President Ranil W is expected to consult the parliament on electoral reforms and will consult the people direct at a referendum if the parliament doesn’t respond (Ref. Media). An analysis of the Sri Lankan society (since 1931) may indicate that the process of electing officials has been a root cause of all conflicts which fragmented and dragged the country backwards bringing it to nearly a grinding halt by 2022. It proves that the people weren’t smart to elect the right or those elected were smarter than the people. SL experienced democratic elections as a result of the recommendations of the Donoughmore Commission headed by Richard Walter John Hely-Hutchinson, 6th Earl of Donoughmore (Ref colonial sources). Therefore, electing rulers isn’t a home grown system for Sri Lankans who were used to kings and queens for over 2500 years.

Critiques looking at it from a human brain development cycle may conclude that the larger majority in similar countries are still in the reptilian brain behavior cycle. Some referred to President Mahinda as “Maha Rajano” after the war ended during his rule but as per his close associates President Mahinda never liked being called such. Still they continued (with motives) affecting the country’s image, their own and the President’s image. All who expect to be elected in future to take the country out of the crisis should know more about the brain development levels of the electorate (especially those in their inner circles).

The British as outsiders had the capacity to see SL society from a bird’s eye view. Hence, they may have tried to mitigate the risk of future internal conflicts in 1931 by introducing the Donoughmore constitution on the recommendations of the 1927 Donoughmore Commission. It recommended the new system of government with the ballot. Some view that due to internal conflicts within main ethnic groups the process didn’t deliver the expectations. However, democracy has stabilized many European states, Canada, USA and even the Communist Peoples Republic of China although democracy is not home grown in China. That indicates that SL electorate has many success stories to learn from.  China has come a long way with a stable government attracting international investment. It wouldn’t have been possible if there were internal conflicts. There are many who don’t wish to see China succeed. Therefore it proves that Chinese system of government has always listened to the pulse of the people. China is one nation that conducts Opinion Polls among the masses very often to feel the pulse of the people (Ref. Chinese sources). SL should develop such practices and constantly change according to the demands of the people if it wishes to develop as a democracy.

(The writer is an Academic and a Broadcaster. Views expressed are personal and may not necessarily be the views of his affiliations.)