Sri Lanka is undergoing a period of change which has been a long time coming. The public has rejected the long-standing political order, which had failed them over and over again, to replace it with an untested movement. That movement, a rebranded version of ‘J.V.P-light’ in the form of the National People’s Power (NPP) that rode a wave of anti-establishment fervour, public disenfranchisement with the State and polity, and a promise of change with transparency and accountability, into public office. Today, this untested Government is moving policy and reforms though the Legislature with majority control of 159 seats and the powers of the Executive.

However, all good democracies are built on balance of power, give too much power in governance to any one entity, the JVP headquarters in Pelawatte, for example, and the results could be significantly different from what the public expected. As such, while the Government has the mandate to effect change, a strong political Opposition in Parliament is needed to hold a mirror to what they are doing and to help keep the Government accountable. Contrary to entrenched misunderstanding about politics, an Opposition does not need to ‘oppose’ everything a government does. They are an integral part of governance and democracy, and as such it is vital to have a robust movement.

Unfortunately, Sri Lankans are not blessed with a strong Opposition, with the crumbling ‘old guard’ party order struggling to hold on to what little relevance, if at all any, they have in this day and age. Despite being beaten soundly at the ballot box, the Opposition is so weak and polarised, it is yet to put public interest ahead of their own survival, to unite and form a stronger front to keep the Government in check. Shame. 

Today, the NPP Government, nearly ten months into office, and its first year in power anniversary around the bend, is trying its best to distract the public from the core issues which laid the groundwork for them to come to power. With failures, mistakes and scandals snowballing into an ever-greater set of issues to face, the test-book methods of diverting public attention from the growing failures, weaken. Some observers have questioned what radical distractions the Government will employ next when the realisation that the once healthy and abundant public trust and support for them is gradually eroding.

A strong Opposition in Parliament is crucial for a healthy democracy because it ensures government accountability, promotes transparency, and offers alternative policy perspectives. By holding the ruling party in check, the Opposition helps prevent abuses of power and ensures that government actions are in the best interests of the public. Further, an effective Opposition actively monitors the government's performance, scrutinising its policies, decisions, and spending. And they also support the government's efforts to draft and develop bipartisan national policies, the longitude of which is beneficial for the nation. The political Opposition often acts as the public’s watch dog – exposing wrongdoings of the State and the ruling party. They help by uncovering potential corruption, mismanagement, or abuse of power, ensuring that the government is held responsible for its actions. Through question-and-answer periods in the legislative body – the Parliament, the Opposition functions to promote transparency, a war cry which brought the NPP into power. A robust Opposition questions the government and demands explanations, and thereby helps to make public affairs more transparent and open to public scrutiny.

A well-formed and dutiful Opposition also aids in good governance by providing policy alternatives, which helps keep political ideologies and outdated practices out of law-making. This manner of presenting diverse perspectives has a valuable function to vet draft policies and to fine-tune them before they convert to law. Such actions also help stoke a stronger public debate on policies and leads to better understanding of policies and aids in their roll out. 

The Opposition also has a duty to uphold the rights of minority and vulnerable groups, and stand up against political victimisation. In forming a robust Opposition, and improving policy understanding and transparency, all Sri Lankans will benefit from a better governance process.

Let us hope that this realisation dawns on our Opposition MPs, sooner than later.