Perfect Time to Abolish Executive Presidency
Posted on November 17th, 2015

Dilrook Kannangara

Today the executive presidency is a threat to democracy, national security and law and order. Its dictatorial powers decide which party wins the general election, who should be the prime minister and opposition leader and even whose crimes are punishable and whose crimes are to be forgiven. Further, the executive president decides the outcome of an investigation. If the outcome doesn’t please the executive president, he/she removes ministers and officials. Executive’s siblings and close family members are always above the law. It must be abolished and the parliament fully empowered. There has never been a better time than now. Most UNP members (at least 70), 41 UPFA MPs, 14 TNA MPs and 6 JVP MPs would support it at this moment. Mustering the support of another 20 MPs is not difficult on policy. In fact, the incumbent president and his two immediate predecessors in 1994 and 2005 promised to abolish it. Chandrika even gave a date (July 15, 1995) by which she would abolish it. That promise won 62.5% of the vote.

Unless it is abolished now, the incumbent will continue in his most despotic manner. His successor cannot be any better.

In today’s context, the executive president is not needed to dissolve provincial councils in the event they violate the law. 13A and its schedules specify what the provinces can and cannot do. Any contravention is a very serious offence as it violates the constitution. The former and the present presidents didn’t dissolve the northern provincial council even when its conduct was illegal and separatist. Therefore, the executive presidency has no worth in disciplining provincial councils. If a party which is not in the president’s good books wins an election, the president will not let that party run the province, local body or the parliament. The incumbent removed a number of legitimately elected chief ministers.

The SLFP also gains by abolishing executive presidency. Due to a clause introduced in 2006, the national president (if a member of the SLFP) becomes the SLFP leader. Given the make up of the SLFP hierarchy, it is unlikely to be changed soon. If the executive presidency is abolished, this provision is frustrated. That would allow a more consensual leader.

21 Responses to “Perfect Time to Abolish Executive Presidency”

  1. Susantha Wijesinghe Says:

    HE IS NOW A MENACE TO THE SRILANKAN SOCIETY. RULES OF YAMA PAALANAYA IS GUIDED BY THUGGERY. KAATA KIYANNADA ?

  2. Nimal Fernando Says:

    So, what will “We The People” do about it? …….

  3. LANKAPUTHRA Says:

    Dilrook, is the Executive Presidency making the SL go to a grinding halt? Learn to THINK and understand dis-information. How many Kappan karayas are paying you. Issue today is how to nullify the present illegal entity. It is not the Executive Presidency that brought MUSLIMS to increase their presence in SL. Executive presidency has been since SINHALA KINGS. Then no elections were used to give all the power KING needs, but we have a ballot box and people can elect the most suitable one to lead the country. That is how a country builds its it’s self. Every thing was going right until INDIAN RAW paid people like you call HORA, MR HORA. Then change the subject to Executive presidency. So the average villager gets confused. CAN YOU SEE NOW RANIL PUNK IS ABOVE THE LAW. Executive President is not above the law. Answer this question.

  4. LANKAPUTHRA Says:

    Dilrook go to Daily Mirror today’s paper (with a VIDIO) and read what G.L. Peris has to say. Try to think and understand what he is saying and do not write idiotic articles where one can read that you get Kappan from RAW to write these types of articles.

  5. Lorenzo Says:

    NO ONE will EVER abolish the executive president post. Wishful thinking.

    Endian stooge JR left this along with the LTTE, IPKF, JN Dickshitt, Thonda the eternal minister and 13 amendment (other Endian stuff).

    When SIRIMAVO handed the country to JR, there was NO executive presidency, NO LTTE, NO 13 amendment, NO IPKF, NO Dickshitt, NO Thonda the eternal minister.

    Now JR’s nephew Run-nil is is doing the same. When he leaves SL will be an Endian colony.

  6. Independent Says:

    Whether it is Appuhamy, Abaran, Dayawathie Mervyn Silva , Sambanthan or nay other bugger who could establish law and order in the country, stop day light robbery , stop nepotism, they will be the greatest heroes who have paid the real Ranaviruvos back, not the Kakuluwos and Bingkundos you people worship.

  7. Fran Diaz Says:

    If the Exec Presidency is removed, which body will take up the highest post in the land ?
    Will it be the Exec PM (Ranil, at the moment) & a virtually dead Parliament ?

    We all know that will not work.

    So let us put our collective grey matter to work and come up with solutions.

  8. mario_perera Says:

    go to Daily Mirror today’s paper (with a VIDIO) and read what G.L. Peris has to say – Lankaputhra

    G.L.Peiris runs with the hare and hunts with the hound. In his UNP days he called Balasingham ‘Your Excellency’, an address reserved to the representative of another State. G.L Peiris is of a type that cannot live without being in the limelight. Another professor of the same category is Rajiva Wijesinghe. They consider themselves as lights that cannot be hidden under a bushel. There are also stars that still emit a semblance of light thought extinct since ages!

    The Executive Presidency in Sri Lanka has no other worth than the worth of the man who exercises it. This is principally because our country is NOT grounded on the RULE OF LAW. In such a circumstance Montesquieu’s statement that absolute power corrupts absolutely is more than valid.It is literally true in Sri Lanka.

    What does this mean? Simply that the Executive Presidency MUST GO.

    In Sri Lanka the executive presidency is essentially wrapped up in illegalities and corruption. They are two sides of the same coin. The wielder of the executive presidency is like an umpire who tosses a coin with the declaration: Heads I win, tails you lose.

    It is the stark truth about this country that it is downright POOR. What we are undergoing is ‘DUPPATHAGE DUKKHA. The four principal sources of revenue of this country are: Foreign loans, taxes, remittances of our ‘indentured women labour’ in the Middle East, and…CORRUPTION…yes you got it right: CORRUPTION. Within the country it is corruption that generates the most revenue for any government. Yahapalanaya is no exception. Wipe out the major sources of corruption and government becomes all the more unstable.The party that has more corrupt money can pave his way to power. Now think of all that power being lodged in the hands of one man!

    A new constitution is essential for the country. They will also have to deal with the situation of an imminent threat to the security and unitary nature of Sri Lanka. It could even be the transfer of power, well defined by strict laws, to an executive president just for the well circumscribed purpose of meeting that threat rapidly and effectively.

    Mario Perera
    Kadawata

  9. Dilrook Says:

    Fran, without the executive president Ranil cannot remain the prime minister. He lacks parliamentary majority and even within his UNP there are severe divisions. The president with the help of the SLFP keeps it held up. If executive presidency continues, the next most likely executive president with all powers will be Ranil. That will be the worst outcome. Sirisena promised to remove it and 6.2 million people voted for him. Now is the time.

  10. Independent Says:

    Person centred politics yet again ! what need to be considered is not whether this bugger will go that bugger will come but what are the good points and what are the bad points.

  11. Independent Says:

    Q: බුදු දහම අනුව ඕනෑම අයකුගේ අවසාන අරමුණ නිවනයි. නිවන් දැකීම හැර ඔබවහන්සේට වෙනත් බලා‍පොරොත්තුවක් තියෙනවා නම් ඒ මොකක්ද?
    A:විධායක ජනාධිපති ක්‍රමය අහෝසි කිරීම. ඕක තමයි රටට පහත්වූ ලොකුම හෙණේ. මම මැරෙන්න කලින් විධායක ජනාධිපති ක්‍රමය අහෝසි කරගැනීම මගේ ලොකුම බලා‍පොරොත්තුවයි.

  12. Son of Lanka Says:

    MS has clearly stated that the abolition of the Executive Presidency and the implementation of the proposed Electoral Reforms will only take place after the completion of his term. The ‘Executive’ powers will thereafter be vested on the Prime Minister. Although MS has repeatedly stated that he will not seek re-election, he could be referring to the post of President. There is nothing to prevent him from seeking the post of Executive Prime Minister. Bear in mind what Uncle JR on one occasion said that once a person has tasted the powers of the Executive Presidency, he (or she) will never give it up. History has proved him to be correct. The bane of our Motherland has been the 1978 Constitution, which again JR admitted was introduced solely to ensure that the UNP will govern the Country for a very long time. It was not introduced for the benefit of our Motherland. During the pre-1978 period, MP’s were elected for each electorate and the voters could always hold such MP’s responsible for any and all acts of omission and commission in their electorates. By-elections were held whenever a particular MP died or vacated office giving the voters a chance to send a message to their respective parties between General Elections. The 1978 Constitution deprived the voters of such basic democratic rights. We must agitate for a New Constitution that will empower the voters as it did during the pre-1978 period.

  13. LANKAPUTHRA Says:

    Lorenzo, Let’s first establish this RANIL PUNK IS NOT A RELATIVE OF JRJ. He was a adopted son there is ample proof if one is able to spend time digging this out. This is my suggestion and you might not agree with it. Some how bring this government down by legal or other means. Then put MR under control with very strict conditions and then let the people elect the president and not the parliament. Now let the people allow which Executive presidential powers should he have. He should at least have 3; 4 year terms. He must have absolute power for the security of Mother Lankadeepaya. Just like the French did today and killed MUSLIM OBAMA trained ISIS Terrorists. Many Civilians got killed. French Made sure NO UN investigation in to the shooting.

  14. Susantha Wijesinghe Says:

    THE BIGGEST DECEPTION FOR THE TEAR ENDING 2015*** ALL THE CLOWNS IN PARLIAMENT HAVE ”nodded” FOR THE ABOLITION OF THE EXECUTIVE PRESIDENCY, and WHEN IS IT GOING TO BE ABOLISHED ??? IN ANOTHER 4 YEARS TIME, AFTER THE END OF THE PRESENT TERM OF THE EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT. THE BUGGERS IN PARLIAMENT MUST HAVE “”nodded in their sleep””. They will know the reality, only when they wake up from their slumber. Good for them.

    SO SIRAA WILL CONTINUE WITH THE EXECUTIVE PRESIDENCY, WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, TILL HIS END.

    THEN HE SAY, THE PRIME MINISTER WILL BE EXECUTIVE PRIME MINISTER, AND SOME OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND INSTITUTIONS WILL HAVE EXCUTIVE POWERS. SO THIS IS **pulling the wool over the Prime Ministers Eyes, and of the people of SRI LANKA in toto.

    THE WORD EXECUTIVE CAN BE MANIPULATED TO FIT THE REQUIREMENTS.

    SO IT IS THE WORD **EXECUTIVE** THAT HAS TO BE ABOLISHED. PERIOD.

  15. Fran Diaz Says:

    Dilrook,

    Thanks for response.

    I do not feel well qualified enough to address Constitutional changes in the country. I write merely as a bystander and a concerned citizen.

    As matters stand internationally, I am in agreement with Pres Sirisena to take at least another 5 yrs to scrap the Presidency.

    Our chief concerns at this early stage of events are :

    * Can one person (say, Exec PM) replace the scrapped one person Presidency ? The One Person leadership is vulnerable, to say the least. A Central Committee (as in China) of loyal, educated, savvy, proven, 5-8 people may suit vulnerable Sri Lanka better than a One Person leadership. That approach is something to consider seriously ?

    * What happens AFTER the Presidency is scrapped ? As far as we know, the present Constitution has not addressed that point. God forbid that the present Exec PM automatically becomes the top person in Lanka !

    * What happens to the 13-A and the Prov Councils (as you say, particuarly the Norther PC), as the PCs at present come under the President only ?

    * The Law of the Land is NOT followed in Sri Lanka re Security measures, e.g. the 6-A has never been implemented. It appears that Cold Wars or imaginary Cold Wars dictate terms to Lanka leaders, whoever is in power or whichever political party is in power.

  16. Jayantha Says:

    Therefore without wasting valuable time talking about executive presidencies and executive prime ministerships let you bloggers spend a little of your precious time suggesting solutions for Sri Lanka’s economic plight.

    JP – enroute to Sri Lanka from USA

  17. Lorenzo Says:

    Jayantha,

    IF you want to save the economy SCRAP BOTH and turn SL into military rule. Otherwise there is NO WAY to save the economy.

    Kithsiri,

    Run-nil is not an adopted child. He was born to Mrs. Wickramasingha nee Wijayawardana – JR’s close relative. It was JR who brought Run-nil to politics. YET ANOTHER disaster by JR.

  18. Susantha Wijesinghe Says:

    LORENZO !! NO ONE will EVER abolish the executive presidency post. WISHFUL THINKING.

    Nothing further than the TRUTH, LORENZO.

    It is already evident. Siraa has presented a Paper in Parliament, that he is **GOING TO** abolish, And all the buggers in in Parliament has **NODDED**while in deep slumber. Siraa is playing with his wits, while Parliament is ASLEEP.

    WHAT IDIOTS WE HAVE, **TO NOD**in consensus. Buggers cannot read between the lines. Siraa has pulled the wool over everybodys eyes, of Paliamentarians, and of all the VOTERS OF SRI LANKA.

    IT WILL BE ABOLISHED AT THE END OF HIS TERM, THAT IS, IN FOUR YEARS TIME. Till then, Sleep Baby Sleep.

  19. Lorenzo Says:

    SW,

    Do you really TRUST Maru Sira?

    Mark my word. He or anyone else will NEVER EVER remove executive presidency. NEVER! NOT EVER. These bloody GREEDY power hungry parasites are too greedy for that.

    It is a waste of time even to think about it.

    Faced with a COLLAPSE of the UNP govt. Maru Sira is trying to SAVE it by DISTRACTING. There will be BIG NOISE about this UNTIL the Avant Garde thing is FORGOTTEN by the people (who have a memory of 2 weeks). Then it will be dictatorship as usual.

  20. Fran Diaz Says:

    Susantha,

    Yes, it is matter of —- going to, in 4-5 yrs time — only ! Many a slip between the cup and the lip, as they say. You are right to emphasise the ‘going to in 4 yrs time’. That part gets lost in the ho ha over Avant Garde etc. !

    ——–

    Still, it is a good exercise for the People of Lanka to mull over the possible Changes (Venassa) and bring out ideas as how best to govern Lanka.

  21. LANKAPUTHRA Says:

    Lorenzo, I will take your word for it. As I wrote I got it from an e-mail that I read about 5 years ago. Look like you got sold proof that RANIL PUNK was Lake House D.R. Wijayawardena’s grand son. JRJ did not do any thing to bring Ranil Punk to power!. First read the G.L. Peiris’s news release. He clearly explains what dis-information is and how dangerous is the person who reads it and votes in a election. In simple terms; take the dis-information and twist it turns it up side down then use it to legally justify the action. In this case releasing the LTTE prisoners with full legal authority from the terrorist Protection act (1978 I think it in the article and the video clip) go to Infolanka web site and page back until you find it. With out reading it one could not understand what I have written.

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