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Editorial: Another 'STAR' by default?
By Daily Mirror Editorial Oct 14, 2011 
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The history of Sri Lankan politics lay abundant of women entering politics to fill the vacuum created by the death of a father, a husband or a son. In effect this has remained the key factor drawing women in to the fold. From the late Mrs. Sirimavo Banaranaike, her daughter or Mrs. Srimani Athulathmudali to a large majority of others, it has been an endless list of women seeking political recognition through a personal tragedy, than of their own achievements.
It is a situation that bodes ill for the emancipation we seek for women in this country. The great debate on the necessity for an increased participation of women at political decision making can hardly be expected to benefit from women becoming stars by default. The freedom women aspire as equal partners in all spheres of modern day Sri Lanka, cannot gain the strength it requires by such antics. Sadly, as tragic as is the death of Presidential Advisor, Baratha Lakshman Premachandra; a killing that continues to be condemned by all those who respect humanity, the announcements by his daughter to enter politics needs necessarily to be viewed in this backdrop. Granted, he became an unfortunate victim to the most despicable elements this country has of late had to offer by way of politics. It is a killing that requires reopening the debate on the very electoral system this country has found to be in conflict with. That however, is a debate that needs a more mature and enlightened outlook from both the political hierarchy as well as the common man on the street. This in effect speaks volumes of the vacuum for persons of a greater understanding of the consequences of the present political culture to enter the political arena. One sadly, that a young woman currently in shock and pain over the brutal killing of her father can hardly be expected to contribute to. Is the political anger and vengeance that she quite naturally carries with her to be the legacy of Sri Lankan politics? Is that now to be her contribution to politics? Hasn’t Sri Lankan politics had its fair share of such political rivalries without another innocent young woman playing pawn to it? There is no doubt, justification for the anger and the pain she, her family and his supporters carry against this horrendous killing; one that demands justice. Yet, that justice needs to arrive by way of an independent investigation with the legal system of the country allowing its course. Vengeful politics fed by the pain and tragedy of a killing, and a young person clearly misled by those with political interests; is certainly not the manner in which such justice is to be sought. Source: Daily Mirror - Sri Lanka
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