Political scientist and former Diplomat Dayan Jayatileke said today that the Provincial Council elections, which is long overdue, could become a non-event.
“The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) General Secretary had told his predecessor Lionel Bopage that his party does not want Provincial Councils or the Indo-Lanka Accord. At least Bopage was good enough to publish the comments of Silva on social media,” Jayatileke said during a forum titled ‘Democracy and Sovereignty Under Threat’.
“No deadline was given for the select committee to come up with a proposal on the Provincial Council elections. This means the Provincial elections may not be held at all. The Sri Lankan people have been de- franchised when it comes to electing the intermediate tier of the government. Also, another committee has been appointed to look into the electoral system as a whole. This could also become a de-franchising of people as a whole. This is a dangerous situation. Those parties who can get together should get together for the sake of the nation,” he stressed.
Lawyer Shiral Lakthilake, who also expressed the same sentiment, outlined how the rule of law is weaponised. He said there is a politicidation of the rule of law despite the assurance given by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake that everyone will be treated equally before the law.”
“The silence of good men is more dangerous than the brutality of bad men,” he said, quoting Martin Luther King Junior.