Making democracy beneficial to all

The peaceful and successful conclusion of local polls in Jaffna and Vavuniya after many years, is a major achievement and a significant first step in the emerging post-war era in Sri Lanka.
The fact that only less than 36,000 people voted in both Jaffna and Vavuniya polls is disturbing but it is certainly a welcome start.
It is the considered view that elections could be held in a peaceful environment and that many people believed in their fundamental right to vote, and also exercised their universal franchise, augurs well for the restoration of a much more meaningful and beneficial democracy in the North.
To put the polls in context, it was the first Municipal Council election in Jaffna, whilst it was after 15 years a small group of people got the opportunity in Vavuniya to elect their representatives to the Urban Council. The voter turnout was relatively low yet encouraging.
Had there been more time and greater persuasion, a much larger number would have cast their ballot.
The government and all the political parties in general and the Elections Commission in particular must be commended for taking on the challenge of holding mini polls in the North.
The confidence the government had to go for polls, largely stemmed from the fact that the President Mahinda Rajapaksa administration was able to successfully introduce democracy in the Eastern Province, two years ago. The emphatic crushing of the LTTE and its terror was another strong factor for the greater optimism.
President Rajapaksa in a message soon after the August 8 polls, put the importance of infusing greater democracy in the North in the right context.
“In a situation where democratic expression had been denied for three decades by the forces of terror, the ability to hold elections no sooner terrorism was defeated, thus providing the opportunity for democratic expression to the people of Vavuniya and Jaffna, is also a seen as a victory of our policies to stabilise democracy,” said Rajapaksa.
He also expressed gratitude to the people in Jaffna and Vavuniya for the positive and understanding response they gave to the President’s call to stand as a nation with diginity under a single standard.
An invitation was also extended to political parties who have not yet come to the democratic political process to stand together under a single flag of unity.
A closer scrutiny of the outcome of the polls in Jaffna and Vavuniya also points to certain political ground realities. Despite the relatively low voter participation, the message expressed by those who cast their ballot is a good opportunity for greater refinement of different view points among all stakeholders who have a role to play in ushering meaningful democracy in the North.
Given his growing stature countrywide including the North, the President himself assured that, “My Government and I attach the highest importance to our country and its people. The renewed mandate by the people helps expedite and gives added strength and courage to our efforts to protect the country, and bring a new awakening to the lives of our people.”
The renewed pledge and confidence from the President also comes in the aftermath of resounding victory for his government in the Uva Provincial Council elections.
It must be stressed that Jaffna, Vavuniya and Uva are homes for some of the most poor and vulnerable population in Sri Lanka.
In that context as well as in an macro sense, the country is in deed at the threshold of a new awakening with the end of the three-decade war in the North and East.
Hopefully with the conclusion of the Southern Provincial Council elections shortly, the new and diverse political leadership at provincial and local government level will have to work with new vigour and sincerity to deliver on good governance and socio-economic development which are some of the key benefits of a vibrant democracy.
If the third and second tier politicians at grassroots fail to rise to the challenge before them individually, and those governing administrations collectively, the true benefit of peaceful and successful elections held will be lost.
For Sri Lanka to truly ride on the wave of reawakening a midst local and global challenges, a more spirited and collective national effort by all stakeholders is of paramount importance for the benefit of the people, and more importantly the future generation.