THE RIGHT TO RECALL - The right of voters in a democratic state.

There's a public gallery above where lawmakers meet in many countries worldwide. It's there so people can check if the representatives they elected are really speaking up for them. But here's the tricky part: when regular people look up at their representatives, they often feel these representatives are above them in some way. Sadly, in some South Asian legislatures, elected representatives sometimes act aggressively when the public is watching. After all the fuss, they claim it was all for the greater good. People are left waiting, feeling like there's nothing they can do and thinking they need divine help. But there is another way – the "right to recall."

The right to recall means that if the people who voted for someone aren't happy with how they're doing the job, they can remove them before their term ends. It's as simple as saying, "You're not doing the job we sent you for," and recalling them.

If this right-to-recall act gets passed and signed by the speaker of parliament, it becomes a law, and if a public representative isn't doing their job right within a certain time, and a petition signed by over 50% of the voters in their area is filed, they can either have another election in that area or let the second-place candidate take over.

This doesn't question how long a representative can stay in their role; it's about whether they've been good representatives. So, if we look at it today, people are asking for this act. There are politicians who make big promises during elections but don't follow through once they're in office. When they're up for reelection, they might change their style, act humbler, and ask for votes again, even though they haven't done much before. But with the right to recall, there's no need to rely on divine intervention. We, the people, can decide to recall them, and then they'll have to start working for us.

Some people say this idea is impractical and could lead to problems if we have to keep having elections. But it's not true. If we have the right to recall, representatives will work harder, knowing they can be recalled if they don't. If someone genuinely helps the people, there's no need to recall them. They'll be popular and trusted, and people will keep electing them. This right to recall can actually make the country's economy and politics better, rather than causing chaos.

Elected officials owe their positions and privileges to the people. When they're seeking votes, they should remember this. But often, they forget once they're elected. The right to recall acts as a reminder to them that they're accountable to the people.

Now, you might wonder if this idea is just a fantasy. Nope, it's not. Similar acts exist in the world and work well. Even in India, our neighbor and the largest democracy globally, they have a right to recall as a law. So, why can't we do it in Sri Lanka?

In a real democracy, the government should work for the people, not over them. If this right to recall acts gets passed, the people will be the real bosses, not just on paper. But it won't be easy. Some people won't like it because it'll change their comfy lives. Not just the ruling party, but even the opposition may oppose it. They say there's honor even among thieves, but they won't support this bill. The challenge is whether we can pass it in the face of many hurdles. Sometimes, even big losses are better than great victories.

Some young people think Sri Lanka is in big trouble and can't recover. But I believe there's hope. The right to recall could be the ace up our sleeves. I wish that one day, we'll have a strong democratic country truly run by the people.

"In this Republic, voters should have the right to recall their representatives. Otherwise, democracy becomes a joke." - Sachindra Nath Sanyal, a revolutionary linked to India's freedom movement.

- Kasun Sapumohotti