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The political reality of unpaid utility 

02 Feb 2022

In an unprecedented move, the Water Supply Ministry is preparing to submit a cabinet paper requiring around 45 current and former parliamentarians, including ministers who have failed to pay their water bills, for both their official and private residences, to settle their bills, by way of deductions to be made from their salaries and pensions. This decision has been taken after various other attempts towards the same, including informing the relevant MPs. As attractive as the said proposal is, it is also extremely concerning – worrying, to be precise – because paying one’s bills is a basic obligation. If a country is put in a position where it has to impose specific laws to make its public representatives, who have pledged to make the general public’s lives better, pay their bills, that is extremely concerning. It shows that the public representatives who make laws, have failed or have ignored the laws and rules they make that apply to the rest of the country. There is a question as to how and when exactly the said cabinet proposal will be put into action. However, this initiative is one of those initiatives Sri Lanka has been lacking for years, because some of the MPs had failed to pay their bills for years, according to the Ministry. This is critically important because some of the state institutions have been suffering losses for years, if not decades, and paying bills is something the Government has been asking the people to do for a long time. One question the people ask every time politicians advocate austerity measures is when the politicians are going to make a commitment for the people and for the country in order to address the crises the politicians keep warning the people about. Even though the aforementioned proposal is not voluntary but a mandatory regulation, if it is passed in the Parliament, this could be a good start that begets more positive changes. Moreover, this is a message that the commitment the people are expecting from the politicians does not have to wait until politicians come forward willingly, and that progressive regulations can prompt politicians to ensure their rightful contribution to the country.  This enthusiasm, however, should not end here. Steps must be taken to hold politicians accountable for what they cost the country, and that should not be confined to water. In the future, Sri Lanka needs laws and regulations to charge electricity, fuel, and other related costs from politicians, if they have not made the said utility payments. That is a discussion Sri Lanka needs to have before discussing whether politicians are entitled to more perks than they deserve, which is an allegation many, including the general public, raise.  Politics, however, should not be an obstacle in this process of passing the said cabinet paper. In fact, the Government should support it, as the implementation of this law shows that the Government takes the responsibility to manage its bill evading members, and it will be a plus point in the eyes of the general public.  At the end of the day, this is also a reminder that politicians should not be exempted from the general laws that affect Sri Lankan citizens. The rules that apply to the general public must apply to the politicians too, as they too are citizens. They are not only citizens, but are individuals who have vowed to represent the public and the public’s interests. Also, this should be made an opportunity to implement the law against MPs who have not paid their bills. If the general public faces legal and other forms of action when they do not pay their utility bills on time, how come politicians get away with the same for years? That is also a concern that demands action apart from merely charging what is owed to the public sector. Moreover, the above-mentioned proposal should not take years to be passed. It has to happen as soon as possible. Now is an extremely crucial time that calls for the attention and contribution of all citizens.


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