This being the priority to be immediately addressed urgent measures have to be taken for interim and long term relief for our suffering citizens.
The Government in power claims that it is seriously addressing the economic issues confronting the country.
There appears to be measures taken related to the IMF, import controls, levying of taxes, promises of debt restructuring which though required the processes involving some of these lack transparency if not proper planning. Fundamental to addressing the short term and long term measures to overcome the economic crisis is stability though a government which has the acceptance of the people sans corruption, without abuse of power and mismanagement.
Presently the country has a Parliament and Executive which cannot claim to enjoy the confidence of the people as events that unfolded in the last few months have demonstrated that the much trumpeted mandate through resounding victories at the Presidential and parliamentary elections of 2019 and 2020 have all but evaporated. The Executive and parliament of the day comprise persons who can only fall back on a purported constitutional mandate (without the will of the people) to govern for specified constitutional terms which claim has been gained and buttressed by credible allegations of resort to dubious transactions and maneuvering.
The peoples cry for the abolition of the Executive Presidency and setting up of a consensual all party interim government has been conveniently ignored. Such is notwithstanding clear assurances from Former President Gotabaya Rajapakse and the present incumbent. The “Government” of the day carries on its business as usual with abuse of power, dictatorial suppression through armed force of legitimate freedom of expression and other fundamental rights using draconian legislation such as the PTA which it had vowed to abolish.
The recent appointment of Thirty Eight State Ministers mostly of persons of proven dubious credentials further burdens the economy though there are claims that all of them will forgo (only) their basic wage in a country with economic woes. Such is totally unacceptable. What was envisaged was an interim cabinet of a few with well defined interim economic measures to be accomplished speedily and Parliamentary elections to be held at the earliest – no later than 12 months.
Even the much trumpeted 22nd Amendment to the constitution put forward by the present government has fallen far short of the promise by both the former and present President to abolish the 20th amendment and restore the 19th amendment with progressive improvements. Consequent to the recent determination of the Supreme Court, the powers of the Executive President have been further enhanced from what was envisaged by the original draft of the 22nd Amendment. The constitutional council itself intended to ensure independent vital institutions and processes in governance cannot be perceived as independent and is a far cry from what was provided by the 19th amendment.
The prevalent political instability which cuts through the entire social fabric will undermine any progressive steps towards economic recovery and leaves the citizens skeptical of any worthwhile measure or the will to do so by those presently in governance. There appears little choice if further deterioration of the entire country is to be avoided. Parliamentary elections and a constitutional amendment even through a referendum, seems the only option at present, if a system change is to be brought about to definitively overcome the decadent divisive, exploitative culture of the past 74 years and to see the country on a proper course.
Even at this late stage we consider it mandatory that the incumbent president comply with the wishes of the people by desisting from all acts of oppression and economic waste underlined by corruption and set in place a limited consensual cabinet of persons of integrity and capability to urgently address the economic problems with the guidance of independent experts. Such should be with a definite time frame not more than 12 months assuring early elections and if needed even through a Referendum for Constitutional Amendments to abolish the Executive Presidency and bring about a system change towards the clean governance, rule of law and equality for all.