The unheard voice of the silent majority

The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka has been mostly shaped by the actions of a few extremists up in the north and a few extremist down in the south. Not that either have ever won any significant power or popularity; but the successive governments that did win power have repeatedly conceded to various demands by the extremists groups that were inherently against the national interest and thus sealed the fate of the country. In between these extremist groups in the North and those in the South who are driven by false sense pride and a misguided patriotism are those who have neither any interest in denying rights of the minorities nor engaging in an armed struggle. But, although this segment of the Sri Lankan population, despite having the ability to elect or eject the government, are victims of under-representation and political marginalization.

One problem is the way democracy functions in Sri Lanka. Once the government is elected by popular vote, the parliament is divided into several monolithic blocks, one of which consists of several political groups that forms the coalition of a two third majority. Once these blocks are created, the decisions made by the parliament are anything but democratic. There are no bipartisan or cross party decisions made and the needs of the public are ignored. In fact, if a parliamentarian who belongs to the ruling coalition expresses opposition, they are swiftly reprimanded.

The result is that the policies of the government, once elected, is never in synch with the majority of the population who elected them. Rather the interests of the smaller groups that make the ruling coalition stick are implemented. The extremist elements in these coalitions have managed to resist privatization, encourage ethnic division and fuel the war to name a few. And the voice of the moderate majority, who wants to progress, develop and live and let live, is barely heard among the noisy clutter of the often meaningless democracy of our country.