Sri Lanka: Where is the justice for these parasites of chaos?

editorial

With the ninth presidential election coming up on September 21, the country is in a state of turmoil and on the brink of collapse. What should have been a democratic process to determine our country's future has instead been hijacked by a toxic mix of corruption, coercion and outright threats of violence. Recent revelations – shocking in their scale and audacity – reveal a political landscape where power is gained not by the will of the people but through manipulation, fear and intimidation.

An incriminating phone call between Nuwara Eliya District MP SB Dissanayake and Badulla District MP Vadivel Suresh exposes the true state of our democracy. During this call, tea estate managers and owners were blatantly threatened with demolition of their houses if they did not increase workers' wages – an egregious act of political intimidation aimed at forcing them to comply during the election. This sudden feigned concern for workers' rights is nothing more than a manipulative ploy to influence their votes. The MP concerned, who has held an important ministerial position for decades, is an example of the egregious misuse of state resources. This latest action is not just a criminal abuse of power; it is a blatant attack on the most vulnerable members of society, many of whom are trapped in poverty and defenseless against such coercion.

This is not an isolated incident, but a symptom of a decaying political system that is rotting from within, where threats and violence are the currency of power. The political class has made it clear that it is willing to destroy lives, livelihoods, and even the economy in its ruthless pursuit of control. This is the psychology of violence, pure and simple. Politicians who resort to threats of arson and destruction are not public servants—they are tyrants, thugs posing as leaders. This is not democracy, this is rule by fear. And it is not just farmworkers or rural communities that are at risk—it is the entire nation. When political violence becomes the norm, no one is safe. The foundations of our democratic institutions crumble when those in power choose violence over accountability.

Let us not kid ourselves: these threats are not unfounded. They are calculated, strategic moves to crush the opposition, silence dissent and oppress the weakest. This is a political elite that sees people not as citizens to be served, but as pawns to be exploited. They threaten to burn down houses today; tomorrow they will burn down the whole country if it means they can consolidate their position of power.

And how has our institutions responded? Silence. No investigations, no resignations, no consequences. This is the stench of impunity, the sign of a broken system in which power protects its own people and justice plays a secondary role. When those charged with upholding the law participate in undermining it, the rule of law becomes a farce. It is a chilling reminder that corruption is not just a part of our political system – it is the system.

Adding to this breach of trust is the statement by KD Lal Kantha, chairman of the National Trade Union Centre, claiming that there have been no public sector strikes and that unions are actively participating in the election campaigns. This raises a disturbing question: are these unions fighting for workers' rights or are they being roped into a political machine that is betraying the very people they claim to represent? The fact that labour movements – historically the vanguard of democratic accountability – are now embroiled in the sinister power play of the election only underscores the depth of our national crisis.

The path we have taken is unsustainable. Corruption and violence have so permeated the political sphere that the upcoming election is less a contest of ideas than a test of how much intimidation the public can endure. If this trend continues unchecked, the country risks drifting into a state where democracy is nothing more than an empty shell of no meaning, controlled by those who use violence as a political tool.

This election represents a defining moment in our country's history, not as a continuation of the corruption and intimidation we have experienced, but as an opportunity for a radical change of direction. It is time for people to reject the politics of fear, which uses the threat of violence and coercion as a tool of power. Our future must not be built on destruction and oppression, but on a collective rejection of the corruption that has poisoned our political system. This is more than an election—it is a battle for the soul of our democracy. The choice we make will determine the course of our country for generations, and we must choose to oppose those forces that would lead us into even deeper chaos and decay. To ensure social order, these parasites of chaos must be brought to justice before it is too late, restoring integrity and ensuring the well-being of society.