Government gives green light to SLFP proposal
Posted on April 28th, 2015
Adaderana
Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe says they agreed with the opposition proposal to include seven Parliamentarians to the Constitutional council with three non-MPs.
The second reading of the 19th Amendment to Constitution was passed in Parliament with a majority of 214 votes with 215 members voting for and a single vote against, on Tuesday (28) evening.
With government ranks and opposition members engaged in a tug-o-war on amendments proposed to the 19th Amendment Bill, a last minute meeting has been called by President Maithripala Sirisena with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at Parliament earlier.
The meeting was convened soon after the SLFP group meeting chaired by President Sirisena, where party members have expressed their reservations over voting in favour of the 19th Amendment as their amendments proposed were not incorporated.
April 28th, 2015 at 5:32 pm
19A got more than 2/3 majority this is good lesson to Tamil to safe guard 13A always stick with UNP or SLFP
April 29th, 2015 at 3:31 am
Namaste: Jai Hind
April 29th, 2015 at 6:25 am
There were many proposed changes to the 19-A Bill.
Says the Island newspaper of 28th April : “A senior MP said: “There were more than 30 proposed changes covering eight areas of the draft bill. There are two areas where the opposition and the government do not agree.”
Again “Leader of the House Minister Lakshman Kiriella said translations of the amendments had been provided.
MP Gunawardena: No opposition MP has seen such translations. Do not try to bulldoze this through parliament. Follow proper procedure. If you try to bulldoze this, we know how to face it. We demand that Sinhala translations of the amendments be given before we move ahead and Speaker to adjourn the House till then.
The Speaker adjourned the House for 15 minutes”.
Why the unholy hurry to pass this Bill ? It has been done in a totally dissatisfactory and illegal manner to please whom ?
The REAL main problems besetting the country have not been addressed.
(1) Tamil CASTE issues brought from Tamil Nadu and Tamil & other illegal migration into Lanka.
(2) CKD problem in the South.
(3) Upholding the Economy without Bribes & Corruption, from any GoSL.
April 29th, 2015 at 7:26 am
Here is a balanced analysis of the 19-A Bill now passed, from Adaderana, 29 April 2015.
I might add that, if not for the full Presidential powers earlier, the LTTE menace would never have been removed. Tamil people of Lanka benefitted the most from the removal of the LTTE and sacrifices were made mostly by the Sinhala/Buddhist community, and also others. Thanks to former President Mahinda Rajapakse and his brothers, the war was successfully concluded. And that is why the 19-A was made possible today, reducing the Presidential powers, s there is no need for it now, at present. For the great sacrifices made by the former President and his family, the present illegal govt (illegal due to cheated election), should treat the Rajapakses with honor and stop harassing them.
We hope govts now and in the future guard the Security of Lanka well and keeps the country whole under one Law, without trying to please foreign sources through the ‘divide & rule’ principle. It was a hard won victory and the Rajapakse family being punished for VICTORY over Terrorism in Lanka ?? !! What kind of crazy thinking is that ?
“Here’s a look at changes made to 19A
April 29, 2015 01:17 pm
Sri Lanka’s parliament overwhelmingly passed reforms on Tuesday (April 28) reducing some of the president’s powers, in a move that did not go as far as President Maithripala Sirisena had promised but is nevertheless seen as a victory for the leader and his government.
The main constitutional proposals of the 19th Amendment include the transformation of the Presidential form of government to a Presidential-Parliamentary system of government and the restoration of the 17th Amendment to the Constitution.
Ahead of the January presidential election, Sirisena pledged to curb the power of the presidency, restoring a two-term limit and reviving independent bodies to manage key institutions such as the police and the judiciary.
However, he had to scale back his plans after the Supreme Court said the government needed a referendum if it wanted to transfer powers such as the make-up of the cabinet to the prime minister from the president.
The Supreme Court had determined that the 19th Amendment is consistent with the Constitution, but several sections of the Bill require the approval of the people at a referendum according to the Constitution.
The government amended the relevant clauses and removed the sections that need a referendum before presenting it to parliament again.
The reforms passed on Tuesday limit the president’s term to two five-year tenures instead of unlimited six-year terms, but keep the rest of the executive powers over the cabinet of ministers intact.
Sirisena also ran into opposition from within his own party and other members of parliament over a plan to appoint a majority of independent members to a constitutional council, which in turn will re-establish the independent commissions to oversee various areas of governance.
The 10-member constitutional council will now have seven members of parliament and three independent members, instead of three legislators and seven independent members.
Of the three independent members, two will be named as agreed by the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader while the other will be appointed by the President.
The opposition also wanted the President to keep powers pertaining to appoint a Cabinet of his choice.
The 19th Amendment to the Constitution will annul the 18th Amendment while replacing the now defunct 17th Amendment to establish the Independent Commissions.
It would also remove the Executive Presidential powers and limit the term of office of the President to five years. The President will continue to function as the Head of State and Head of Security Forces.
Curtailing the powers of the Executive Presidency and establishing independent commissions have been a strongly felt need by many parties including civil society, religious leaders, political activists, intellectual as well majority of people in Sri Lanka.
Abolishing executive presidency has been an election slogan since 1994, although none of those previous attempts was successful. The main arguments against it were that it leads to authoritarian rule and corruption.
Many politicians, activists and intellectuals including Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera and Ven. Athureliye Rathana Thera and many civil society representatives initiated the proposed 19th Amendment.
The movement culminated in the last presidential election and became a key promise in the campaign of Maithripala Sirisena.
Sirisena became president in January after he defected from the party of the former president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was responsible for amending the constitution to remove a two-term limit and abolish independent commissions for elections, the police, judiciary and public service.
While it is widely agreed that the passing of the bill is a victory for the democracy-loving people of Sri Lanka, some believe that the amendment is not in line with the original pledge by President Maithripala Sirisena.
The amendment was watered down, however, to ensure that the minority government secured the support of the opposition, whose votes were crucial to gain a mandatory two-thirds majority. Sirisena’s government does not enjoy a majority in parliament”.
April 29th, 2015 at 8:08 am
Fran Diaz
FYI no Tamil translation given (Praba Ganesan MP complinted) all voted for 19A !!!
90% TNA MP’S do not know what they voted -Great news ???
April 29th, 2015 at 12:15 pm
Kumar,
What about the English version read out by PM Ranil ? Tamils know English, don’t they ?
In my experience with You-Tamils, Tamil folk know English but may say they don’t – what they mean is they prefer the Tamil language. This has a political intent too. When Sinhala folk say they don’t know English, they mean it – they may only understand a simple sentence or some words in English.
April 29th, 2015 at 1:18 pm
What I mean by You-Tamils are the Diaspora Tamils and Colombo Tamils – the politically savvy types. Not the type of Tamils who got killed in the 1983 Riots or the ones who pluck tea.
April 30th, 2015 at 3:21 am
Fran Diaz
folk say they don’t know English, they mean it they may only understand a simple sentence or some words in English.- this is applicable to both our community !
Eg: out 25 Tamil MPs 5 understand English & out of 225 Sinhala MP 45 understand English.
Please just watch parliament depart when RW speck in English how many wear earphone .
We both have same education facility in our mother Language all thank goes to SWRD (Sinhala only ACT).
This Sinhala only ACT cunningly interpreted by bot polition for their votes but realisticly this is a ACT benefit 90% Mother Lanka who able get into secontary school ( Maha vidayalam)for high education to entry into University.
otherwise 90% mother Lankan education ended in primary school (up grade 5).
Fran Diaz – Other Mother Lanka is Bhudda’s Holy land .
eg: We had great war time leader MR & now believe me we have great peace time leader MS send by God ( Bhudda/ Siva/ Jesues/ Alha).
Live & let live !!!
April 30th, 2015 at 4:13 pm
Kumar,
Whilst language is a sort of ‘weapon’ in India as Indian states are divided by Language, do you think Lanka will not be the same ? The proliferation of the Tamil language has not been allowed in any of the Indian states that are adjoining Tamil Nadu.
In Lanka, illegal migration from Tamil Nadu and TN aspirations to acquire part/whole of Lanka, stems from Lanka having Tamil as a National/Official language. You be the judge of it and say yes or no.
“Live and let live” is fine if both parties do that. If only one party does it, it is a farce. Live and let live translates into “Live and let die’ for some Tamil leaders. I am sorry to say all this, but I do not want to see the kind of past we have had come up again ……
April 30th, 2015 at 11:44 pm
illegal migration from Tamil Nadu You be the judge of it and say yes or no.- Yes
What about We Ilankai Tamilar ? you are mix up with more than one problem.
India as Indian states are divided by Language,- yes how many people dead not naturaly after 1947 in India with divide system
How many people We Mother Lanka lost with out similar system after 1948?
so who system is better ???
whether we like or not we have every thing two ( lang, relg,etc…) We are two nation .
best solution is we divide or we live live in united Mother lanka with similar indian system ( Provincial council)
May 1st, 2015 at 6:23 am
Kumar,
You admit to dangers of Tamil illegal migrants from Tamil Nadu. Thank you.
Therein lies the DANGER FOR LANKA. There are about 15 Million Tamils of Dalit origin who do not want to stay on in Tamil Nadu. Lanka cannot ignore this danger.
If Tamil language continues Lanka is divided by language mostly as in India. Therefore, it is only reasonable that the Tamil language be removed as a National/Official language to avoid permanent division of the country. You yourself admit that ‘every thing two. We are two nations’. With Tamil Nadu ‘next door’ it is only reasonable that Lanka protects herself. You cannot ‘have your cake and eat it too’ as such divisions will only lead to permanent bifurcation of the country. The Diaspora Tamils have only one card to play and that is the Eelam card. The Diaspora Tamils will always bring in foreign countries to blast Lanka and that has to stop.
Lankans can speak and write in any language they like. But Tamil as a National/Official language should stop as it is becoming a Security Issue.
May 2nd, 2015 at 3:08 pm
The Diaspora Tamils – again mixing up with real problem please tell me do we diaspora( include myself) have any right to talk about mother lanka also do you you realy believe after getting this confatable life in western country We are concern about Mother Lanka or people living there.
Please thing about Ilankai Thamilar (Hela Demila) who living in Mother Lanka
every thing two. We are two nations’ – Bhuddist Sinhalese & Saiva Thamilar !!! We country Sinhala Lanka & TE.
We are divided community what we need United Mother Lanka better for both of us not unitrary (Sinhala Lanka) mother Lanka .
May 3rd, 2015 at 1:54 am
amil as a National/Official language should stop as it is becoming a Security Issue.- agreed security for Sinha Lanka not to Mother Lanka !
no point of close our eyes say We our one community
how come modaya sinhalaya & sakkiliya Thamilar become only community?
live & let’s live as no one want Eelam war V !
Thamil engngal pechchu , Thamil engngal muchchu ( Tamil is our language & Tamil is our sail ) .