Sri Lanka, during the time of independence, was blessed with everything required to move ahead to ensure a better future for all. However, where do we stand today after more than six decades?

Who is responsible for our being plunged in to the depths of moral degradation and depravity? Aren’t these two parties, SLFP and UNP, and their communal agendas, not realizing that they were plunging the country into a bloodbath, were solely responsible?

The ruling elite belonging to all shades of political opinions which maintained ruthless control over the island’s politics were solely responsible for six decades of mismanagement which created the current tragic state of affairs causing untold misery and sufferings to the people in general.

As a result since the dawn of independence Sri Lanka failed to produce a national leader accepted by all communities who could think above communalism for all communities and administer the country for the ultimate unity and prosperity for all.

Instead  almost all governments dominated by the two main political parties  with their eyes firmly fixed on the elections, either to win or to retain power, aggressively continued to woo the majority community as the most effective vote caching strategy.

As highlighted in the media on a daily basis, the entire political system has become corrupt, criminalized and commercialized leaving little room for serious development.

Inevitably, political instability has become the order of the day. Communities remain divided and the ethnic war has also opened floodgates for sinister and destructive players from all corners of the world, with their own agendas, to enter the country, further complicating the already complicated and complex political scene.

The draconian 1978 constitution and its executive presidential system of government have failed miserably .There were demands from many quarters, from all communities, to change the system.

Absolute power in the hands of an individual, and that too with no accountability to parliament or to the country, proved a monumental disaster for the island which continues to pay the price. In a way it is a democratically-elected dictatorship similar to those enjoyed by most dictators who ruined many countries in the world throughout history.

The need of the hour is for a set of politicians with honesty, integrity and sincerity who could think for the whole country. Ends