
I love to share that distinction with India where both are the only countries in the region that escaped the military heel - at least officially.
Kalu Albert - Mervyn Silva came as MP always through the backdoor - a strident indictment in the history of both SLFP and UNP-lead governments. He tried to get elected a few years ago - with the support of Kudu Lal and the entire kudu kingdom and their army of creeps who emerge after midnight.
At best they could have brought in at least 5,000 votes in Cbo via the usual way common to them. However, this degenerate did'nt get even 3,000 votes. As to his Doctorate, I used to like that acapuncture man (late) Dr. Jayasuriya until he committed this unforgivable abomination.
I know many common friends who think accordingly. I asked my friend the late Neelan Tiruchelvam why the "Dr" was missing in his letter-head and why he does not use it. The great man just smiled.
Ronnie de Mel, with all his learning and achievements, refused this from many Universities and was ashamed it is being trivialised by men with little minds. Next time you meet your friend Kudu Mervyn ask him on what thesis he obtained this doctorate and do share it with us here.
ISS
SF Talk: before and now… his credibility??
Before: “I will abolish executive presidency right after January 26th!!!!!”
Now: “I have to keep the presidency and will appoint 5 ministers.” They are
Sampanthan, Somawansa, Hakim, Mangala and Ranil.
Before: Sept 23, 2008 National post interview- “Sri Lanka belongs to only Sinhalese people, and minorities should stop unfair demands.”
Never denied his stupid comments for the last 1 ½ years.
Now: “National Post reporter Stewart Bell wrongly interpreted what I said in
that press interview”
Before: “We have to keep IDP’s for very long period, since LTTE members are in that group. We have to expand army by another 100,000 and keep in a high security zone”
Now:
“It’s unfair and cruel that present government keep the IDP’s indefinitely, and after Jan 26th, I will remove high security zone and release all LTTE carders without any pre conditions”
Before: “What JVP and UNP were doing is criticizing and de-moral our brave soldiers. Some unpatriotic people criticizing even me, and tell I am unfit to command even a salvation army”
Now: “I don’t keep anger and take revenges. People who talk at that time are very good friends of mine now, and they are real patriotic.”
Before: During the Tamil Nadu election time: “We are strongly against the north and east de- merger. These Tamil Nadu politicians are real JOKERS and under payroll of LTTE and proxy groups.”
Now: “I have an agreement w/ TNA to merge north and east back, and release all LTTE innocent people from the current State custody”
(Remember…armed forces sacrifice about 28,000 lives to liberate our country from ruthless LTTE)
Now fellow Sri Lanakans! Think for a moment. How come we trust this guy with dementia and offer the hot seat to steer our beautiful country to hell after January 26th?? Every citizen have to act wisely on 26th and send this guy back to Oklahoma, so he could spend the rest of his time in a mental hospital from the money he raised from unethical arm deals.
We shouldn’t select a leader just based on rumors and hearsays. Corruption happened in the past under every leadership (from Sirima’s period..) and still happening, not only Sri Lanka and also other places. Leaderships in some other countries also corrupt just as our politicians.
So, why people make a big deal especially in the last 3 months about this matter? Then why news papers or electronic media (everybody has access to U-tube) did not complain about the corruption until now or did do any investigative journalism??? Do not listen to rumors and politicians and do what you think best to the country in the future!
Since, international LTTE network is still intact, and try to come in different faces, what we need at this time is continue the strong leadership like MR that who never afraid or kiss butts of foreign forces, and take the country to a place where every citizen could enjoy best economy and the peace with the unity.
Let’s give our president another chance to develop the country, and hopefully meantime opposition parties could find a patriotic candidate for the next presidency in the future!
Jaya Wawa Mr. President!
Before: Eliminated Terrorism after 30 years!!
Now: Unite the country with prospers economy with your 40 yrs political experience!!
To Mr Rohan Samarajeeva, the author of this article and to others who may be interested.
Not only was our Constitution vandalised in 1972 and then converted to a selfish ode to the first President in 1978, what elements of the Constitution that remained were flouted and ignored. What Mr Samarajeeva points out is absolutely correct, but one needs to appreciate that it is not only a faulty Constitution that led the present sad state of affairs, but one that had no means at all of enforcing itself.
We need a Constitution that corrects all the faults in the present one while at the same time introducing means of enforcing its provisions.
Please refer to http://serendib.heliohost.org/ for a revised Constitution that does both.
Timely article by Dr Samarajiva. I strongly believe that the indiscriminate use of the executive power in areas where it should not have been,has made the sri lankan presidency disliked by many of the citizenery who have no political affiliations and are independent minded. In the end analysis we could always come to the conclusion that executive actions and/or inactions are directly responsible for the lack of decipline in the society,breakdown of law and order, political interfearences and favoritism and many of our society's ills. Therefore, I wholeheartedly agree to the curtailment of executive powers of the president as a first step and introduction of checks and balances among the executive, legislature and the judiciary.
Great piece Dr.Samarajiva, its good to know there are those of us who think along the same lines - sadly however, I doubt a majority of the Sri Lankan populace feel the same way.
It will take many more years for our political sphere to mature, understand, and value democratic ideals - till then we shall constantly be faced with a barrage of responses which liken any such proposals mere "Western" ideologies, while politicians rob the public.
As they say, the polity deserves the politicians they elect.
Dear Mr.kalu albert
It goes to show your extent of understanding by the statement "As far I understand Mervin is a MP and has a doctorate. So how can you compare him with a convicted criminal Pottu Naufer?"
For your information and understanding let me tell you that he is not even an elected MP let alone being a minister. His doctorate is the jole of the century. Compared to him Pottu Naufer looks a Santa Clause for he has stuck to remain in his chosen criminal carrier even though he was better qulified than your doctor to be in politics!Q
Today we all talk of having media freedom and all other extravagant things.six months ago there was a war that nobody thought could end.MR to his credit gave the leadership to eradicate that menace once and for all.However it has to be followed by a political solution.Most of our enemies apart from LTTE were inside my own nation.UNP,SLMC,TNA did everything possible to stop the war.We talk of 2500 years of civilization.unfortunately most of our people have forgotten as to where we were and where we are now.Now every tom dick and harry talk of big policies and norms but during the war there were only a few to support MR to get this nation out of the terrorists clutches.look at what SF told the media 6 months ago.Now he has made a 360 degree turn.So is this the man who is going to provide a believeable change?.You only need common sense to read the motives behind this man.It is all about himself and hatred.On 26th people will give him a decisive answer by using their vote for MR.
Dr. Samarajiva has painstakenly explained the Constitutionalism & Feudalism in Sri Lanka and how it has been hijacked by each incumbent in the "Temple Trees".
The problems in Sri Lanka started during the British rule where the Tamils excelled under British and it scorned the sinhalese elite at the time. Namely, D.S.Senanayake, SWRD.
So what did DSS do to the Tamils as soon as he took the reins? Firstly, he disenfranchised many Tamils, secondly he started the colonisation schemes in the east to increase the presence of Sinhalese in the electorates. He was making sure no Tamil will lead the country.
This must have been due to the contempt he had for the Tamils who did very well under the British masters[could be jealousy too].
A few years later came SWRD accomapanied by the saffron robes and he went a few steps further to marginalise the Tamils. He was not satisfied with what DSS did. He took education and jobs from the Tamils with his 'Sinhala only' cry. The product of that is today's incumbent MR and Dr.Mervyn(LOL!! Kalu Albert's and Prasanna's hero).
Dr. Samarajiva your expatiating writing on Constitutionalism & Feudalism is like casting pearls before a swine.
The country will not prosper under MR. A person can be judged by the company he keeps. Refer to his recent alliances- Gadafi, Ahmadinejad, Burma's leader, Indian opportunists, Pakistani leaders etc. Sri Lanka, you will never come right!!
Dear Jayantha de Silva,
I read your Constitution and saw that you left out Tamil as a National language with Sinhala. Was that an accidental oversight?
I thank the readers for their comments.
Constitutionalism is in essence the respect for the written law (and customs). It can be found in countries with hereditary kings (i.e., the UK); and it can be absent in countries without hereditary kings (i.e., Sri Lanka).
The issue can be illustrated in relation to India, a country that is not radically different from Sri Lanka. In India, the Elections Commissioner tells the Prime Minister and members of the ruling government what they may or may not do; the Elections Commissioner orders that reimbursements be made of the use of government aircraft. In the former instance the Prime Minister and members of the ruling party obey the instructions. In the latter case, the reimbursements are made without question.
In Sri Lanka, the directions of the Elections Commissioner are routinely ignored. When the Elections Commissioner rules illegal the serving of meals to thousands of people, the president simply continues his practice, saying the meals are paid for by the campaign, but ignoring the uncompensated use of government facilities.
Constitutionalism exists in India; it is absent in Sri Lanka. The question I posed was why there was no resistance to these lawless acts in Sri Lanka. In India, when Indira Gandhi tried to overturn the rule of order, there was resistance.
So this is the question. How can we restore the respect for Constitutionalism among our people? I have tried to illustrate what can be done to resist the trend to feudalism:
http://lankapolity.blogspot.com/2010/01/what-can-professionals-do.html.
Others may have better ideas. I understand that some university teachers at Peradeniya University not only refused to attend the Dansala at Temple Trees but called the President's Office and objected to the demeaning of intellectuals in this way. An actress had the courage to sacrifice her TV role, and swim against the tide of sycophancy.
This is not something that one person can do. But it is also not something that we can wait for someone else to do for us. If enough of us resist in these various ways we will end up in a culture of Constitutionalism. If not, we will become feudal vassals.
Educated,well off and Elite people like Dr Samarajiva, can point out our shortcomings with adherence to the Constitution and expose or inferiority, by comparing with countries like the United Kingdom.
We have to compare apples with apples.
It is fair enough from an academic point of view. But the governments in power in Srilanka, have to look after the whole country which has more under privileged, poor people the elite.
The politicians on both sides do not have good moral values.Politicians in the UK will never compromise or play politics with the security of their nation. They will never allow any foriegn interference in their affairs.
What a contrast in comparison to our p[oliticians. Look at the opposition parties in coalition now, Nearly one third of the country was illegally taken over and ruled by a ruthhless terrorist gruop for 30 years.
The politicians who openly aided and abetted this Terrorist group are now part of the coalition. Other main two partners killed more Sinhalese between them than the Terrorist could ever manage.
Despite all the shortcomings that the learned writer has pointed out, we must be proud to have a democracy in place in light of the mayhem the country experienced for the last 30 years.
In poor countries like Srilanka, people have to choose the lesser evil among the political parties.This time the current President has, atleast prepared the platform for everyone in the country, whether ,North, South, East or West to make that decision without fear or favor.
Fair mined people must respect the President for providing that freedom to exercise their right to vote.
Dear Kingsly and ISS,
As I understand Dr Mervin Silva did not buy his doctorate . Only Universities that produce the cream of the society can award them.( Otherwise I would have got one too).
As for Kudu Lal,I heard he was granted a visa to live in a friendly Foreign country.I can't work that out because most Foreign countries do not give Visas to crims.
Dear Rohan,
"How can we restore the respect for Constitutionalism among our people?"
The primary reason why nobody respects the 1978 Constitution is that it was not the product of popular will or aspirations. It was constructed by JR with his 5/6ths parliamentary majority and he used that same supermajority to "fiddle" with it. Why step outside a Constitution that you can alter at whim?
The very Constitution that you speak of gives the President more enough power to flout the laws and ironically the Constitution itself (i.e. nonimplementation of 17th Amendment). So my friend, the problem is not with the people but with the Constitution itself.
Dear Kalu A,
For starters get your friend Kudu/Kunu Mervyn to get through his GCE/(OL) - that is provided he has got past the JSC counter-part.
After that he might change his Ministry to that one called Ministry of Nation-Breaking. Or since garbage is a problem and is lying all over now he can ask the Bros to make him the Hon'ble Garbage Minister. Few will doubt his credentials there. Problem is, when you phone for him then don't say "May I please speak to the kunu amathi-thuma (or)mahajaraa-amathithuma" - although both are pretty relevant. After all, we must respect our Ministers, should'nt we?
As to how Kudu Lal got his UK Visa when the blokes in the UKHC
in Cbo refuse this the more deserving, the answer must be "bakshi"
or as the say in Malaysia "palm oil" If you thought those sudu-mahaththuru will not steep that low, you will have another set of thinks coming your way. The other question is how did kunu mervin
take kudu lal through the VIP lounge of the Katunayake airport right past the tarmac to the plane itself?? Next time, you go to
get "high" on your next "trip" with Mervyn this can form part of the agenda.
ISS
The very fact that this election is being held while the country is under emergency rule,makes it a flawed election. This does not happen anywhere else..
The very fact that Fonseka PUBLICLY declared his assets while Rajapakse dares NOT to do so,shows that the latter has a large amount of ill gotten wealth to cover up.
Dear Sengu,
Dr Mervin ain't no friend of mine,for starters. But I like the dude. He must be doing something good for the poor people, for him to cop so much shit from the well off Colombosiders.
By the way any takers for he 40 Mil he is putting on the nose? It will be easy money if one believes your expressions here.
I for one think Ranil will be the big winner of this whole exercise. Once he persuaded Fonseka to wear the suicide jacket- the Sampathan,his place at the helm of a reinvigorated UNP was assured.
Ranil being the smart survivor he is , he also made sure that the revered Green Elephant was well insulated from any fall out.
Comes the parliamentary polls. he will be on the hustings as the sole representative of all patriotic, freedom loving free market Srilankans.
Fonseka Somawansa and Mangala will be history.
Having read his interview in this publication I got the feeling that Ranil washed his hands off completely from the pact between Fonseka and Sampathan. He categorically stated that the agrrement was between Fonseka and Sampathan and implied that he had nothing to do with it.Good one Ranil.
The subsequent interview of Mangala in a Srilankan English daily is full of pessimism although his opening remark is that Fonseka is already in front and it is just of matter of time to finalise it on the 26.
With this opening I thought he would give a confident and an elaborate statement about the policies and the mechanisms to bring prosperity to all Srilankans. Instead all I could read was his winging and complaints about the Rajapaksa support in the rural ares.
I am sure rural people are smart enough not to swallow the "gulli" if I may borrow a phrase from Mr Sengu.from these opportunists who are driving their own agendas under the cover of a common candidate.
The welfare and well being of the Srlankans, under a united and prosperous Srilanka will be the last thing on their minds.
Mangala will need to take extra body guards to rural areas as there are lot of patriotic people who are longing for a peaceful and a properous Srilanka and not face the mayhem that these schemers are desperately trying to create in the country.
What we see is that even educated people are making excuses for supporting those who break the law of the land. According to them it is OK for the President to squader public funds on his election campaign. Mind you this is the money collected from each and every citizen of this country including those who disagree with the policies of the President. Even a beggar who buys a loaf of bread contributes 12% as VAT. So isnt it a crime to carry on this wanton corruption at our expense. Those who support the President should donate out of their own pockets for all this wanton waste. Please count us out of this. Those who attend the Dansala should volutarily return this money spent to the treasury or donate to charity.
Hi, Kalu A.
You said "As I understand Dr Mervin Silva did not buy his doctorate ." For your information Nervyn never buys anything, let alone a doctorate. He "appropriates" anything he wants. If you are interested in anything, even if it is a doctorate you should take some cues from. It does not cost you anything.
Kalu Albert Aiye!
No one will take a bet with Kudu Mervin because he is not a giver.
He is a born taker. Besides, you don't seem to know anything of the
rotter. Why he gave a cheque for advance rent for his Park Road
house he was then on rent. That cheque came bouncing all the way from the bank with the remarks "Refer to drawer" If you want further details get a friend in the CID to show you the Entry.
Don't worry about the "guli" I don't hold Patent Rights for that.
Hi-bowan
ISS
Dear friends.
If Dr Mervin Silva's bounced cheque is the main criterion to judge him corrupt, what about that super rich ,elite dude who robbed thousands of mums and dad of their life savings and sent the spouse overseas with the loot?
There are more, that I can point out where the so called cream of the society ripping off poor folks ,sourcing overseas funds and bribing politicians to join the Opposition.
Fonseka, the crusader against corruption, demanded and got 25 perches in Kurunduwatta.What is wrong with his own house. Besides why would a person with US citizenship entitlements and the family all well settled with lucrative business enterprises want land in Colombo 7, at the tax payers expense.
What about the millions of Srilankans who live in appalling conditions not far from Fonseka's new block of land.
If you guys worry about paying 12% VAT,you should worry about these hand outs too.
Now we can travel North to South and East to West without any problem.Freedom of movement,in Men and Merchandise is fully restored. Next phase is to develop the Infrastructure, Industry, and Agriculture for the benefit of all, especially in the ares that were out of bounds for 30 odd years.
We have the choice to re elect the President who delivered this freedom or go for a Pretender, who promises everyone, everything.Some of these promises are contradicted by his own luetinents like the Ex Chief Judge and Mangala the mouth piece. Majority of the Srilankans citizens seem to have decided on the right choice.
Dear friends.
If Dr Mervin Silva's bounced cheque is the main criterion to judge him corrupt, what about that super rich ,elite dude who robbed thousands of mums and dad of their life savings and sent the spouse overseas with the loot?
There are more, that I can point out where the so called cream of the society ripping off poor folks ,sourcing overseas funds and bribing politicians to join the Opposition.
Fonseka, the crusader against corruption, demanded and got 25 perches in Kurunduwatta.What is wrong with his own house. Besides why would a person with US citizenship entitlements and the family all well settled with lucrative business enterprises want land in Colombo 7, at the tax payers expense.
What about the millions of Srilankans who live in appalling conditions not far from Fonseka's new block of land.
If you guys worry about paying 12% VAT,you should worry about these hand outs too.
Now we can travel North to South and East to West without any problem.Freedom of movement,in Men and Merchandise is fully restored. Next phase is to develop the Infrastructure, Industry, and Agriculture for the benefit of all, especially in the ares that were out of bounds for 30 odd years.
We have the choice to re elect the President who delivered this freedom or go for a Pretender, who promises everyone, everything.Some of these promises are contradicted by his own luetinents like the Ex Chief Judge and Mangala the mouth piece. Majority of the Srilankans citizens seem to have decided on the right choice.
Kalu Albert's comments are like a breath of fresh air among these blinkered postings here.
In Mangala Samarweera's own words an ex Salvation Army Commander would have been a better proposition than this Ex general.for patriotism, honesty .integrity and the welfare of the Nation.
Keep up the good work pal.and the silent majority are with you.
Dear Kalu Albert:
Lalith Kotelawala went to the can and Sicille Kotelawala is now a
"Wanted" person on the Interpol list. Much of their properties are
seized. But how about that senior pole-vaulting minister in MR's
fold whose grand-dad ruined thousands on his own scam. The grandson
is a Director of many of the companies and beneficiary of much of the old man's huge assets. Why does'nt the Govt follow the Kotelawala example and get his Cabinet colleague to meet his moral obligations...If the General got free land at Cbo 7 it was illegally given by your Chief- who is more culpable...The luxury of travelling to the North, my friend, was courtesy Ranil in 2002 - if you remember...Anyway, the truth is for sometime we have bred a set of rogues as our leaders and we live among them holding our noses tight. The sooner we weed them out the better for all of us. It is a curious thing that in most countries - if not all - the police protect the people. Here the people have to be protected from the Police. Even that Election Commissioner thinks he is fooling the people when he sighs the Police are not listening to him. So as soon as possible let's get rid of the dirt among us whether they come in colours green, blue, red or whatever.
ISS
Aaiyoo....
Fonseka camp must be getting really desperate.Today's LankaeNews carries a banner scereaming "the General will not divide the country"
A couple of questions for the Sinhala supporters of the General.
* Why does not the General himself or one of his heavy artllery, like Soma,Mangala or Ranil makes this announcement when they are on stage with Sampathan?
* Why do you have to deny things if have not promised them.?
"Deshapremi" Sinhalese, if any left in the UNP and the JVP still have time to come out of their slumber..
I have been reading the comments with some interest. On the face, they do not all appear related to the article, but in a way, they do. Some show that there is a commitment to Constitutionalism and a resistance to feudalism. Mr Albert and his fans seem to exemplify the opposite. This is directly related to the thesis of the article that the illegal actions that are destroying Constitutionalism in Sri Lanka are driven primarily by the demand side of citizens with feudal mindsets.
I want to emphasize that Sri Lankans are not unique in this regard: I paste below an excerpt from a column I wrote that included a description of how things are done in the great land of Turkmenistan (http://www.lbo.lk/fullstory.php?nid=1728295032):
"And Turkmenistan, once the land of Beyik Turkmenbashi (Great Leader of the Turkmen), President for Life, Saparmurat Niyazov, has 9.2 fixed [telephone] connections per 100, just short of Cuba, the personal property of the Castro brothers.
Doctors in Turkmenistan used to take an oath not to Hippocrates but to Beyik Turkmenbashi; in this strange country in those strange days January was called Turkmenbashi and April Gurbansoltan, in honor of his late mother. And in the capital, Ashgabat, there is a two-hundred-and-fifty-foot gold statue of the now dead President-for-Life that rotates to face the sun.
The Great Turkmenbashi had banned opera, ballet, beards, long hair, makeup (for television anchors), and gold-capped teeth. He valued fruit: there is still a national holiday to commemorate the indigenous melon. (http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/05/01/060501ta_talk_remnick).
. . . .
After the passing of the Great Turkmenbashi, his former dentist Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow assumed power. It is rumored, unjustly, that the former dentist, whose duties included the removal of banned gold caps from the teeth of Turkmen women as decreed by Beyik Turkmenbashi, shares some genes. He has, as part of Deniyazovization, allowed a degree of competition in his land, with the Russian operator MTS holding 85 percent share of a growing mobile market.
There were only 9,200 mobile connections when Beyik Turkmenbashi was in charge. All of them may have been owned, perhaps, by his children. This in a country so rich in oil and gas that it can afford to give every citizen free electricity, free water and free gas. They charge two cents for a liter of petrol.
Absolutely nothing like Sri Lanka, which charges even for water, and is home to over 10 million mobiles.
There were 347,600 mobiles in Turkmenistan in 2008. Surely, there could not have been that many Turkmenbashi and Berdimuhamedow progeny. It is indeed Spring in Ashgabat."
I am sure Mr Albert will like to live in Turkmenistan.
I am amazed that the learned Doctor could not pick a better analogy than Turkemnistan.My plead to compare Apples with Apples probably did not register.
However I like to point out the fact that Srilanka provides free education, from kinder to PhD as the writer is probably well aware.This is a unique opportunity for even poor people to get their children an education and break away from the poverty cycle.I do not think even the Western countries some of our elite idolize have free education to this extent.
Srilanka has a universal health care system, how rudimentary it may be.
I wonder whether the writer had a look at these important areas at least in his research work on Turkemenistan to compare it against our poor country.
Up until mid 20th Century, Sinhala people were administered their constitutional rights, even in Civil and Criminal courts ,in a language these people did not have a clue.Educated Elite including the Sinhalese, thrived on this privilege of keeping the majority, subservient, through the use of a Foreign language, even after the Foreign Rulers left.Nothing seems to have changed much in aspirations among some of the upper echelons.
As for me ,I love to live in my Motherland, preferably in a little house in the leafy part of Colombo 7, which I know is a dream. I would love to have a holiday shack on the newly liberated East coast, where I can spend my retirement gazing at the Stars and Waves while enjoying a cold Three Coins with wok tossed Mud crab.
Dear Mr Senguttuan,
We had to pay entry and exit fees and obtain a Visa from the Republic of Eelam to go past Omanthai,under Ranil's watch.If Fonseka wins we will have to pay a higher fee but Sampathan might waive the Visa as a concession and a good gesture, for the Southerners who helped him.
How can a grand son be prosecuted for his grand dad's sins.? I thought you guys are craving for fairness, justice and strict adherence to your Constitutional rights.Do you want Rajapaksa to be head the old man like, King Rajasinghe did to his subjects and give more ammunition to Dr Sanjeeva.
The grand coalition seems to be getting desperate day by day.Now they are telling the people that Rakapaksa is about to impose Marshal Law.Somawansa and Anuraa are running to the Mahanayaka's to warn them.What a bunch of Jokers.?
Srilanka's future and its place in the World in the 21 Century will be decided in four days time.
I have no qualms about Fonseka and Ranil as their interests are only to look after their elite backers and their foreign handlers.
We ,the peasants have to worry about the future of our children and grand children.These generations have only Srlanka as their homeland.They only worry at this juncture, is whether the country will be developed from the current peaceful environment as the foundation or , anarchy and mayhem will be thrust upon it. by these coalition partners who have diametrically opposite ideas about the Unity, Economy and Governance.Constitution and Feudalism probably will be the least worry for the majority.
But I have nothing but utter contempt for Somawansa and Anura for their despicable act of selling the souls of thousands of rural youth from poor parts in the South such as Karandeniya, Baddegama and Elpitiya, in excahnge for a fist full of Dollars sorry Kroners.
I wonder how these low lives sleep well at night. Then again the duty free Whisky from the Embassies probably knock them out every night.
Kalu Aiya, Don't worry. Only the Unp in Colombo and the Tamil people will vote for Fonseka. All South People and our Tamil brothers and sisters else where will be with Rajapaksa.
Jaya Vewa
i we all know why government officials and regulators sometimes 'fail' to do their duty .
even if unenforceable it was important to make the violation of law clear. esp if and when those terrorist violations were violently stopped by military.
Among the three English Daily newspapers in Srilanka, only the Daily Mirror seems to barrack for the UNP and Fonseka. The ardent supporter of the coalition and the JVP is the LankaeNews which is like a " Kalla Pattara" in the olden days.
People who read English Newspapers surely must be some what influenced by contents these papers carry about the election. Therefore I doubt whether Fonseka camp as much support even among these people,who are traditionally UNP voters.
1. From the article: Myanmar is governed feudally, but can a feudal system handle a complex economy like Sri Lanka’s?
Answer: The author of the article might be a bit erroneous in comparing the complex economy of Sri Lanka with that of the successful and even more complex West.
70% of Sri Lanka is from the rural sectors and are peasants. Agriculture, Labor, Industries and services are directly related to the rural population
2. From article : It may also be argued that every country has a constitution and that over time, as the economy develops and matures, as was the case in South Korea and Taiwan, constitutionalism also takes root. But if these were true, why is it that Sri Lanka is sliding back into feudalism, just as it is becoming a middle-income country?
A: because it is still a fragile middle-income economy, and too soon after a horrific and economically draining terroristic war. Too much of Western style constitutional-i-zing will only bring the country crashing down. Also will too much of Western over-industrializing. Keeping pace with the West has had its terrible global repercussions - the West is begging release from its former follies.
3. From the article : Not that the President tries to impress university teachers by inviting them to dinner at Temple Trees, but that most of them go, and some even kiss the hands of their host.
A : The writer of the article probably has some kind of paranoia about ancient kinds of feudalism. It is impossible for ancient sorts of feudalism cannot exist in modern day terms. Some allusions of it as in the professorial kissing of the presidential hand is yet there, but it is the part of the perception of the people. True despotic attempts at control of the feudal age in this modern age, can only come from the superpowers with the power of nuclear weapons.
4. J.R. Jayewardene kept fiddling with the 1978 Constitution, amending it over and over again and ruining its integrity. He was autocratic, but within the bounds of Constitutionalism; just like his friend Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore, who used the law to subjugate his opponents.
A: All of the political predecessors fiddled with the constitution. Lee Kuan Yew, however, was successful. The US continually fiddles with its constitution (they call it an evolving constitution).
rtf
Samarajiva and Co have been smoking. Anyway, apologies for the personal stab. We have to give them their right to opinions and feelings.
What ever said and done. This is a democracy, a shaky one, let the people decide.
Ms Fernando:
Thank you for the thoughtful comments and the attempt to bring evidence into the discussion. It is important that these questions are discussed in a civil manner and based on evidence.
Many continue to believe that Sri Lanka is an agrarian economy. It is simply not true. Over 50 percent of the economy is now services. The share of agriculture in the economy (share of GDP at current factor costs) (including plantations which are more like industry) has declined from 46.3% in 1950 to 16.5% in 2007. (Central Bank Annual Report, special appendix).
Yes, a significantly large group among the population identifies themselves as farmers (but never has it been as high as 70%;according to the Central Bank it was 32.8% in 2003-04 (inclusive of plantation workers), as against 41.2% in services). Yet, in depth investigation will reveal that a great majority of even those who claim to be in agriculture work in the service sector or in industry as well; that few are fulltime farmers.
Sri Lanka's trade dependency (value of exports + value of imports / GDP) was around 70 percent the last I looked. Over 10 percent of the population works abroad. This is an already globalized economy. Globalization in Sri Lanka is not a choice; it's fact.
Around 50% of the economy is concentrated in the Western Province, which has slightly more than 1/3rd of the population. This is pretty much a middle-income, service dominated economy. That means, it is highly complex.
You can have a titular (e.g., Thailand) or real (e.g., Dubai) king at the top of a complex economy. But that King must then administer the economy through a system of laws, not his whims and fancies; and using a real government structure, not his extended family. This is the problem here, not that we have a king, but that our king is seeking to emulate most primitive and decrepit kings in our history, those of the Kandyan period.
Perhaps you are right. Sri Lanka may not want Constitutionalism is the fullest sense. But can we at least have rule of law under a king as in King Elara's time? Anuradhapura kings instead of Kandyan kings?
Mr. Samarajiva,
I correct myself in saying “70% of Sri Lanka is from the rural sectors and ARE peasants.”
What I meant is 70% if Sri Lanka is from the rural sectors and MANY ARE peasants.
Agriculture, Labor, Industries and Services are directly related to and come from the rural population. It is a globalized economy, but rather than with the West, its economy is mostly intertwined with the East, and most importantly the Middle East. A huge part of Sri Lanka’s GDP comes from services out of the country especially from manual labor in the Middle Eastern countries.
We can never go back to the times of the Kandyan kings. We are in a completely different era of World History. The Kandyan kings were just a speck of the annals of Sri Lankan history. The Kindgdom would have sorted out its differences, if not for the encroachment of foreign forces completely alien to Sri Lanka at the time.
Sri Lanka has is finally getting over the throes of the effects of these alien forces. We have learned their ways and are ready with our own style of governance to interact in the global arena which best befits our land.
Mahinda Rajapakse can never be King in the sense of the Kandyan Kings or even King Elara – he would definitely not seek this as it would be too futile to do so.
rtf
.........and Mr. Samarajiva,
Many people have some paranoia that Rajapakse might turn King and Sri Lanka will go back to an age of despotism.
This can never happen in this globalized society, unless the kingdom was a continuation from pre-colonial days. With the British styled constitution that our parliament follows which has evolved in Sri Lanka through its time, and with Sri Lanka’s own the constitution passed down through the ages, there is no likelihood of that happening. Also with the infernal and interfering West’s constant scrutiny of other people’s property rights there is no likelihood of Rajapakse even considering such a design.
rtf
ps. personally though, I would't mind if Rajapakse became King like Elara, and followed a constitution pertaining to modern day kings.
"but that our king is seeking to emulate most primitive and decrepit kings in our history, those of the Kandyan
period." Dr Samarajeeva
"Mahinda Rajapakse can never be King in the sense of the Kandyan Kings or even King Elara – he would definitely not seek this as it would be too futile to do so." Ramona Fernando
The response to Dr Samarjeeva's writing from this lady is a "bottler".
The Professor confesses that the responses to his article should be factual.Does his statement that I have quoted above is based on factual evidence?
Srilanka has a court system and a parliament that allow people to take their grievances for redress. How many times have these Professors taken the President to task through these instruments for his alleged misdeeds?
When the main backer of the opposition candidate, the Ex Chief Judge was in charge for most of the King's reign, any shread of evidence would have been manupilted to nail the King.
Majority of Srilankans who are poor Sinhalese and also many from Tamil and Muslim communities are not interested in these high octane publishings which are nothing but a tool to exhibit their intellectual superiority.
Inflation at 3.5 %. Per Capita Income at US$ 2200,Foreign reserves topping 4000 Mil Green Backs. the IMF lending US 3.5 Billion , New York Times urging US citizens to travel and invest and half acre blocks of land well past past Matara are selling for US $ 200000 do not point out a feudal kingdom.
I do not wish to engage in a tangential debate about how wonderfully MR has managed the economy in 2005-10.
It is true, Ms Fernando, that one cannot bathe in the same river twice and that we cannot recreate the Kandyan governance system. It is of course possible that we can have some form of despotic rule by a man/men, instead of rule by law. Given my starting question about the complicity of the people of Sri Lanka (those who live here as well as those who do not) in the illegal and unethical activities of MR and his associates (documented in the article), I believe that whatever despotic form of government that may emerge will have some commonalties with the Kandyan system, because this yearning for kings is deeply cultural.
The question of course is what we will have to sacrifice for this return to the source. We have seen countries like Zimbabwe, once one of the most advanced countries in Africa, regress. Sri Lanka may too. Myanmar manages to get by because it has lots of natural resources to sell to China. Our biggest natural resource is people. That means that we have to engage in complex form of production and trade. This requires Constitutionalism. If we have abandoned that, the only alternative may be just to keeping shipping people out as cheap labor, legally or illegally.
BTW, our economic relationships are strongest with India and the US, not the Middle East.
Response to Mr Albert's question re evidence supporting the conclusion that present president seems to be reverting to Kandyan feudalism: Please see the original article about how the rule of law has been replaced by arbitrary actions.
People go to foreign countries as guest workers, migrants .illegals. asylum seekers some genuine some pretend from every part of the world. Even our likely next President belongs to one of these categories.
If one cares to read the Economic data that I included in my previous posting it is clear as" mud" that Srilanka ain't Zimbabwe no Mayanmar.
All the flouting of the rule of law listed by the writer and all the corruption allegations made by the Opposition, when added together will make Rajapaksa the biggest tyrant ever elected in a democratic country.
Yet I haven't seen any foreign leader ,specially the ones that the writer mentions as most important for our motherland ,coming out against this corrupt tyrant either overtly or covertly in any forum.
I am yet to see anyone coming out with the bank details ,specially the foreign, of any accounts that the President or the family are stashing these corrupt money which run in to Billions.
Have a peaceful election day.
2.5 billion for the service industry from ME :
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ce.html
2 billion for exports to the US (UK and India take up the remaining 6 billion). U.S. ($283 million) for imports - the US has a trade deficit with Sri Lanka.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5249.htm
In 2008 the GDP was $40.7 billion and the Annual growth rate, 6% - Rajapakse hasn’t been doing too badly, with terrorism and all.
The reality is that service and industry which makes up 60% and 28%and of annual GDP, respectively, is directly related to rural lifestyles.
Industry and success from exports to the US and elsewhere come from goods cheaply made due to rural and simple lifestyles. Why are the US and UK major markets? Not because they feel sorry for us (although in some cases they might be “profitably” sorry, with long term goals in mind), but because these affluent nations can buy these needed goods from us at a pittance compared to what it would be to manufacture or grow them in their own lands.
If Sri Lanka ever reaches the affluence of the West, what then will be left to export with higher costs of labour? Therefore with the current status of world financial systems, it is most appropriate for Sri Lanka at this time to retain some kind of rural ambiance. Therefore a fitting government would be one which is able avoid too rapid a development plan, and yet which is able to enhance the livelihoods of the masses through infrastructure development and education : Mahinda Chinthana.
Therefore would a Kingship (under modern day constitutions pertaining to Kings) be too unreasonable?
rtf
Ps. It is quite impossible for Sri Lanka to ever become despotic under Rajapakse with the healthy trade and hardworking populace which shows as proof in the figures.
If, however, the country is divided (for sake of the ease of Western style political logistical control) it would then be a different story. Each divide would have to unquestionably become despotic for the very reasons of survival, because then commerce, trade, culture, religion, tradition and history will have to be secure in its own divided niche.
Dr. Samarajiva,
The reality is that service and industry which makes up 60% and 28%and of annual GDP, respectively, is directly related to rural lifestyles.
Industry and success from exports to the US and elsewhere come from goods cheaply made due to rural and simple lifestyles. Why are the US and UK major markets? Not because they feel sorry for us (although in some cases they might be “profitably” sorry, with long term goals in mind), but because these affluent nations can buy these needed goods from us at a pittance compared to what it would be to manufacture or grow them in their own lands.
If Sri Lanka ever reaches the affluence of the West, what then will be left to export with higher costs of labour? Therefore with the current status of world financial systems, it is most appropriate for Sri Lanka at this time to retain some kind of rural ambiance. Therefore a fitting government would be one which is able avoid too rapid a development plan, and yet which is able to enhance the livelihoods of the masses through infrastructure development and education : Mahinda Chinthana.
It is quite impossible for Sri Lanka to ever become despotic under Rajapakse with the healthy trade and hardworking populace which shows as proof in the figures.
If, however, the country is divided (for sake of the ease of Western style political logistical control) it would then be a different story. Each divide would have to unquestionably become despotic for the very reasons of survival, because then commerce, trade, culture, religion, tradition and history will have to be secure in its own divided niche.
Therefore would a Kingship (under modern day constitutions pertaining to Kings) be too unreasonable?
rtf
We have low-cost labor (not as low as Vietnam or Bangladesh, but low). This is an advantage. We can export it in multiple ways: as expat labor (to West and SE Asia), as embedded in manufactured goods (to US and Europe) and as labor over telecom line to Europe and US (BPO). The true determinant of labor costs is the cost of food, not whether the people live in rural areas or have rural lifestyles. Our food prices are higher than in India and many similarly placed countries, so we have to be smarter, to give equiv value for money.
There is nothing wrong with having cheap labor. The problem is if you rely on cheap labor for ever. Our garment industry moved up the value chain and is now exporting higher-value addition products because Bangladesh has much cheaper labor.
The main indicators of economic relationships are exports, imports and investment. In all three India, US and Europe feature large: http://www.groundviews.org/2009/11/17/chellaney-on-indo-sri-lanka-relations-how-not-to-win-friends-and-influence-your-neighbours/#more-1971 . I agree that remittances are very important. While they come from the world over, possibly Saudi Arabia is the biggest source.
The focus on my article and subsequent comments was on constitutionalism or rule of law. You can have a king if you want. I am primarily concerned about rule by laws, not men. I objected to kings of the Kandyan type who saw no difference between the king and the state; between what belonged to the country and what belonged to his family. If you can have a king and a magna carta equivalent, great.
You'll however need to pay a lot of attention to rules of succession. Republics have reverted to kingdoms, but it has been difficult to sustain kingdoms: the Central African Republic became the Central African Empire and then went back again. Napolean made an empire out of the French Republic but could not make it stick.
There is a descendant of a Buvenekabahu of the Kotte era in China who can be brought back if you wish.