The Dangers Of The 13th Amendment Seems To Be Oblivious To Some Pundits.
Posted on June 4th, 2013
Insight By Sunil Kumar
JuneƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 5th 2013
There seems to be a sudden surge on the part of certain Sri Lankan policy makers to implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution perhaps oblivious to the dangers it could entail and precipitate a complete reversal of roles in the aftermath of a decades long victorious battle with the Tamil TigerƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ insurgent who long sought to destroy what Sri Lanka realistically stood for, the significance of how the Nation evolved through millenia and who controls its functioning on the pretext that the land belonged to those whom they saw fit which of course does not align with reality as justice prevailed in the end where the greater as well as more deserving were victorious. Let this not be compromised!
Neither India norƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ disgruntled Tamil Tiger supportive diaspora and definitelty not forces who would like to interfere into the internal affairs of a Sovereign Democratic Majority Sinhala Nation have any right to do soƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ simply to appease agendas of their own involving Sri Lanka’s adversaries who appear to be beneficial towards their own ends whose duplicitous and contentious presentationsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ provide the sensationalism intended to sway a myopic world on matters related to Sri Lanka.
At this stage of Sri Lanka’s progress in the aftermath of the victory over terrorism and insurgency the term Unitary State needs to be the foremost consideration firmly disassociated with the term Secession towards appeasing a miniscule minority and their supportives reluctant to toe the line with the Administration andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ now screaming for the 13th AmendmentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ where logically as well as rationally it is not the panacea Sri Lanka needs towards stability andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ development where to the contrary it could set in place dangerous precedents that were dismantled as a result of the downing of the insurgents and something a few blinkered pundits fail to see as they continue harping over the somewhat contentious merits of the 13th Amendment.
The following excerpt ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a presentation by SPUR the Human Rights Organization based in Australia does more than pellucidate the ramifications of the 13th AmendmentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and a worthwhile warning towards its implementation where a truer statement would perhaps be never more applicable which hopefully will be picked up for its merit towards the Nation of Sri Lanka by her legislators and Administrators. It is a brilliant evaluation of what the Nation of Sri Lanka truly needs today.
with all due credits and acknowledgements to SPUR
Repeal the 13th Amendment to Sri Lanka Constitution
Protect Unitary Status ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Defuse Racism
The Society for peace Unity and Human Rights (SPUR) is a 16 year old human rights organisation operating in Australia, dedicated to protecting the unitary status and the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ We have been active in countering denigration of ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka and challenging the spread of malicious misinformation. During the last 16 years, SPUR has been urging the Sri Lankan Government, including President RajapaksaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s government to repeal the 13th Amendment to Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s constitution. The 13th Amendment, rammed down Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s throat in 1987 by then unfriendly India:
- Risks Balkanising unitary Sri Lanka providing a fertile ground for separatism parroted by political parties such as the TNA
- Encourages racist, political activism similar to what is being practiced by the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress during the recently concluded Eastern Provincial Council elections
- Provides opportunities for foreign funded NGOƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s such as the Centre for Policy Alternative to boldly challenge and obstruct the implementation of progressive government policy such as the Divineguma Bill, drafted to benefit the poor
- Discourages the cultivation of a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-one Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ culture by encouraging provincial based, racist parochialism freely practiced by the likes of the TNA and the SLMC
- Threatens national unity by giving minority political parties disproportionate power, allowing them to secure racial based programmes
- Allows external interference in Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s domestic governance evidenced by TNAƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s frequent visits to India, using Tamil Nadu as the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Trojan HorseƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ to follow their racist and divisive Eealm agenda.
All Sri Lankans paid a tremendous economic, social and environmental price for eradicating Tamil Tiger Terrorism from Sri Lanka. It is time to expunge the provincial council based on parochial racism from Sri Lanka. We urge President RajapksaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s government to:
- Repeal the 13 Amendment.
- Consider establishing village and district based, development centric institutional structure with elected representatives to empower decision making at grass-root level.
- Get rid of the number of politicians populating a bloated four-tier governance arrangement in Sri Lanka, draining the public purse.
With the repealing of the 13th Amendment, Sri Lanka will prosper as a Unitary State where people will live as one enjoying the full gamut of human rights equitably. At present, the toxic 13th amendment provides a safe heaven and a camouflage for separatists, racists and international agents to freely prosecute their agenda to Balkanise Sri Lanka.
Its time to once and for all to extricate ourselves from the political handcuffs put on us by the Indians nearly 25 years ago.
June 4th, 2013 at 1:52 pm
Looks like the govt. is preparing for the north PC election.
A NASTY agitation campaign should be launched with the help of trade unions, JVP, etc. to TERRORISE the govt. into giving up on the election and SCRAP 13 amendment.
June 4th, 2013 at 3:40 pm
For whom is the 13th Amendment? TNA doesn’t want it. Fat Prabha didn’t want it. Majority of Sri Lankans don’t want it. All patriots don’t want it.
Whereas Indians want it. The lackeys of the Provincial Administrations want it to keep their jobs and perks. Perhaps the President want it thinking by this he can keep the UNHCR and thereby the Western Christian Powers from getting at him.
What Sri Lanka has to decide are the aftermath scenarios – the “what if” scenarios. As things are the racist TNA will win the elections. We have to pre-empt all this before deciding on the implementation of the 13th Amendment.
What if Tamil Nadu politicians visit the North to talk “new arrangements” and relations?
What if US Secretary of State and Foreign Ministers of countries such as Britain, France and Germany come to talk aid and other arrangements by passing Colombo?
What will happen to Trincomalee? What controls will Colombo have over Trinco?
It is time that all those who have a stake in continued peace in Sri Lanka exert pressure on the President and his administration. These include primarily all the Ranaviruwoes, The Buddhist Establishment, the Sinhala Buddhist nation who supported the “winnable war” and all other patriots in Sri Lanka and abroad and our indomitable Defence Secretary – Gotabhaya.
As Lorenzo says – if everything fails – Mass Agitation should not be ruled out.
June 4th, 2013 at 3:41 pm
I FULLY AGREE WITH YOU LORENZO. GOVERNMENT HAS TO BE TERRORISED TO STOP THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS ON ITS TRACTS. I HAVE A VERY STRANGE FEELING THAT THIS IS THE END OF THE GOVERNMENT.
MR IS A PROVEN STRATAGIST. PERHAPS HE MAY BE HAVING SOMETHING UP HIS SLEEVE TO BLAST THE TNA TAMILS. THEY MAY BE IN FOR A SURRRPPPRRIISSSEEEE.
June 4th, 2013 at 4:28 pm
So now we have a PLAN B and a PLAN C.
IDEAL – SCRAP 13 amendment dirt
PLAN B – Mass agitation against 13 amendment AND/OR North PC election
PLAN C – IF North PC election is going ahead, we have to DISRUPT TNA, TULF, etc. participation.
That can only be done by “LTTE” as it did. “LTTE” rejected PCs as a sham. We have to get “LTTE” to hunt down the few MODARATES (who agree to 13 amendment as opposed to FULL Tamil Elam) in TNA and TULF before nominations. CHAOS and fear will force TNA to boycott what they will call a “sham election”. TNA boycotted the 2007 East PC election on SIMILAR grounds.
UPFA will contest with EPDP and win MOST seats in North PC. EU observers will blame “LTTE”, the govt, TNA and everything under the sun.
This is only PLAN C (if everything else fails).
June 4th, 2013 at 6:41 pm
Bloody Hell! LTTE bombers of the Train in Dehiwala let off with only 10 year sentence (inaddition to 17 years they were held to date).
Not ENOUGH PUNISHMENT, I say! These murderers should really have been put against a wall and SHOT DEAD! At least they should have received LIFE SENTENCES!
I cry in anguish that Sri Lankan LIVES are VALUED at BARGAIN BASEMENT Prices, by our own Justice System!
Many Friends and some Relatives of mine who were BLOWN TO BITS in that attack, on the alter of Tamil Eelam, must be TURNING IN THEIR GRAVES today!
What a SHAME!
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Suspects of LTTE bomb attack in Sri Lanka train 17 years ago get prison sentences
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Jun 04, Colombo: A Sri Lankan court today sentenced three cadres of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) suspected of blowing up a train in Sri Lanka 17 years ago killing 66 people.
When the case was heard today the Colombo High Court Judge Kumudini Wickremasinghe sentenced two of the suspects – Saverimuttu Loganathan and Robert Maxillan to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment while the female suspect, Siththirasenam Thirumagal alias Ramani to five years of rigorous imprisonment.
The suspects were accused of placing two bombs in two carriages of a highly crowded train and detonating it while stopped at the Dehiwala station on July 24, 1996. The attack killed 66 people and injured over 400 people.
The accused have pleaded guilty to the charges of conspiring, aiding and abetting to cause the loss of life and irreparable damage to the Sri Lanka Railway by blasting a bomb.
Since the suspects have been in remand for nearly 17 years, the counsels for the accused have asked the court for a lenient sentence. The prosecution has not objected to the request.
Two more suspects Sinnappu Suharajah and Suppiah Sudarshanan have pleaded not guilty to the charges and the judge has fixed their trial for September 11.
June 4th, 2013 at 6:44 pm
The government has two safe and workable options. With two thirds majority the 13A can be removed from the Constitution. Alternatively a referendum can be called, or both options can happen simultaneously. If it is the fear of UNHRC and India that is holding the government back (which seems to be the case), the referendum option must be used. After all people will have to live with the 13A. They will not, if they don’t want it.
Although a province cannot borrow from foreign sources, donations are allowed. US, Indian and EU discriminatory donations (that deprive other provinces) and black money from the Tamil Diaspora will flood the north. These will further uplift education and healthcare in the north above all other districts. It will be like the British times when the north was favoured which created a severe inferiority complex among Tamils in the post Independence era (the root cause of the problem). This danger has not been studied sufficiently.
Another danger will be increased brainwashing by foreign Tamil elements with the blessings and resources of the provincial council.
June 4th, 2013 at 6:54 pm
MORE INDECISIVE FIDDLING while Sri Lanka is HEADED for the CHOPPING BLOCK!
My God … if only the Rajapaksa Clan can get their ACT TOGETHER on this … as they did to Win the Eelam War DECISIVELY!
Such Opportunities to Carve Your Name in GOLD in the Annals of Sri Lanka’s Hallowed History are Gifted by the Hatarawaran Deviyo only once in a Millenium to a Select Few!
Carpe’ Diem …. Seize the Day! … this is not the time for Pusillanimous Politicians!
Rise Up! … O Patriots of Mother Lanka … REPEAL the 13th Amendment and DEMOLISH the Provincial Council System by Leaf, Branch, Trunk and Rott, NOW!
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Sri Lanka nationalist party to meet other political parties about motion to abolish PC system
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Jun 04, Colombo: Ally of Sri Lanka’s governing party, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) will meet government and opposition political parties within this week to discuss a private member’s motion presented by the party to parliament on abolishing the provincial council system in the country.
JHU Spokesperson Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe said that the JHU had informed the President in writing about the bill and the party now intends to meet every party in the coalition and discuss the issues cited in the Bill.
“Then we plan to meet the representatives of the main opposition party the UNP and the Tamil and Muslim parties within the next week. We have informed all these parties regarding our desire to hold discussions and have also sent them copies of the Bill for them to go through it,” Warnasinghe said.
The JHU motion aims primarily to repeal the 13th Amendment to the Constitution which paved way for the power devolving Provincial Council system in the island.
Warnasinghe added that the JHU also intends to hold discussions with the chief prelates of the country, and other religious leaders as well regarding the bill presented by the JHU.
The party is also hopeful of holding discussions on the motion with the business sectors and Chambers.
June 4th, 2013 at 9:06 pm
“Suspects of LTTE bomb attack in Sri Lanka train 17 years ago get prison sentences”
I don’t you so Ananda. Its best to have ELIMINATED these scum without BURDENING the justice system. Two more terrorists AMY NOT EVEN be imprisoned!!
This is an INSULT to the 66 who died and 400 injured people.
This is SL. Lives of 66 Sinhalese is less worth to the govt. than the lives of 5 Tamilians! Sh*t!
June 4th, 2013 at 9:07 pm
“Sri Lanka nationalist party to meet other political parties about motion to abolish PC system”
AGAIN!
A goat’s balls will fall BEFORE JHU’s motion actually gets to a vote!! They look more likely to fall!
Thanks Ananda for those news.
June 5th, 2013 at 2:54 am
Once TNA comes to power on 8 Sept, it will be all too late (the horse is then bolted).
And, that will be beginning of the end of One Lanka.
Instead of the NPC Election we must have the island wide Referendum.
No point of being scared of India, they have no firm policy on Sri Lanka anyway. The West – if we handle them delicately, we might be able to save the skin. Also, China and Russia provide us the safety net.
Holding of the Election is more dangerous than not holding it. How can we give the North on a platter to a group who are already saying they want a separate state (even as of yesterday)
June 5th, 2013 at 6:45 am
TNA does want the 13-A, IN FULL, with Land & Police Powers. With the TNA, it’s all or nothing.
Remove the 13-A now, or regret forever.
P.S.: Can someone tell us whether the TNA (as it exists now). is a registered political party ? We know for sure that the M-TNA is a registered political party.
June 5th, 2013 at 8:53 am
All the p.c and 13 a supporters know that 13a is bad for the country. Thet have been defeated by nalin de silva ..S.L gunasekara AND Gomin d etc long long time ago . But these traitors are bribed by westerners.
they know that they are wrong but how can they survive without dollars?
everybody should know that PRof NALIN DE SILVA had to suffer without a job for 10years because he was trying to teach these traitors
June 5th, 2013 at 11:45 am
What is this INDIAN delegation doing in Sri Lanka interfering in Sri Lanka’s internal matters?
First India seeds and fertilizes Tamil terrorism in Sri Lanka, then invades to partition Sri Lanka in favor of its porteges, then fights its Tamil surrogates when they threaten India’s own integrity, they they declare victory and flee back to India with their tail between their legs leaving us with a greatly enhanced separatist problem, and now HERE THEY ARE AGAIN … turning like the Proverbial Bad Pennies … collaborating with the Separatists to Divide Sri Lanka Again and trying to solve India’s problems on our heads.
The GOSL MUST STOP this SLOW UNDERMINING of Sri Lanka’s SOVEREIGNTY, NOW!
To get the POINT ACROSS, Sri Lanka should send delegations to India on FACT FINDING MISSIONS to talk to all INDIAN SEPARATIST GROUPS (Kashmiri and Assamese terrorists come to mind).
Why stop there, talk to the Naxalites and Dalit groups protesting caste discrmination, as well!
ISSUE INTERNATIONAL REPORTS recommending DEVOLUTION OF MORE POWER to EACH of these groups, in the interest of “human rights” and “greater democracy”, of course.
Let us see how the INDIANS will like their own medicine!
NOTHING will CONVINCE these BUGGERS until WE DO UNTO THEM AS THEY UNTO US! NOTHING!
Get these BUSYBODIES OUT of Sri Lanka, PERMANENTLY!
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India’s opposition party delegation arrives in Sri Lanka to discuss 13th Amendment
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Jun 05, Colombo: A six-member Indian delegation led by the deputy leader of Indian opposition Bharatha Janatha Party (BJP) in the Rajya Sabha Ravi Shankar Prasad arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday for a five-day visit.
During the visit organized by the New Delhi-based India Foundation and Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies in Colombo, the delegation will hold discussions with the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa on power devolution.
The delegates intend to discuss the issue of granting police and land powers to the provinces under the 13th Amendment to the Constitution and Northern Provincial Council election with the President and Defense Secretary.
The Indian delegates will also meet senior leaders of other political parties in Sri Lanka.
In addition to the leader Ravi Shankar Prasad, Indian delegation will include Shiv Sena leader Suresh Prabhu, senior Indian journalist Swapan Dasgupta, retired IFS officer Vivek Katju, RSS representative Ram Madhav and human right activist Monika Arora.
The delegation today left for Jaffna in northern Sri Lanka to hold discussions with the leaders of Tamil parties including the Tamil National Alliance (TNA). They will also meet the Governor of the Northern Province to discuss the Northern Provincial Council elections planned o be held in September.
The delegation includes Suresh Prabhu (Shiv Sena), Ram Madhav (RSS), journalist and political commentator Swapan Dasgupta, former IFS officer Vivek Katju and human rights activist Monika Arora.
According to The Hindu the delegation’s visit, although not government sponsored, is being watched keenly by the Indian government since the opposition-led team will be meeting all the top leaders of Sri Lanka.
This is the first discussion BJP will have with the Sri Lankan government prior to India’s general election in 2014.
June 5th, 2013 at 12:32 pm
Indian Opposition Delegation to discuss 13th Amendment in Colombo Ha!
Curiously the likes of Jayalalith now screeching about Katchativu and the relocation of Indian Territorial Waters, Karunanidhi with his eternal bellyaching over anything and everything Sri Lankan as well as the cross eyed orator with impaired vision and English language speech deficiency all Tamil Nadi cacophonists have not made the team and had they been the circus would have been complete!
Yes indeed! what in the name of sanity is going on to accommodate these Indian rabble rousers to discuss internal matters of Sri Lanka and giving them free passage into classified areas as well as classified information one might ask?
Is there some fear psychosis involved here and if so why?
June 5th, 2013 at 12:36 pm
errata~ Tamil Nadu was misspelt and the name Vaiko was erroneously left out and should have followed “speech deficiency
June 5th, 2013 at 1:50 pm
This is the TNA statement (June 5th), re the 13-A. They want it in FULL.
TNA: Tamils don’t want a return to violence
… but anything is possible
June 5, 2013, 9:29 pm – Island
By Zacki Jabbar
Amidst moves to amend the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said that neither it nor the Tamil people wanted a return to violence, but if the Rajapaksa government was not wise enough to resolve the ethnic issue through peaceful means, it could not predict what would happen in the future.
TNA Leader R. Sampanthan, MP, addressing the Foreign Correspondents’ Association in Colombo, on Tuesday evening, said that the violence of the past had done no good to the country and its people and the TNA would do its damnedest to prevent history repeating itself, but if that’s what the Rajapaksa regime wanted they would have no choice in the matter.
Refuting allegations that the TNA had nurtured the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), he said that successive governments, under whom racial pogroms had occurred over the last six decades, were responsible for the creation of the LTTE.
“We did not create the LTTE,” Sampanthan stressed while querying why his alliance was being blamed for something it had no control over.
“The LTTE destroyed itself and we had no control over that either,” the TNA leader said.
The Tamil people, Sampanthan said, were fed up with the continuous violence witnessed over the last three decades and were only asking the government to devolve power under the country’s Constitution.
He warned that any attempts to dilute the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, by removing its existing powers, including land and police, would negate the very essence of devolution and therefore be counterproductive.
Dismissing fears that a Northern Provincial Council would lead to the division of the country, the TNA leaders said that such a belief existed only in the minds of the Jathika Hela Urumaya and the National Freedom Front and not among the vast majority of the Sinhala people.
“It’s a fanciful notion that devolution would lead to separation,” Sampanthan said while querying why such things were not said by Presidents Premadasa and Chandrika Kumaratunga. Even the incumbent, Mahinda Rajapaksa had offered greater powers to the provinces than even what 13th Amendment provided for.
“Is this theory of devolution leading to separation being spread now since the LTTE was no longer around to fight on behalf of the Tamil people,” the TNA leader queried while stressing that the TNA was committed to a united Sri Lanka”.
June 5th, 2013 at 3:59 pm
Dear Fran Diaz,
As we both know, the TNA wanting “Devolution in Full” to “Prevent Further Violence” swearing its undying “Commitment to a United Sri Lanka” is a lot of UNVARNISHED BULL!
Only yesterday, the TNA proclaimed its “OPPOSITION to a UNITARY Sri Lanka.”
Today, the TNA is strangely “COMMITTED to a UNITED Sri Lanka.”
While noting that there is a HUGE LEGAL DIFFERENCE between UNITARY and UNITED, who believes the TNA, the Political Proxy of the LTTE, THEN and NOW, and TRUSTS their WORDS? Who?
I have a Suspension Bridge in New York (aka the Verazzano Narrows Bridge) for sale to those who trust the UNREPENTANT SEPARATISTS of the TNA who still mourn the DEMISE of their military arm, the LTTE! Didn’t this very same TNA, newly “Committed to a United Sri Lanka” COMMEMORATE the Death of the late unlamented SunGod, Velupillai Prabhakaran and his Murderous Followers on May 19, 2013?
These are the VERY SAME TRAITORS who are STILL plotting and scheming with ALL OF Sri Lanka’s enemies … within and outside Sri Lanka …. to convert their now VIRTUAL EELAM into a REAL EELAM!
Nah! We Patriots of Mother Lanka neither BELIEVE, nor TRUST, the TNA … not ONE IOTA!
We will not ENTRUST Sri Lanka’s SURVIVAL into their BLOODSTAINED TREACHEROUS hands, EVER!
INSTEAD, the TNA leaders should be SENTENCED TO HARD LABOR in prison, BREAKING ROCKS for the RECONSTRUCTION of Sri Lanka. That is the BEST & ONLY CONTRIBUTION they are QUALIFIED to MAKE.
June 5th, 2013 at 4:29 pm
FOOLISH Tamilians. They don’t know they will be the VICTIMS in TNA (they voted TNA to power) violence.
PLEASE CONSIDER THESE FACTS FACTS FACTS
According to UN reports there are 89,000 Tamilian Mahaveer war widows in north and east of SL.
According to the 2012 census, there are 2,200,000 SL Tamilians in SL.
Roughly 70% of the population are adults.
So there are 1,540,000 Tamil adults in SL.
If those 89,000 Tamil men were alive and assuming men:women 50:50, there would have been 859,000 SL Tamil adult men. (1,540,000 / 2 + 89,000)
89,000 / 859,000 = 11%
AT LEAST 11% SL Tamilian men DIED from war!
You want another 11% of Tamilian men to die?
(11% of SL Tamil women became widows. You want another 11% of Tamilian women to be widowed?)
WHEN that happens SL will have to pass Sharia Law to look after all those Tamilian war widows (govt. pays them nothing!) by allowing people to marry more than one woman!!
This is the bitter truth based on FACTS. You can google these facts.
So if you want war, bring it on baby!!
June 6th, 2013 at 12:01 pm
Jayawewa! …. Patriotic Forces of Mother Lanka WILL NOT ALLOW
Provincial Councils with Land and Police Powers to be Elected!
If the GOVERNMENT WILL NOT ACT to PROTECT the Nation … Let the PEOPLE of Sri Lanka ACT, and ACT NOW!
……………….
Nationalist organizations in Sri Lanka protest Northern PC election without amending land and police powers
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Jun 06, Colombo: Sinhala Buddhist organizations in Sri Lanka today protested against the government for planning to hold election for Northern Provincial Council without removing the land and police powers from the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
At a press conference held today in Colombo, the secretary of the National Sangha Conference warned to mobilize the Buddhist monks of the entire country against the government and prevent holding the election for the Northern Provincial Council.
Meanwhile, the Patriotic National Movement that held a press conference separately protested the amendments proposed by the government. The Convener of the Patriotic National Movement Gunadasa Amarasekera said the amendments without the removal of police and land powers may have been proposed by the RAW agents in the cabinet.
The National Freedom Front led by Minister Wimal Weerawansa is meanwhile collecting signatures to a petition against holding the Northern Provincial Council election without amending the land and police powers.
June 6th, 2013 at 12:45 pm
The 13th AMENDMENT contains Many POISON PILLS that THREATEN the INTEGRITY of Sri Lanka and the SAFETY of its PEOPLE.
Among them:
1. Devolution of Land and Police Powers that will enable SEPARATIST Tamils to EXCLUDE other communities from the North and East, to BUILD UP their SEPARATIST forces ONCE AGAIN beyond the view and control of the National Government, and to import an unending STREAM OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS from Tamil Nadu.
2. The de-facto VETO power of Provincial Councils over NATIONAL BILLS which requires UNANIMOUS CONSENT of ALL PCs for passage of National Bills. Under this law, the GOSL would be UNABLE to act against SEPARATIST Provincial Councils in any way.
3. The Provision for the MERGER of the Northern and Eastern Provincial Councils, that would resurrect the long held dream of Eelamists to impose their majority in the Northern Province on the Eastern Province, and capture it as well. What the SunGod sought to Win by MURDEROUS WAR would be gifted to the TNA in ABJECT PEACE!
It would be an ABSOLUTE FOLLY to hand over the North and East to UNREPENTANT SEPARATISTS ENABLING them to SECEDE and join Tamil Nadu!
The LIVES of UNTOLD GENERATIONS OF Sri Lankan Citizens would be placed at RISK by opening this DOOR TO HELL!
Ask Not For Whom the Bell Tolls; it Tolls for Thee!
Rise Up! …. O Patriots of Mother Lanka …. REPEAL the 13th Amendment, DEMOLISH the Provincial Council System, and HALT the upcoming Provincial Council Elections, DEMAND a NATIONWIDE REFERENDUM to END the 13th Amendment!
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Sri Lanka cabinet approval sought for amendments on power devolution
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Jun 06, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government will submit a proposal to the cabinet of ministers today seeking approval to re-amend the 13th Amendment to the Constitution , government sources said.
The proposed amendment reportedly aims to remove the provisions provided for a merger of the adjoining provincial councils which allows bills and acts to get passed by all provincial councils before they are passed in parliament.
The draft bill in this regard has been approved by the party leaders of the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) that met on June 04 evening under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Sri Lanka government sources say that more amendments to the Provincial Council system are to come in the future.
Meanwhile Minister Wimal Weerawansa said that the President promised to seek a definition from the Supreme Court regarding the police and land powers of the provincial councils.
Minister’s party, National Freedom Front is campaigning against giving police and land powers of the Provincial Councils.
June 6th, 2013 at 12:56 pm
SEPARATISTS and TRAITORS joining together in FAVOR of the 13th Amendment.
Rise Up … . O Patriots of Mother Lanka …. REPEAL the 13th Amendment COMPLETELY, DEMOLISH the Provincial Council System, HALT the Provincial Council Elections, and DEMAND a NATIONWIDE REFERENDUM to REPEAL the 13th Amendment!
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Sri Lanka Tamil party opposes amending the 13th Amendment to the Constitution
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Jun 06, Colombo: Sri Lanka’s major Tamil political party, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has opposed the government’s move to amend the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
The government’s move is seen as a measure to limit the powers accorded to provinces under the 13th Amendment before the government holds elections to the Northern Province Council planned for September.
TNA parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran said the 13th Amendment which was aimed at solving the national issue and the government must consult the TNA as a representative of the Tamil people prior to any move to amend the 13th Amendment since it would affect the people of the North and East.
However, Premachandran noted that the government has not yet made any official comment on its stance on the 13th Amendment.
According to Premachandran, the TNA would have to decide whether to contest the Northern Provincial Council polls in the event the government decides to dilute or amend the 13th Amendment as it stands.
The 13th Amendment introduced under influence from India in 1987 paved way for power devolution to the Provinces despite displeasure of the majority Sinhala community.
There is a growing momentum within the ruling party and the country to abolish the 13th Amendment. The opponents of the 13th Amendment believe holding the elections in the Northern Province without amending it will be a serious threat to the national security and territorial integrity.
Members of the ruling party have met on Tuesday to discuss the changes to the 13th Amendment and the party leaders have agreed to amend it, a senior party leader has told the AFP.
The government has proposed removing the provisions provided for a merger of the adjoining provincial councils which allows bills and acts to get passed by all provincial councils before they are passed in parliament.
Further, the attention is focused on the provision of granting land and police powers to the provinces under the 13th amendment.
Sri Lanka’s Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa recently said that he would never agree to granting police powers to provincial councils as it would be a serious challenge and a danger to the security services.
He said if the provincial councils were vested with police powers, a serious situation would arise with regard to the maintenance of law and order, and the security services would become ineffective.
However, some coalition partners of the government are not in favor of the move to revise the 13th Amendment and curtailing police and land powers.
Ally of the governing party, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) said the party would not support the changes to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
The party said 13th Amendment should not be revised in any way and there should not be any change in the land and police powers vested with the provinces under the 13th Amendment.
The government is however, to submit a proposal to the cabinet of ministers today seeking approval to re-amend the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.