Abrogate 13th Amendment – National Joint Committee
Posted on February 26th, 2015
By Janaka Perera
The National Joint Committee on Tuesday, February 24 called for an immediate abrogation of the 13th Amendment which India imposed on Sri Lanka 28 years ago.
Participating in the media briefing held at the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress Hall, Colombo were Attorney Manohara R. de Silva PC, Venerable Bengamuwe Nalaka Thera (Secretary, Patriotic Bhikku Front), Venerable Medagama Dhammananda Thera of the Asgiriya Chapter, Venerable Dr. Medagoda Abhayatissa Thera, Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekera and Jivinda de Silva, representative of the Australia-based WAPS (World Alliance for Peace in Sri Lanka).
Addressing the meeting Manohara de Silva warned the present Government’s decision to fully implement the 13th Amendment would be disastrous for the country. Under this amendment a Provincial Council has the full power to introduce laws on any subject in the PC list. If the Central Government wants to repeal such a law it needs to a two-third majority in Parliament to do so. It is obviously not an easy task to accomplish, he said.
He drew attention to the fact that 13th Amendment divides the police to two divisions, namely the National Division and the Provincial Divisions for each Province. A Provincial Police Commission composed of three members will handle the recruitment to each Provincial Division. They are the (a) DIG of the Province (b) a person nominated by the Public Service Commission in consultation with the President and (c) a nominee of the Chief Minister of the Province. The problem however is that the Chief Minister has the power to directly control both his nominee and the DIG of the Province.
Although the 17th Amendment to the Constitution depoliticizes the National Police Force by doing away with the Presidential Control of it ensures that Chief Minister controls the Provincial Police Commission. Prior to this amendment the President’s approval was necessary to determine the cadre of the Provincial Police Force. Now the President’s power has been taken away and the same has been placed in the multiethnic Police Commission.
Thus the Provincial Police Force cadre is determined without any control of the President or the Cabinet of Ministers. Even if a National Police Unit is operation in a province, they will function under the Chief Minister.
If a serious rioting or an ethnic clash occurs in Provincial village or town the National Police cannot immediately rush to the area to ensure law and order without the permission of the provincial DIG under the Chief Minister’s control. Only if the President is informed of the situation and the latter decides to act according to the provisions under the amendment will the affected people have some redress. But by the time the matter is brought to the President’s notice and he in consultation with the Cabinet directs the deployment of civil power irreparable damage will have been done, possibly causing death and destruction.
The requirement of the National Police Division seconded to a province to be ordinarily in ‘plain clothes’ (unless when maintaining / restoring law and order) is nothing but an attempt to prevent the public from even identifying a National Police Officer when people are under any threat from the Chief Minister or the Provincial Police, according to Manohara De Silva.
Under the 13the Amendment a police officer in one province cannot enter another province even to arrest a person who has fled to that area after committing a crime.
De Silva wanted to know why this Government which is talking so much about good governance and rule of law is turning a blind eye to all these potential dangers.
He also noted that the regime had so far only expressed regret but failed to respond to the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) resolution accusing successive governments in the island nation of committing ‘genocide’ against Tamils. De Silva also noted Northern Chief Minister C.V. Vigneswaran’s unsubstantiated allegation that 90,000 Tamil women had been sexually abused during the anti-LTTE military campaign.
De Silva wondered why some of those who were vociferous on the need to abrogate the 13th Amendment, before joining the Government are deafeningly silent today on this crucial issue.
Venerable Dr. Medagoda Abhayatissa Thera, Principal and Administrator of the Sunethra Devi Pirivena, Pepiliyana said that if the country is to be divided on an ethnic basis then Colombo should be first divided into ethnic enclaves of Tamils and Muslims. Both these communities are everywhere in the island including the North and East – except Sinhalese who have been chased away from the North. He stressed that the people did not elect this government to pave the way for bisection of the country under the 13th Amendment.
He appealed to the Venerable Maduluwawe Sobitha and Ven. Athureliye Rathana to focus their attention on these issues too.
Ven. Medagama Dhammananda of the Asgiriya Chapter, Kandy said: We have no problem with good governance (yaapaalanaya) and elimination of corruption and other misdeeds. We are concerned about the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country – about national security. We warn the President and the PM not to fall into the separatist racist trap.”
Venerable Bengamuwe Nalaka Thera (Secretary Deshapremi Bhikku Front) said that they had been agitating for abrogation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution since the time it was introduced. Politicians, he added, are not truly representing the people or the country but are allowing foreign powers (The West and India) and NGOs to dictate terms to them. Provincial Councils have only become training centres for politicians to become future MPs. No other purpose has been served except wasting public funds.
Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekera recalled that the foreign diplomat who first expressed his pleasure over the signing of the Indo-Lanka Accord in 1987 was the then U.S. Ambassador because Washington’s objective was to use India for dividing Sri Lanka . President J.R. Jayewardene, according to Dr. Amarasekera swallowed American dead ropes and consequently had to admit: We have no friends.”
Jeevinda de Silva, representing the World Alliance for Peace in Sri Lanka read out an appeal which the WAPS had made to President Mahinda Rajapaksa in February 2012 calling for the abrogation of the 13th Amendment. But the former President had ignored the appeal.
February 26th, 2015 at 2:27 pm
Simply put amendment 13 gives far more autonomy to the provinces. I am glad one section of that autonomy has been clarified in this article. I hope similar such articles will point out what powers will be transferred to the provinces that wanted to form Elam.
Only then can we fully understand the step by step process of Elam being realized using the legal system instead of militancy. he end result will be the same: Sri Lanka divided by 2 nations.
February 26th, 2015 at 2:40 pm
Many contributors to the Lanka Web wrote hundreds of times to abrogate the 13th Ammendment, DURING THE LAST REGIME. Instead, Tamils were given Hossannas from Heaven. Basil boasted that 90% of the funds received, were spent on the DEVELOPMENT OF THE NORTH. There were poor Sinhalese villagers who were STARVING. Children were risking their lives, going to school, having to walk the EDANDA to cross treacherous waterways. Let this not be repeated.
The Sinhalese were completely side lined. Ex-President paid for it with a free fall down the cliff.
Now the present Government is giving the Tamils, everything for the asking. Pana Pana Denawa. PANA PANA DENAWA. If this kalakanniya does not listen to the Reverend Sangha and the Sinhalese People, He is going to have a HUMPTY DUMPTY FALL. He and they, will regret. PERHAPS, IT WILL BE TOO LATE TO REGRET. There will be NO resurrection whatsoever. HE is going to pull down the SINHALESE WITH HIM. NO, The Sangha will not allow the Sinhalese to be the Victims.
Atleast now, they should listen To the Sangha.
Just a caution to the most respectful SANGHA, I saw in the news Prime Minister RANIL telling the Sangha at a Meeting at Temple Trees, that HE WILL LOOK AFTER THEM VERY WELL. That he will give them this and that. What Hypocrisy ? I think this is a ploy to PULL THE SANGHA TO HIS COLOMBO MEETING.
I APPEAL TO THE MAHA SANGHA TO COMPLETELY IGNORE THIS TROJAN HORSE, AND NOT GO FOR RANILS MEETING, AS A PROTEST AGAINST THEIR RELUCTANCY TO LISTEN TO THE MAHA SANGHA AGAINST THE ABBROGATION OF THE 13TH AMMENDMENT. PLEASE, MAHA SANGHA, BOYCOTT THIS MEETING. Blessings of the Triple Gem.
February 26th, 2015 at 3:06 pm
A checklist on Sinhala political cats (හොර බළල්ලු)
C. Wijeyawickrema, LL.B., Ph.D.
No shame, no fear (හිරි-ඔත්තප්ප)
Politicians are a corrupt lot in India, USA, UK, EU or in Sri Lanka. But the worst kind of cheaters is found in Sri Lanka because here one can escape easily even if caught red-handed. Double game is so open here. As ‘not promised,’ of the 43 UNP MPs, 41 are ministers of some sort! As ‘not promised,’ Ravi Karunanayaka, an ardent Catholic, goes to worship God Kataragama, in a government helicopter. He was once a chief dayaka of the Kotte Raja Maha Viharaya. Look at the picture of PM Ranil with President MS at the root of the Sri Maha Bodhi. It was as if MS ordered him to appear there with him in a worshipping posture, because previously a lady pupil (Sharmine Serasinha) of the late Ven. Piyadassi, questioned MS, via the anti-Sinhala Buddhist website Colombo Telegraph, why he was worshipping a tree! Ranil did not know even how to pretend! While silent on Udayan, he is angry with Sinhala newspapers Divaina and Rivira!
The politicians in Sri Lanka have no shame, no fear. From JRJ, RP, CBK, RW to MR were all a corrupt lot, and we must expose them for the public good. It is a tragedy for the Sinhalayas, especially the Sinhala Buddhists. I consider Ranil, CBK and MR as dishonest politicians along with a long list of other names (Rajiva Wijesinha is an exception in this regard), not interested in serving or saving the country. Therefore, at the next parliamentary election, these rotten eggs should not be allowed to deceive people, because those who have no fear or shame (හිරි-ඔත්තප්ප) can do anything to save their skin in Sri Lanka’s dirty political waters.
Remove 13-A
Removing 13-A, and replacing it with the Jana Sabhas must be the key election issue at the next parliamentary election (to be held under the new electoral system), and I have prepared a checklist to test the behavior of a selected set of talking politicians who are all (except MS who has no more political ambitions) in the game for selfish reasons. A few non-political names are also added because of their public stand on public issues. The table of checklist can have any number of columns added to it, but I decided to limit it to 13-A related items because 13-A is the beginning of the end of the Sinhala Buddhist heritage in Sri Lanka.
Three danger bells
There are three problems that Sri Lanka is facing today which have international connections. They are: (1) Christianization of Asia project of the Pope and the World Church Org. This we have in Sri Lanka as unethical religious conversion of Buddhists and Hindus; (2) Islam fundamentalism of Taliban, Wahhabism, Shari fighters of the ISIS type. This we have as Muslim pockets of inclusive zones with a right to have five wives; and (3) World Tamil movement to have a Tamil country with a UNO flag encompassing the British Madras Province. This we have since 1924 as Tamil separatism which was rejected by the Donoughmore and Soulbury Commissions in 1929 and 1946.
Economic and Moral decline
In addition, Sri Lanka faces the old colonial problem of widening economic disparity between the rich and the poor and spatial inequality due to socio-economic gap between Colombo versus villages. Nobodies becoming Somebodies is happening so fast since 1978 and since 2005, but the people are living on the borderline of food or starvation and health.
Since 1971 with JVP introducing the new method of political killings, and after 1978 JRJ’s open economy, the moral degradation is such that children are willing to sell parents or parents are willing to sell their children for a quick buck. The moral decline is frightening. Parents teach children to lie!
These five different trends are interlinked, and the group of people adversely affected by them predominantly, is the Sinhala people, especially the Sinhala Buddhists.
American-Chinese power struggle in the Indian Ocean
Perhaps, the most important geopolitical variable affecting Sri Lanka is the American attempt to block Chinese expansion in Africa and in the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka is no more a sovereign country after the 1987 Rajiv-JRJ agreement limiting any local action affecting India. If oil is found in the Mannar Basin, American interests will go beyond Sri Lankan ports. Sri Lanka is not a sovereign state, when one thinks of the American and UK embassy interferences in the North and East civilian affairs, or direct dealings on a daily basis between TNA and Indian embassy office located in Jaffna. There was no foreign coup with regard to the presidential election as it was an astrology-based, Namal’s age-based decision taken solely by MR. But, the American CIA and Indian RAW must be playing cat and mouse games all over Sri Lanka day and night. For 100,000 US dollars or a scholarship to a son or daughter to go to a US university who will not betray rules, regulations or principles!
Sinhala Buddhist orphans
What Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) revealed was that all the Sinhala MPs are competing to fight for minority rights and non to look after the Sinhala Buddhists! This is in addition to the Tamil, Muslim or Christian MPs to fight for their own rights, and get laws passed slowly and secretly. For example, UNP cabinet minister Eran Wicramaratne is a pastor in charge of the Assembly of God Church organization accused of engaged in unethical conversions. Not a single colonial law passed adversely affecting the Sinhala Buddhists were removed or modified by the so-called Sinhala Buddhist PMs or Presidents! Even the Kuragala ancient pre-Christian era Buddhist ruins could not be protected under the colonial Preservation of Antiquities Act, because MR stopped it to please a Muslim group. In other countries, this is an offence to impeach or send a president to jail.
Who is seeking Sinhala Buddhist vote?
The table below tells an interesting story. Imagine if we add other columns to show bank accounts, sudden wealth, nepotism, relatives in PCs etc. The table is a checklist, prepared with the information I believe as correct, which could help one in understanding why or why not a particular politician (MPs, PC members, PS members) support or oppose 13-A. For a Christian, generally, Sri Lanka history begins in 1505, and most politicians at the national scene has a close Christian connection, even if he or she openly profess to be a Buddhist or a Donoughmore Buddihist. Some are Marxists who have no religion until they become very old. Some do not believe Sri Lanka is the country of the Sinhalese (Sinhale not Ceylon), with minority rights protected. The opposition to BBS is a clear indication of an anti-Sinhala Buddhist mind, when that opposition is linked with any or all of C2-C7. C6 & C7 are in red as most critical characteristics in abolishing 13-A. One important secondary issue is that because MR was a supporter of 13-A, all those who want him back in politics must be presumed as 13-A supporters. Hence the question marks against their names in columns 6 & 7.
It is a blessing that MS is free of any doubt indicated by a question mark. He has a clean slate so far. He is the only true commoner to become EP. Not a son of an MP or a Colombo black-white. Not even a Thurstan or Ananda college admission; a dry zone colonist farmer’s son. He became EP under most extraordinary circumstances and he is in a position to bring poor Sinhala people of UNP and SLFP under his guidance. This may not be the wish of UNP or SLFP politicians. But by following the Buddhist Middle Path, by balancing the reasonable demands of minorities with the historical injustices done to the Sinhala Buddhists, he could prove that he received training for 47 years for the task of rescuing Sri Lanka.
============================
Table- explanation of columns
C1= Family Religion (Christian/Buddhist) C2= Interfaith believer (I)
C3 = Does not believe in a Sinhale C4= said this war is not winnable
C5= supported federal packages C6= supported 13-A plus
C7= supported 13-A minus C8= opposed BBS
Name C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8
Ranil Wickremasinghe C/B X x X x x x
Chandrika B. Kumaratunga C/B X x X x x x
Mahinda Rajapaksa B? X x ? ? x ?
Maitipala Sirisena B
Champika Ranawaka B ?
Dinesh Gunawardena B ? ?
Wimal Weerawansa B ? x
Udaya Gammanpila B ?
Raajitha Senaratna ? ? x X x x x
Vasudeva Nanayakkara ? X x X x x x
Dayan Jayatilleke C X x ? x x x
Rajiva Wijesinha C X x ? x x x
John Amaratunga C X x x x x x
Dayasiri Jayasekera C ? ?
Prasanna Ranatunga B ? ?
Gomin Dayasiri B ? ?
Nalin de Silva B ? ?
Nimal Siripala de Silva B ? ?
Susil Premjayath B ? ?
Ravi Karunanayaka C X x x x x x
Gunadasa Amarasekara B ? ?
Ven. Maduluwawe Sobhitha B ?
Ven. Atureliye Ratana B ?
Anura Kumara Dissanayaka ? ? ?
Sajith Premadasa B? ? ? ? ?
Ven. Elle Gunawansa B ? ?
Karu Jayasuriya B ? ? ? ?
Vidura Wickramanayake B ? ?
February 26th, 2015 at 3:15 pm
Where were all these “Participants” of this National Joint Committee from 2010 to 2015?. All of a sudden they have become patriots and demand the “abrogation” of the 13th Amendment. However, it is interesting to see how they find some way to put a plate of rice on the table for survival. Good effort.
February 26th, 2015 at 3:23 pm
AT LAST the INTELLIGENT people have come to realize 13 amendment is their WORST ENEMY.
Very good. When I said this BEFORE the election people bashed me. Never mind. I’m happy one by one people come to realize this TRUTH.
But LESS INTELLIGENT SECTIONS are yet to realize this.
SCRAP 13 amendment.
MR’s election slogan should be SCRAP 13 amendment and save SL from MASSIVE corruption (443 MPs in PC whereas parliament has only 225!!!) and BLOODY DIVISION leading to war.
February 26th, 2015 at 3:33 pm
“Jeevinda de Silva, representing the World Alliance for Peace in Sri Lanka read out an appeal which the WAPS had made to President Mahinda Rajapaksa in February 2012 calling for the abrogation of the 13th Amendment. But the former President had ignored the appeal.”
AND lost the 2015 election.
Now MR should PROMISE before the election to SCRAP the 13 amendment.
Do some sacrifices of party members whose relatives are in PCs. A worthy sacrifice. GIVING UP most PCs which are under UPFA is a fantastic way to convince voters they are serious of giving up perks for the country.
February 26th, 2015 at 4:25 pm
Well done National Joint committee.
I suggest PATRIOTS should ask Nalin to lead instead of MR.
February 26th, 2015 at 4:30 pm
LORENZO !!! Yes, I remember how we fought to SCRAP the 13th Amendment. Our appeals were totally ignored. That is why MR went down the Cliff.
THE 13TH AMENDMENT SHOULD BE SCRAPPED, PERIOD.
February 26th, 2015 at 4:54 pm
Our thanks to Mr Manohara de Silva for enlightening us further on the dangers of the 13A. Also our thanks to the priests who participated and of course, thanks to Janaka Perera for writing this article.
How can Sinhala/Buddhists survive in a country that has a piece of legislation like the 13A without feelings of insecurity ?
I have yet to come across any country that works against itself as in Lanka. At present, Lanka govt behaves like the govt of a colonized country.
It is now clear that even though MR removed the LTTE, he was not allowed by the powers that be to remove the 13A. I hope someone writes an article on that. Btw, what is the new illegal govt doing about the 13A ? Pres MS has promised full implementation of the 13A. So we are back at square one.
The 13A MUST go for real peace and stability within the country, whatever govt comes into power. Has anyone got any answers what we must do with our harbors other than remaining neutral and non-aligned ? Everything is kept in a state of suspense because a cold war may happen again ? !!
February 26th, 2015 at 5:20 pm
Removal of 13-A is not sufficient without giving a replacement because Sinhala political fools have already created a situation for Tamil separatist leaders to fight on. This is why Jana Sabha must become the replacement for 13-A. MahindaR began this and suddenly Basil got it abandoned.
Douglas, we thought MR will implement Jana Sabha and as Gota began shouting against 13-A we thought MR will remove 13-A.
Now Sinhlala voters and monks must get together and make this the election issue.
Any Sinhala Buddhist asking questions on this because he/she supports an MR return is a confused person.
February 26th, 2015 at 5:45 pm
Welcome back Lorenzo!! Yes we were all out telling to scrap this 13A. But MR did not listen. He did not listen to GR also when he talked about it. WW was also in the same camp.
No matter what sanga is shouting. No one will listen and pay much attention unless Malwathu and Asgiri cheifs are talking… but they can not do it. they are in the pocket of Mishelle Seison… These two have become American and Indian Agents… How pathetic!!
February 26th, 2015 at 6:06 pm
Has anybody asked why the minority Muslim and Tamil would die to implement 13A and 17A ? In order control their illicit and murky trades in the South yet they have places like Kaththan Kudi or Velvetithurai as hideouts to vanish. Meanwhile, Sinhala mass will not be able to compete under these mafioso clutches even in the south. Places like Kaththan Kudi, you do not need to wear a helmet to ride motorbike on Fridays as the regional counsel implemented a resolution. National Police Ordinance is not valid in these areas. Why the Sinhala mass always in a pathetic plea throughout the post colonial era of Sri Lanka ?
February 26th, 2015 at 6:52 pm
Hiranthe,
I was the STRONGEST CRITIC of 13 amendment always.
Now we have to get MR to SCRAP 13 amendment when/if he wins again.
GamiGreenGlobe,
“Why the Sinhala mass always in a pathetic plea throughout the post colonial era of Sri Lanka ?”
Sinhalese will ALWAYS be like this because BUDDHISM prevents them from taking TOUGH action against POTENTIAL enemies. As kings did, OUTSOURCE most violent responses against DESERVING enemies to non Buddhists.
Kattanku(n)di and Kalmunai are like Afghanistan under Talibann. They have MASSIVE drug dens in these places and police don’t check them. They KILL COWS on POYA DAY but police cannot stop them.
February 26th, 2015 at 9:01 pm
Abrogate 13th Amendment!
13A is untouchable until BNP (Hindhu National Party) or Congress (13A is their baby) in the power.
Full implemadation of 13A & 6A will avoid separation (We-Tamil know when to declare TE that is different mater).
NB/ We-Tamil also against this 13A because We want TE not less not more !!!
Let me go back to my day dream Naalai pirakkum TE, Velu Where are you???
Have We Sakkiliyas & Modayas learned any thing from our last 2,600 years history or at least since 1948 ? NO
February 27th, 2015 at 1:54 am
No need to amend the constitution with the clause such as distinct society for minority Tamil in the North or minority Muslim in the East. The clause in which itself discriminates majority Sinhala. No written deeds or prefixes needed to live in harmony within the context of territorial integrity of Sri Lanka ..
February 27th, 2015 at 4:05 am
There are too many levels of government in Sri Lanka. Too many levels of administration incur unsustainable costs to a small country. Apart from the costs involved, if 13th amendment is implemented in full there is the potential to have 9 mini autonomous jurisdictions within one country. Provincial Councils would have the power to trade and enter into agreements/contacts/negotiations with any outside country, which can be inimical, to the sovereignty of our country. Also provincial councils will be able to have individual legal and administrative systems that may not complement that of the Centre. This is the very reason for the delay in implementing 13th amendment in full, thus far.
13th amendment however, has its own checks and balances where the powers to be devolved are to be those that would not endanger the sovereignty of the State. Police and land powers have the potential to compromise the security and the autonomy of the country, in particular, when divisions are based on ethnicity. The risk exposure is insurmountable when a country is emerging from a 30 year terrorist war to carve up the country on ethnic lines. The current administration, which has usurped the power of government, appears to be engaged in a mission to disintegrate the country on ethnic lines by suggesting a full implementation of 13th amendment.
In this scenario I agree with the National Joint Committee to abrogate the 13th Amendment.
February 27th, 2015 at 4:39 am
Another temporary way to prevent secession until 13th is fully abrogated is taking a firm policy decision to move the nation’s capitol to TRINCO and changing the boundaries of provinces based on river valleys.
The main reason why all these western and Indian interventionists are poking into our affairs is because TRINCO is still open and vulnerable. Let us take TRINCO away from the equation. Many problems will be solved.
February 27th, 2015 at 5:29 am
janakic
Indo- Lanka accord baby 13A is only for NEP & Rest of country but JRJ want to have for all 9PC to dilute the accord .
Geeth
nation’s capitol to TRINCO ? no no no that is our Muslim TE Capital, what about Hamopanthoddai !
February 27th, 2015 at 7:14 am
Agree with cwije that Jana Sabha have to take root. Transfer PCs to Jana Sabha ? Also crack SLAS must exist > Govt Agents who are well educated.
February 27th, 2015 at 7:33 am
Lo.renzo says: “Now we have to get MR to SCRAP 13 amendment when/if he wins again”.
For how long MR was in power with the required 2/3rd majority in Parliament and for how long people have been demanding that it be SCRAPED? Did anything happen excepting him making it worse by stating that he would even give 13 PLUS. In my opinion, that attempt is like seeking feathers from a tortoise. Yesterday (26th) I watched a TV programme called “BALAYA” to which Mr. Udaya Gammanpila and Mr. Wimal weerawansa were invited along with the present Deputy Minister Mr. Ajith Perera and the Chief Minister of UVA PC . In that discussion this 13th Amendment came up and Mr. Udaya Gammanpila directly accused Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe for agreeing to implement the 13th Amendmen. I was waiting for the Deputy Minister Mr. Ajith Perera to ask from Mr. Gammanpila; “What is your stand as regards the implementation of the 13th Amendment?”. He should have asked him to give a direct reply like YES or NO.That reply would have given us a clue where this “FORCE” demanding Mr. MR’s return to politics and make him a candidate to contest as PM at the forthcoming election, is heading and what it would demand from Mr. MR. Only Mr. Gammanpila and Mr. Perera got into a “lock”; but the most vociferous Mr. Weerawansa observed “Dead Silence”. So, I have doubts Mr. MR agreeing to SCRAP this 13th Amendment.
I totally agree that this 13th must GO. Yet, as I said some time back in this forum, it has to be handled with care. Today the entire Local Government Service Sector is enveloped in it. Before the 13th goes, we need to have a suitable ALTERNATIVE to replace it and switch the system to cater to the needs of the people,not the politicians or the political parties. So have we come up with such an “Alternative” or at least “Discuss” any proposal.? That is what we should be doing. We must suggest an “Alternative” and go before the people and compel the Political Parties and the Leadership to agree with a suitable programme to switch from the existing PCs.
Without that it is like : NOKERANA WEDA CAMATA, KONDURU THEL HAT PATTAYAK ILLUWA WAGAI”. (I know Lorenzo will not ge the meaning of this village saying. I will be thankful if someone out there will volunteer to translate it into English) DEMANDING without a PROPOSITION is futile and a waste of energy and resources.. Thank you.
February 27th, 2015 at 7:37 am
Lorenzo: Please bear with me. I made a typographical error in typing your name as “Lo.renzo”. It should be Lorenzo. Sorry.
February 27th, 2015 at 10:40 am
Why ask MR to remove the 13-A. He has done enough for the country.
Ask the new govt and the new Prez to remove the 13-A. I note that Tamil folk who voted en masse for MS is asking MR to remove the 13-A. That’s a good larf !
February 27th, 2015 at 10:46 am
The new Prez’s spokesperson has already made a statement that the new Prez will be staying on till 2020. So why not pass the problem of getting rid of the National Scourge, the 13-A, to the new Prez ?
February 27th, 2015 at 4:15 pm
CV VEGGIE HAS VISITED 90,000 TAMIL FEMALES, HOUSE TO HOUSE WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WIFE, AND LEARNT THAT THEY HAVE ALL BEEN RAPED. HE JUST COULD NOT FIND A FRESH ONE. HE MUST HAVE TAKEN A COUPLE OF YEARS, POSSIBLY 30 YEARS TO ESTABLISH WHAT HE SAYS.
HE IS A FORMER SUPREME COURT JUDGE, AND WILL NEVER TELL LIES. HE LIVED UPTO THIS LAUDABLE ATTRIBUTE, EVEN WHILE HE WAS STANDING ON THE BENCH. GOOD SHOW. BE AN HONEST VEGGIE. THE TAMILS LOVE YOU.
February 27th, 2015 at 9:02 pm
Susantha Wijesinghe
importane one you left his both Daughter in law are Sinhala & Widover himself eat his sooru(bath) from them every day.
happy now !!!
February 28th, 2015 at 7:31 am
Geeth,
We agree that Trinco ought to be used better. MR suggested that Trinco harbor be made into an Industrial Habor.
February 28th, 2015 at 2:59 pm
ලබන මැතිවරණයේදී හිටපු ජනාධිපති මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ මහතා අගමැති අපේක්ෂකයා කරවීමට බල කරමින් ලබන 06 වන දා මහනුවරදී පැවැත්වීමට නියමිතන ජන රැළිය සඳහා ශ්රිලනිප ප්රබලයන් රැසක් එක්වීමට නියමිතව ඇති බව වාර්තා වෙයි.
මෙසේ එක්වන ප්රබලයන් අතර පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්ත්රීවරුන්, පළාත් සභා මන්ත්රීවරුන් මෙන්ම පළාත් පාලන මන්ත්රිවරුන්ද වන බව ආරංචි මාර්ග තහවුරු කරයි.
February 28th, 2015 at 3:31 pm
Douglas,
When we were kids parents used to say we have TOO MUCH and that is why we don’t study! We must be DEPRIVED of things (like computer games) so that we will study.
Another trick was when we get math wrong, father would blast us to sit on the floor and do the sums.
Sometimes NO DINNER (believe it or not).
IT WORKED!!
The same will work with MR NOW.
February 28th, 2015 at 3:32 pm
Geeth,
NO NEED to change capital, etc.
JUST SCRAP 13 amendment. End of story.
Lets stay focused and DEMAND MR to scrap 13 amendment or we scrap him.
March 1st, 2015 at 6:37 pm
Lorenzo:
Now I understand your strategy: focus on one issue and lets take care of that. It sometimes works
But there is also another strategy. Place more than one main issue on the table. both the removal of amendment 13 and the removal of Tamil as an official language. the Coalition then will have to choose. If they refuse both the psychological effect would be suicide. if they are willing to accept “the lesser of two evils” and choose amendment 13 over language you have won. If they choose language over amendment again you win.
In other words Lorenzo place all the issues in front of this new government. what do we have to lose? the Rajapakse “blame game” is gone. If a civil unrest breaks out now it will be on the heads of the Coalition. The Tamil separatists lose, the coalition government loses and even the UNHRC to New Delhi loses since they got their “golden boy” in Colombo. they cannot risk an ethic uprising now. Not now. So place every contentious issue in front of them. Let the new coalition party make up their decision and if they make even the slightest mistake MAKE SURE THEY NEVER FORGET IT.
March 2nd, 2015 at 1:14 pm
BW,
NO.
Like a CRUISE MISSILE we should go to the target – SCRAP 13 amendment.
Nothing more, nothing less.
When 13 amendment is scrapped it automatically scraps Tamil as an official language.