By Gomin Dayasri

100 – day government is off to an astonishing start. President Sirisena appoints Cabinet Ministers and the Leader of the Opposition to display bi- partisanship to an embarrassing maximum. Party leaders enter into a marriage of convenience between the fractions of the SLFP to hold a shotgun wedding solely for their own benefit. Did they give mind to those who voted for the UPFA and on whose votes their parliamentarians still thrive and enjoy benefits?  Failing to give mind to the voters caused the majorities to evaporate and the fiasco enacted lately tends to lose more votes.

UNP and SLFP have lost many an election, more badly than presently. Neither party went down under nor did the UNP or SLFP hand over the party to the rival for its survival. This was the strongest government in living memory that collapsed dismally after an electoral defeat – not a debacle – to end in a political landslide in a bath of mud. Previous governments fell due to political deficiencies but in 2015 the leadership carried moral deficiencies after the war and surrendered abjectly.

Ironically, man that felled Prabhakaran fell at the feet of his former party secretary? Answer: An overt change of character took place after the war victory of 2009 and it became an infectious disease among the palace guards to become an isolated administration in the company of few sycophants.

People that voted knew of the nuptials after the event. Those that voted for the then President found their votes are registered after the election for those whom they voted against, as the UPFA parliamentarians shifted en-block to the opponent without accessing the voters; Mahinda Rajapakse bequeathed the SLFP to his rival without notice to his party membership. They awoke one morning and became aware of the unfolding events on hearing or reading the news headlines. The defeat at an election is manageable; what took place thereafter is unpardonable.

Are we to live again with a lame Opposition more akin to an administration under a one party rule? This continuous pattern does not augur well for democracy, as the opposition always appears servile to the government. The dividing line is virtually invisible and the UPFA parliamentarians are looking pleadingly at their rival for a place in their electoral list for the general elections. The President has legitimacy yet the status of the Opposition is dubious. Is it an opposition primed to uplift a government when placed in a quandary? Why are we forever foisted with manipulated Oppositions?

The bottom line is that most parliamentarians are prepared to hop step and jump to the government in search of portfolios. It makes the opposition the virtual ‘B’ team of the government since parliamentarians once elected swap blue and green jerseys for their comfort. The Supreme Court contrary to the letter and spirit of the Constitution lent a helping hand by judicial interpretation to enable crisscrossing between the parliamentary aisles. An imperative provision is required by way of a constitutional amendment to overcome the mockery created by the judiciary in a period to enable the government to secure a working majority. The wheel has turned on its head.

One up: the country is secure irrespective of political variation- speaks much for our democratic traditions. More significant is the 100 – day spell that follows the first 100 days as the administration intend providing good governance with a lineup consisting most of the previous pack with many allegations against their names.

Undoubtedly the first 100 days is a honeymoon period to set up home where a ‘do not disturb’ tag is placed prominently. How good a home is determined in the next 100 days? Do not except it to be an ideal home in its early days –there has be set backs for which understanding is required; good intention is to make the local man’s home his castle. If corruption is averted from the beginning, that is a sufficiently pleasing start.

Here is a President elected democratically, bequeathed with an opposition in bulk by an extraordinarily legacy granted by a wilted Mahinda Rajapakse. Time will tell whether it is an outcome of a manipulated masterpiece or a cowardly act of a petrified politician in the expectation of a gainful response or where the party hierarchy has developed cold feet to throw the baby with the bath water and all.

Was it an act carried out after due deliberation in terms of the party constitution or at the fancy of a few? Symbolized by SLFP parliamentarians carting their baggage happily to the other side to show solidarity with the government appears to be more an act of self – preservation. It might give temporary relief but the voters in exercising the franchise next may mete out due punishment.

Mahinda Rajapakse will go down in history, irrespective of the lapses of his family, for overcoming terrorism and providing the north its right to vote. For that gesture they overwhelmingly voted against him to defeat whereas in the South he led in the vote count with greatly reduced majorities. Rajapakse was stupid to think that the North will ever forgive him. They bided their time to inflict pain.

Popular history will make Mahinda Rajapakse taller than any successor when it is rewritten 20 years hence, for bringing peace to the land and eliminating terrorism. The state of the country then will speak out loud.

Under government’s spacious spread most Parliamentarians irrespective of party ties, support President Sirisena, as the head -except for a few mavericks. On paper UPFA holds sway over the largest number of parliamentarians (including those that crossed in numbers from the UNP over the years to the UPFA) and the UNP holds the next largest segment. It’s a government that is stronger than J.R.Jayewardane’s team with a 5/6th majority and more powerful than Mahinda Rajapakse’s 2/3 majority with a war victory to add to it’s name.

President possesses more than a 5/6^th majority surpassing the required 2/3rd majority, strong as to overturn the constitution.  Indeed unique in a democratic framework for a President to control both the government and opposition. What more could a President or Prime Minister ask for?  Bewilderingly baffling – for it’s the majority that leads to the undoing of many a government.

Always governments with overwhelming majorities have fared hopelessly and suffered dire consequences. Worse when it a rainbow of coalesced parties and personalities. Past election results tells the story best.

Whether green or blue or any merged color, the party representing the government can place only a single list of candidates at a general election with parliamentarians of all coloration seeking to find a place in the government list? Undoubtedly UNP has a right to hold the majority of places in the candidates list as the Presidential election were won more on the vote of the UNP but with many aliens in their fold in Parliament, they may need to accommodate -that requires a reduction of candidates from the green column. It gives rise to an open ‘saloon’ door policy that Mahinda Rajapakse followed where fidelity was greater to oneself than to the party – where loyalty to the President was a prime qualification for an intake; treated better than the loyal party hacks – a sure recipe for dissatisfaction to grow. 2009 war victory had a downside –it brought a feeling of invincibility giving rise to arrogance.

Problem arose in taking of the SLFP/UPFA comprehensively for the purpose of obtaining the required majority in pushing the constitutional amendment. Initial dissatisfaction within the government will arise in the preparation of the list of candidates. The ready answer is to have two lists, for the government of UNP and another for the Rest, supportive of the government. Naturally the Rest will limp home wounded.

It needs, in fairness, a 200-day vigil to watch the government function. During the 100 – day honeymoon the country must wait and watch instead of stir and strike. The people by their vote approved the 100day package and therefore it must have an easy passage through the legislature provided it does not leave an iota of space for the division of the country. An amendment cannot please all; therein lie the spirit of democracy in the art of accommodation.

Next comes the thaw. There are too many to satisfy with hardly space for maneuverability. The end result to smell roses must please more and displease less. Not a tall order if the government is not over ambitious in over hauling the constitution. Presidential powers cannot be dismantled comprehensively unless such are delegated to the Prime Minister to ensure the proper functioning of the 13^th amendment. With an astounding majority in hand it is assured of a safe passage.

General elections are not the proper test to judge the government. It must be given more space, as overturning a system is more onerous than over throwing a government. To be fair, 100 – day government needs another 300 days to test its performance.