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Despite COVID scare, in Kandy, people we spoke to say they will vote
View(s):There are real fears that COVID-19 will affect turnout on election day but a majority of voters the Sunday Timesinterviewed insisted they will still go out and exercise their franchise, despite not having much hope of positive change regardless of who wins.
Kandy town: Pavement vendors said they have no intention to boycott the elections Pic by Indika Handuwala
We spoke to a number of voters in Kandy town this week. There was nobody that planned to avoid polling stations over pandemic fears. Some were sick of politics but still intended to vote.
“I will vote as it’s my civic duty, though I have no interest in politics and do not think much of the candidates who are contesting,” said one woman, who declined to give her name.
Some firmly believed voting was an important part of democracy and that not exercising their franchise amounted to betrayal. A textile shop owner, who also didn’t wish to be named, said he was uncomfortable with how the country was being run without Parliament.
“We are being governed by Presidential task forces and that is not good for the health of a democracy,” he said. He would endorse the practice if he didn’t vote.
M.B. Ranjith (64) from Bandarawela was among a group of vegetable vendors we met. Living on rent in Kandy, he said he will travel back to cast his ballot for the SLPP as he had faith in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. But he will not cast a single preference vote as he did not see anyone worthy enough to earn it. “All are thieves,” he said. “There is no use voting for them.”
The pandemic’s severe economic impact was the topmost concern among voters who said their income had been hit hard. “People are still not going out as much as usual and consequently aren’t shopping as much as they used to,” noted Jayantha Vithanawasam (55), another vegetable vendor from Kandy. Business has fallen to unprecedented levels since the start of the pandemic.
Mohammed Imthiyaz (42), a fruit vendor, said he also intended to vote but did not expect a new Government to benefit people like him. “I expect nothing from them,” he remarked. “Everything happens according to God’s will.”
A vote is a democratic right and voters have a responsibility to exercise it, said vegetable vendor Mohammed Saththar (50). He believes there are some good young candidates who deserve to be in Parliament.
Mohammed Fouard (64), another vendor, said there were one or two candidates he intended to vote for who deserved to be in parliament. “I’ll be satisfied if they do some good for the country, not just for someone like me,” he maintained.
Businesses suffered heavily during the lockdown, said K.M.R. Kulatunga (66), who owns a prominent printing shop in Kandy town. “Government employees were still paid, but many of those in the private sector had their incomes slashed,” he pointed out. “Though the lockdown has ended, people’s incomes have not increased compared to before the virus and that has an effect on all businesses.”
He questioned the competency of representatives voters have been sending to parliament. “They haven’t even read and understood the Constitution,” he scoffed. “How many of these ministers even know the Establishment Code? They should at least be made to sit a test to qualify for ministerial posts.”
Mr Kulatunga also intends to vote. “The COVID situation is just another issue that people face,” he said. “It will not prevent large numbers of voters from going to the polls.”