Srilanka, Feb. 6 -- Sri Lanka is a country emerging from the worst economic crisis since the time of the Great Depression (1929-1939). Falling back into a time of shortages and immiseration is all too easy. Reforms are needed to control, if not remove, the causes of our despair. That places a premium on effective governing.

Yet, it appears that our elected rulers keep falling back into what they are good at, campaigning. The multiplicity of staggered elections that our country is afflicted by is a contributory cause. In this context, it is worrisome that those in authority, both in the ruling party and in the opposition, appear to be enamoured with the idea of introducing provisions to recall elected officials, among others. Do we need ...