Sunday Island Editorial

Yahapalana going the way of Dharmishta?

11th October 2015

The president’s office reacted swiftly to last week’s reports about the expenditure on the residence being prepared for him in Colombo. With regard to the house at Paget Road, it was stated that this was the amalgamation of two existing government bungalows and the renovations included accommodation for the extensive security details of the president. The high-end BMW limousine and fleet of motorcycles for security escorts had been ordered by the previous regime and had arrived after the previous incumbent had ceased to be in office, it was stated. However, there was no response whatever to the widespread criticism of the president’s son being a Sri Lanka delegate to the UN General Assembly. There was an eloquent silence on that issue, perhaps rightly so because there is no case to make.

No reasonable person would fault Daham Sirisena joining the delegation to New York in the absence of the First Lady who was unable to make the trip for whatever reason. She may even have stood down to give their son the opportunity of making the trip as mothers often do. That is perfectly in order because the president should have the comfort of the presence of his wife or one of his children when he is engaged in a mission such as participating in the UN General Assembly and associated events. But for the young man in his early twenties, with no qualifications other than he belongs to the First Family, to be made a member of the country’s delegation to the UNGA, is a no-no by any standard. Had Sirisena Jr. said in his face book page that he stood-in for his mother, there would have been little if any protest. But for the young man to say he learnt a lot by attending a UN youth event and attempting to justify it was to say the least, if we may borrow the pithy Sinhala idiom, a case of asking for and eating parippu – illagena parippu kanawa. Whatever learning he seeks and obtains for now or the future cannot be at the taxpayer’s expense.

These were the rank bad habits of the Rajapaksa administration that was turfed out on January 8. Such behavior by the previous incumbent and his near and dear, no doubt, contributed to their downfall. We are sure the president, who was projected during the election campaign as a simple colonist’s son from Polonnaruwa, would not endorse the ostentation and profligacy that was the hallmark of the previous administration that wore its family bandyism on its sleeve. But there are signs that Yahapalanaya is going the way of Dharmishta of a previous era. Undoubtedly things are nowhere as bad as they were but they are not as good as ordinary people want them to be. President Sirisena promised that he would not step into Temple Trees and he has kept his word. He continues to live in a government bungalow similar to that he had long occupied as a cabinet minister. The prime minister now uses what has been the prime minister’s official residence for official purposes (he continues to live in his own private home as Presidents Jayewardene and Premadasa did). President’s House is used for state entertainment and events.

The people had applauded the absence of the banners and cutouts hailing the doings of the chief as was past practice when they reappeared all over again welcoming the president back home after the so-called "victories" in Geneva and New York This was the work of sycophants, some backdoor entrants to parliament via the national list after electoral defeat, who signed off on these banners to show who paid for them in their cheap attempt to win brownie points. Although the madly careering convoys of yesteryear disappeared after the regime change, an occasional convoy is now seen on the street. The statement from the president’s office of how much utilities and maintenance at President’s House would cost if the president chose to live there is a cadju eta, kos eta argument, one correspondent to a newspaper has said. There are those who make the point that demolishing the two existing bungalows and building a new one may be cheaper than an amalgamation overlook the point that the president must live somewhere while the work is being done.

All this apart, it must be admitted that things are nowhere as bad as they were at their worst; or even before they sank to rock bottom. The press is writings about what is perceived to be wrong and opinions are being freely aired. The president has welcomed this saying at last week’s 60th anniversary celebrations of the Sri Lanka Press Association that the media should be fair, accurate and act with wisdom. He pointed out that there are no white vans, disappearances or threatening phone calls. Huge expenditure had been incurred at Temple Trees building massive luxury reception areas that could accommodate thousands. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has shown some of his visitors the kind of money that has been lavished on needless ostentation. It is said that some of this was for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. That could well have been a reason/excuse with those who authorized such expenditure ever conscious that what’s been built would remain thereafter at their disposal. It is true that sometimes you need an event to catalyze a project like the BMICH, generously gifted by China, ready for the Non-Aligned Summit of 1976. But there must be the necessary degree of moderation and due proportionality that was totally lacking in projects like the Mattala International Airport or Mihin Air.

These are early days yet with the Sirisena administration not yet past its first year and the first budget of the government that took office following last August’s general a few weeks ahead. Nevertheless there must be course correction where things have gone wrong or are going wrong. The powers that be must be alive to public opinion and not brazen their way through come what may. An element of realpolitik is inevitable in any government and most so in an arrangement between two major parties as we have now with the loyalties of one constituent clearly divided. The former president, naturally, will bide his time until an opportunity presents itself. The economic challenges are formidable and how the government will deal with these remains to be seen. Election related blandishments offered to voters cannot continue forever and even gradual withdrawal will be resented. The government has set itself a two year timeframe, extendable to five. Previous external hostility has certainly been neutralized and turned to Sri Lanka’s advantage. That’s a big plus but the minuses are mounting.