The Cheek of Arrogance – Bertie’s latest rant

Bertie Premalal Dissanayake has been the Chief Minister of the NCP a few times already. In today’s largest selling daily, the Sinhala Lankadeepa, he says that if he does not get the post of Chief Minister again, then he WILL NOT accept any other ministerial post. Sour Grapes or sulking!

Why do people believe they are entitled to positions for life? Term limits were abolished for the President in the 18^th Amendment to the Constitution, which brought with it a whole host of very regrettable clauses. We may never have another administration with a two thirds majority and so it is unlikely that this amendment could be changed unless there is consensus amongst all political parties, something that is lacking these days.

To get back to the main topic, allowing politicians to behave like they are local Princes, with rights during their lifetime, and then to be passed on to their children, makes a mockery of Governance, Democracy and any Self Respect that may remain in Sri Lanka. For this individual to say that he will take 120 of the 150 local politicians in the area that represent the ruling party with him, to do as he pleases. Does that mean that he is the Godfather for them? Do they owe him allegiance? What is all this about? No answers, just questions!

We must take a stand against this kind of political arrogance, which is now rampant, and also believed to be spreading further amongst the minor pols, representing Pradeshiya Sabhas and Municipal Councils.

Is the President also playing poker with them too? Some say he is fed up with the arrogance of Bertie and wants to teach him a lesson, by demoting him and clipping his wings. After all at the Deyata Kirula Exhibition in Anuradhapura District, Bertie’s henchmen were not given any contracts, with most of them going to the Rajapakse loyalists in the South. Apparently there was also colossal waste of money, but as is the case these days, contracts are not given to the best, just the friends who use it as a means to help themselves at the expense of the state that pays the bills.

It takes strong leadership to stem this behavior. When the leadership also engages in the same behavior, one cannot expect them to set an example, leading to business as usual in the “Banana Republic”. So who puts all these brats in their place? We do, just rise up and say enough is enough.