I am now
an elected representative of people. Never mind
where, which or how. That I believe is irrelevant.
In the last period, we were tormented by
chauvinists, conservatives, and various
reactionaries referring to our mass support. Every
time we referred to injustice and lack of fair
play, we were shot down as non entities. Famous of
all, is that all our support could be accommodated
in a three wheeler!
Though it
is obvious that one need not be a mass leader to
raise a question on injustice; human rights, civil
rights, labour rights, women’s rights, gay rights,
and problems of environment, it is assumed are
issues to be discussed exclusively by mass
leaders. I wanted to challenge these people. Sans
mass meetings, sans posters, we walked with cards
in hand. Only during day time; as darkness could
be dangerous.
Dangerous
election campaigns
Yes,
Bharatha found sacrificing his life, even day time
could be dangerous in election campaigns.
Fortunately we could avoid clashes. I believe that
I walked at least 250 km, meeting people mostly
women and old people, as men were out in the
field. I am happy that every where we went, we
were invited in and serious political questions
were raised. Some gave contributions to the
election fund. For the first time in my long
political life I felt that I was treated very
seriously by every body. I joined the Lanka Sama
Samaja party in 1962 as a university student,
impressed by the discussions within the student
council. Though I was serious in my political
commitment, except the politically loyal, others
thought I was wasting my time.
Shrewd
politicians
While my
relations and friends thought I could do some
thing else, my enemies thought I should be cruelly
punished for my beliefs and views.
So, I
should be happy now; not only that many have
considered our views seriously, a significant
section has supported us.
I am
surprised to see every body in the Dehiwela
Mt.Lavinia Municipal Council accepting me with
smiles and kind words. Of course, most of them are
shrewd politicians though confined to the
locality. Many of them were surprised that I got
elected with such an insignificant campaign.
They
explained the nature and the amount of welfare and
propaganda activity involved in their respective
campaigns. Some have paid monthly electricity
bills, water bills etc of thousands of households
to collect a few thousands of preferences. Many of
them are rich businessmen and hence I could
believe their story. So, welfare either with state
money or from one’s own pocket is the basis of
populist politics.
Does that
mean His Worship the Mayor, Danasiri Amaratunge
got the highest votes by spending millions for
welfare and populist projects? Danasiri is a
dynamic man with a large crowd always following
him. He appears to be attending to this or that
matter of somebody. Obviously he cannot compensate
for the disastrous policies of the government. But
he is always on the move with his conservative but
pleasant adjutant Kesaralal following him. They
criticize each other, not openly. But they gang up
together beautifully against the opposition. Now
Danasiri wants to get rid of all private sector
involvements in cleaning and other services.
Municipal
services or city services refer to basic services
that residents of a city expect the city
government to provide in exchange for the taxes
which citizens pay. Basic city services in Lanka
include sanitation (both sewer and refuse), water,
streets, pre schools, food inspection, fire
department, ambulance, and other health department
issues and internal transportation. City
governments were expected to provide these
facilities through respective internal
departments.
But in the
recent past with the emergence of neo liberalism
it became the fashion to give services to private
sector on sub contract. In fact the municipality
services failed due to political intervention in
management. Work gangs became goons of local
politicians. Municipal administrators could not
implement any discipline as the workers were
protected by corrupt politicians. That is why the
private sector could get in so easily. Danasiri
and Kesaralal say they will change all that. Whom
are they challenging?
