Wither Democracy in Sri Lanka
Posted on April 13th, 2015
By Garvin Karunaratne
Today’s Island tells us that the SLFP and UPFA have decided to deny nominations to their parliamentarians to contest the forthcoming parliamentary polls in the event they decline to vote in favour of the 19 th Amendment to the Constitution”
It is also important to note that , this decision has been arrived at following agreement reached between President Maitripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe that the proposed 19 th Amendment should be passed through.”
( From The Island 13/4/15)
It is clear that this is a high handed manner of forcing the Members of Parliament to vote for an Amendment to the Constitution. It is an agreement by the President and the Prime Minister the latter belonging to another political party, a party that does not have a majority in Parliament.
Are we not getting to the manner President Jayawardena forced his Members of Parliament to vote for the 13 th Amendment. It is a well known fact that the Members of Parliament (except for Ronnie de Mel) were locked up in a four star hotel in Colombo, kept there under armed guard and armed with undated letters of resignation from the MP which he held threatening to dissolve Parliament if the MP decided not to follow his dictate, went to the hotel and escorted them to the Houses of Parliament and compelled them to vote as he wished to pass the 13 th Amendment.
In today’s case though the MPp are not held at gun point and not incarcerated in a hotel, yet they are held to ransom, by being told that they will not get nominations to come forward for their election if they do not vote in fvour of the 19 th Amendment.
We all know what the 13 th Amendment has done to our sovereignty. Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi forced it on us. The country is saddled with it; cannot get rid of it.
Let sane opinion prevail. The Constitution of a country is a sacred document that needs to be amended with due care and deliberation and it is not a football to be kicked around at anyone’s fancy.
Garvin Karunaratne
Fomer SLAS
April 12, 2015
April 12th, 2015 at 6:37 pm
These MP’s should know if they vote for the 19th amendment, they could only loose the nominations under the SLFP for the forthcoming elections. But if they vote for this amendment people will know they are traitors and will vote against at the next election. MY3 now is a prisoner of Ranil and Chandrika and will be exposed of the dubious deal he made with them with for a undisclosed amount of US $$$$$$. SLFP members should think wisely before they themselves become prisoners of these three traitors.
April 12th, 2015 at 8:56 pm
If any of those in S.L.F.P. loves their Motherland they should not vote for this so called 19 or 20. If they do they will be labelled as traitors to the Motherland for sure. Where is the Democracy in this Yahapalanaya? They are acting like a police state putting pressure and fear in to the minds of the poor politicians who has the right to do what ever they chose and decide. I hope there will be strong and fearless politicians among all who will stand up against this shabby 19 & 20 and teach these Jarapalana traitors a lesson where they will not forget so easily for a long time.
They must decide whether they want nominations or the country they love because these are all in favor of UNP only not for the country or to it’s people. UNP always worked as per the wishes of foreign western Govts. They almost gave half of the country to Tamil terrorists in 2004 with the blessings of western Mafia. People do not have a way of finding the truth because all the media is handled by them. North and East is already under foreign hands including Tamil Diaspora & India and it won’t take long Tamils will have their own land if these Jarapalana traitors were allowed to Govern as they pleased. It’s high time Sinhalese decide to punish these traitors.
April 12th, 2015 at 9:09 pm
I don;t Think Sri lanka has democracy.
In less than 100 days, two thuggery cases (Harison and John amaratunga) overlooked. Twice parliament was threatened. One time, to dissolve it if voted to remove john Amaratunga, second time, no nominations for those who don not vote the 19th amendment. Then the Central Bank governors case, just week old govt.
All by a care taker govt representing the parliament minority.
April 12th, 2015 at 9:32 pm
The proposed action remind me of JRJ (Mr. Dharmishta)’s “Undated Letters of Resignation” from the UNP MPs. What did it end up as? Two wars in the country’s North and South with Hundred Thousand dead and all development at a stand still. In fact SL got a new name during that period as Lebanon of Asia. If Yahapalanaya continues, we will be Gaza Strip of Asia.
You can’t hold a gun to the head of a MP and force them to vote or sign a document. Is this good governance or terrorism?
April 13th, 2015 at 3:05 am
My3’s SLFP is going exactly as the UNP has been managed by RW. whose dictum for the UNP is “MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY”. Members must do as he and his Working Committee (all of whom are his “Yes Men”) demand, or they would be either kicked out of the party or their future finished forever within the party if they remained. Did we not see what happened to Tissa Atanayaka?
The same techniques are now being applied by MY3 in the SLFP. WHITHER DEMOCRACY INDEED!
When will the SLFPers get enough GUTS to stand against this?
April 13th, 2015 at 5:47 am
Namaste: There is a big difference between the Democracy of an Independent State and a Colony. The Islands democracy is the best example of the Democracy of an Indian Colony. Jai Hind
April 13th, 2015 at 4:24 pm
“YAHAPALANAYA AT ITS BEST!!!”
April 13th, 2015 at 5:27 pm
Fascism setting in ?