By Gamini Abeywardane
The angry mood of the people, first erupted through the Aragalaya and surfaced again in the recent presidential election, is most likely to be reflected in its true form in the upcoming general election.
Frustrated beyond tolerable limits, the people wanted a real change; a change of the existing political culture. Now the signs are that the most vital part of that process is about to happen; of the 225 members of the former parliament over 35 have already decided not to seek re-election.
Their popularity being at such a low ebb many of the old guard would lose their seats even if they contest again. The general belief in political circles is that as many as 150 of the former members would not be in the next parliament and this would bring about the inevitable transformation in the country’s political culture.
Major political parties, perhaps having already seen the impending peril have decided to get more new blood into their nomination lists though it looks a difficult task to reverse the trend.
Another notable change would be that in contrast with the existing political order if the NPP which has already won the presidency gains control of the parliament, it would be a major triumph in the war against corruption.
They as a cohesive group seem to have a more consistent political philosophy although many people had doubts about their ability to run a market oriented economy. They are bound by a belief and a genuine desire to replace the current political and social system ridden with corruption.
With no corruption or less corruption they are undoubtedly the cleanest out of all major political groups in the country. Nobody has joined that party with the aim of making money in contrast to what we have witnessed in Sri Lankan politics during the last few decades.
In the existing system many would invest millions of rupees to win a seat in the parliament because it was a foregone conclusion that politics was the best business in the country and that one could end up earning much more.
All political parties, old or new, if they want to succeed will have no option but to present credible, clean candidates without any allegations of corruption or unethical behaviour.
Overhauling this political system and if possible stopping the unethical crossovers in parliament would be a major step towards achieving the complete change anticipated by the non-corrupt silent majority population of our country.
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