Success of Current Local Government System in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The present system of local government institutions (LGI) was introduced by the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of 1987, in order to decentralize power as a solution to the ethnic problem in the country. This study is on the impact of the good governance practiced by LGI on the quality of life of its people. The hypothesis to be tested assumes that the good governance practiced by the LGIs guaranties the democratic rights, the rule of law and quality of life of its people. The study is limited to seven LGI areas selected from Colombo, Gampaha and Kurunegala districts. Quantitative data were collected from 560 households, while qualitative data were collected conducting focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. The theoretical and conceptual framework suggested that participation, transparency, accountability and impartiality as the key elements of good governance, while LGI as the most important institution which can provide local needs according to the tastes of its people. The quality of life is a subjective matter and was measured depending on the perspectives of people concerned. Data indicated that the LGIs had failed to implement good governance, andquality of life of its people had improved independent of LGI. People were of the opinion that local as well as national politics are corrupt and people had no alternative. As the data did not support the hypothesis, the study concludes that quality of life of people and the LGIs had no relationship. Practices in Sri Lanka and the functioning of democratic rights and rule of law were also not satisfactory as politicization was high. The process of achieving quality of life seemed to be independent. People were satisfied neither with the functions of local government institutions nor with the local as well as national politicians. If LGI is unable to attend to the needs of the people, they look for alternative ways. Human nature is that they would go for alternatives to maximize their expectations, if the intended sources fail. However, they did not want to leave the village, leaving their traditional property and relatives, though some females tended to migrate out sacrificing the immediate happiness of the family, looking for future prospects. The results highlights that good governors is not practiced by the local government institutions.