ACT ACCORDING TO THE PLEDGES OF 2015 AND WORK COHESIVELY

The recently concluded local government elections and the reaction to it by the main political parties, has led to political uncertainty as they maneuver for their own advantage.  The National Peace Council is concerned about the outcome of a prolonged period of uncertainty that will hinder effective governance and also negatively impact on the country’s national reconciliation process. There is a need on the part of the leaders of the government who now appear to be at loggerheads to remember why they were elected to power and to keep the promises they made at that time.  They also need to take into account the concerns of the people that were manifested during the election.

We believe that it is the responsibility of the government leadership to respect the constitution and practice reconciliation at the political level between themselves, make amends where they have failed and strengthen their good governance focus on which they were elected.  These include strengthening state institutions, tackling the problem of corruption and showing greater care for the marginalized in society.  We echo the sentiments of the Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Sumangala Thera, the Maha Nayake of the Malwatta Chapter who warned that the situation in the country is obstructing the cohabitation and reconciliation among the people. He called on the government to fulfill the pledges given at the 2015 presidential election and general election.

Through its contacts and work at the grassroots level the National Peace Council is confident that the majority of people does not harbour feelings of antipathy towards those of other communities and would not oppose a political solution.  The government parties need to be conscious of the fact that they were elected for a five year period and have a mandate to remain in power till 2020 which a local government election cannot take away.  We call on the government to fulfill its pledges of 2015, starting with those aspects on which there is a general consensus in society.  These include strengthening state institutions, tackling the problem of corruption and showing greater care for the marginalized in society, whether for reasons of ethnicity or poverty.