Betrayal of the Sinhala Buddhists : 1815 betrayal being re-enacted by new constitutional reforms
Posted on June 4th, 2016
Shenali D Waduge
In 1815 a selfish set of Chieftans handed over the Sinhale nation to the British. Within no time these chieftans became sidelined and the white-masters began rule over the servants using sepoys and lascoreens who were ready to betray their own for titles and perks. The whites left in 1948 but they kept their dna through Uncle Tom’s and aunt Sally’s. Today, what the Christian colonial invaders could not achieve in over 400 years of illegal occupation their faithful-sepoys are happy to deliver to them through a new constitution. Every line and recommendation apart from a handful echoes attempts to remove the history and heritage of the Sinhala Buddhists who built this nation. This façade of reconciliation bogey cannot wipe out a history over 2600 years. The minority card is being used to take every bit of Sinhala Buddhist ownership and hand it over to the minorities with whom any agenda devoid of national interest is game. It was the Sinhala Buddhists and only a handful of Malays, some Sinhala Christians, a set of Tamils fearing rebuttal by their own who came forward to defend the nation against terrorism and division. Their due place can’t be wiped out by constitutional proposals.
The Committee claims its aim are two fold – to bring out accurately and fairly the representations of the people and justifications for those submissions as well as to give recommendations based on analysis of what has been received and on the committees ‘own political, professional and disciplinary expertise’.
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/PRC-Report-English-Final.pdf
Of the 20 member committee
- 6 lawyers – Lal Wijenayake, Kushan de Alwis, N Selvakkumaran, Sunil Jayaratne, M Y M Faiz, Kanthi Ranasinghe
- 3 politicians – Faiz Mustapha (who has not put his name to any proposal obviously leaving room to disagree or agree as he feels fit) S. Thavarajah former Leader of Opposition NPC, Themiya Hurulle
- 5 Background of political science – Prof. Gamini Samaranayake, Prof. Navaratna Bandara, M L A Cader, Upul Abeyratne, Nadeeka Damayanthi
- 2 Lecturers in sociology – Harini Amarasuriya, Kumudu Kusum Kumara
- 1 Lecturer in Economics – S Wijesandiran
- 1 Retired public officials – Winston Pathiraja
- 1 Civil society Activist – Elankovan
- 1 Political activist – Sirimasiri Hapuarachchi
3 Muslims, 4 Tamils (noteworthy is to go through the proposals by the Tamil members. The proposals are not national-minded but only pushing for the aspirations of Tamils) The only sensible proposals have come from attorney Kushan de Alwis though none of the members have defended the Sinhalese rights or put forward the Sinhala Buddhist grievances when they make a clear majority in Sri Lanka. Nothing has been said about the contribution of the Sinhala Buddhists who built this nation. There is not a well to showcase of other ethnic groups even having a civilization to claim as homeland. The centuries of past is being totally ignored so too are the systems that prevails – Buddhist economics, the strategy and diplomatic policies of the Sinhale kings, the eastern dharmic cultures, Sri Lanka is known as mathrubhoomiya where the mother always had first place, it was only after the gun trotting West came that the male’s dominated the world. These factors have all been sidelined and the committee are proposing that we stick to the Western rules and norms totally ignoring and erasing our proud past.
This constitution appears to be an exercise to remove the historical place of the Sinhala Buddhists and transfer all powers to the minorities as return of favour for support to come into power and for the fulfilment of future agendas
| THE NATIONAL FLAG, NATIONAL ANTHEM AND CITIZENSHIP | |
| Harini Amarasuriya; A.M.Navaratna Bandara; S.C.C Elankovan; Kumud uKusum Kumara; N. Selvakkumaran; S. Vijesandiran
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To design a new national flag keeping in line with the recommendation for a secular State and representing Sri Lankan collective life without reference to ethnicity |
| S. Thavarajah | To design a new flag symbolizing the equality of all ethnic groups and peace and harmony amongst them
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| Upul Abeyrathne; M.L.A. Cader; Kushan D’Alwis P.C; M.K Nadeeka Damayanthi; M. Y.M. Faiz; Sunil Jayaratna; Sirimasiri Hapuarachchi; Themiya L.B. Hurulle; Kanthie Ranasinghe; Winston Pathiraja; Lal Wijenayake
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Keep the flag as it is without any change |
| Kushan D’ Alwis P.C
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Consider the clause on the National Anthem formulated in the Constitution Bill of 2004 |
| UpulA beyrathne; Harini Amarasuriya; A.M. Navaratna Bandara; M.L.A Cader; M.K.Nadeeka Damayanthi; S.C.C Elangkovan; M.Y.M Faiz; Sirimasiri Hapuarachchi; Sunil Jayaratna; Kumudu Kusum Kumara; Kanthie Ranasinghe; Winston Pathiraja; N. Selvakkumaran; S. Thavarajah; S. Vijesandiran; Lal Wijenayake
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Consider the clause on the National Anthem formulated in the Constitution Bill of 2000 while recognising the right to sing it in Sinhala and/or Tamil |
| BUDDHISM | |
| Kushan D’ Alwis P.C; M.K Nadeeka Damayanthi
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Retain Article 9 (Chapter II) of the current Constitution with no change (foremost place to Buddhism) |
| Themiya L. B. Hurulle; Winston Pathiraja
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Heading of Chapter II of the current Constitution should state ‘Religions’ and not Buddhism and retain Article 9 as it is with no change |
| UpulA beyrathne; M.L.A. Cader; Lal Wijenayake; Sirimasiri Hapuarachchi; Sunil Jayaratna | Reformulate Article 9 of the current Constitution: The Republic of Sri Lanka shall give all religions equal status. The State shall protect and foster Buddhism and the Buddha Sāsana while assuring to all religions the rights granted by Articles 10 and 14(1) e of the current Constitution
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| Harini Amarasuriya; S.C.C. Elankovan; Kumudu Kusum Kumara; Kanthi Ranasinghe; N. Selvakkumaran
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Sri Lanka shall be a secular State |
| A.M Navaratna Bandara | Sri Lanka shall be a secular State while recognising the role of religion in the spiritual development of people
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| S. Thavarajah; S. Vijesandiran | Heading of Chapter II of the current Constitution should State ‘Religions’. The clause should be revised as follows: The Republic of Sri Lanka will give all religions equal status”
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| NATURE OF THE STATE | |
| Harini Amarasuriya; A.M.Navaratna Bandara; M.L.A. Cader; M.Y.M Faiz; Sirimasir iHapuarachchi; Kumudu Kusum Kumara (as a compromise from federal position); Kanthie Ranasinghe; N. Selvakkumaran; S. Thavarajah (as a compromise from federal position); S. Vijesandiran (as a compromise from federal position)
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Sri Lanka shall be one, independent, free, sovereign Republic consisting of governmental organs* as provided in the Constitution and the State shall safeguard the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Republic and shall promote and preserve peace and harmony among various people of the country while promoting a Sri Lankan identity |
| Upul Abeyrathna; M.K. Nadeeka Damayanthi;Themiya L.B. Hurulle; Sunil Jayaratna; Winston Pathiraja; Lal Wijenayake | The Republic of Sri Lanka shall be an independent, free, sovereign, unitary State consisting of governmental organs* as provided in the Constitution and it shall promote and preserve peace and harmony among various peoples of the country while promoting a Sri Lankan identity. For the purpose of this article, the Unitary State means an undivided country with multi-tier governance systems
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| Kushan D’ Alwis, P.C | Article 2 of the present Constitution should be retained without change. Namely: The Republic of Sri Lanka is a Unitary State”
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| FORMS & TIERS OF GOVERNMENT | |
| UpulA beyrathne; Kushan D’ Alwis, P.C; Harini Amarasuriya; M. Faiz; Themiya Hurulle; KumuduKusum Kumara; Winston Pathiraja; N. Selvakkumaran; Thavarajah; S. Vijesandiran; Lal Wijenayake
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The Westminster form of government should be implemented at the national and provincial levels. When parliament is dissolved, there should be a caretaker government until the new government is appointed |
| A.M.Navaratna Bandara; M.K.Nadeeka Damayanthi; S.C.C Elankovan; Sirimasiri Hapuarachchi; Sunil Jayaratna; Kanthie Ranasinghe | An Executive Committee system should be implemented below the central government level
a. Some have proposed this system to be followed at the provincial level, as well as at the local government level. b. Some have recommended this form of government only to be followed at local government level.
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| M.K. Nadeeka Damayanthi; N.Selvakkumaran
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The President shall be the titular Head of the State |
| Upul Abeyrathne; M.Y.M Faiz; Kanthie Ranasinghe; S. Thavarajah; Lal Wijenayake
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national interests and minority interests in line with the principles embodied in the constitution |
| Harini Amarasuriya; Sunil Jayaratna; Kumudu Kusum Kumara; S. Vijesandiran | The President shall be the Head of the State and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. The President shall be elected by popular vote and have powers specified by the Constitution. This should include powers to intervene in instances of threats to national security, national interests and minority interests in accordance with the principles of the constitution |
| Sunil Jayaratna; S.Thavarajah; Winston Pathiraja; Lal Wijenayake
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There shall be a Vice President elected through an electoral college whose powers will be specified by the Constitution. The Vice-President will be from a community that is different to that of the President |
| Upul Abeyrathne; Harini Amarasuriya;M.K. Nadeeka Damayanthi; M.Y.M Faiz; Kumudu Kusum Kumara; N.Selvakkumaran; S.Vijesandiran
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Some committee members, however, were of the view that there was no need for creating this post. Instead, since the rationale behind creating this post was mainly fuelled by the desire for greater protection and representation of the minority communities, strong measures should be ensured for the protection and representation of minorities in the Constitution |
| Unanimous agreement | There shall be 3 tiers of government:
National, Provincial or Regional and Local Government. Local Government shall be made the next tier of devolution after the Province or Region The role, powers and functions of local government should be expanded and empowered to make them effective institutions based on the following principles: (a)Closest level of people’s sovereignty (b) Local democracy (c) Local development (d) Citizen participation in governance (e) Inclusive democracy (Inclusion of marginalized / interest groups & communities)
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| POWER SHARING | |
| M.L.A Cader; M.K Nadeeka Damayanthi, S.C.C Elankovan and Kumudu Kusum Kumara
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The Committee recommends a Second Chamber (Upper House or Senate) comprising of 75 members |
| 4Upul Abeyrathna; M.K. Nadeeka Damayanthi; Sirimasiri Hapuarachchi; Sunil Jayaratna; Winston Pathiraja; N. Selvakkumaran; Lal Wijenayake | 2nd Chamber should consist of: a. Chief Ministers of the Provincial Councils (9) b. Six other persons from each Province elected by the members of the Provincial Council, the Mayors, Deputy Mayors of Municipal Councils of the Province and Chairperson and Vice–Chairpersons of all Urban Councils and Pradesha shabhas of the Province through the system of first transferable vote.
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| Harini Amarasuriya; Kushan D’Alwis, PC, A.M.Navaratna Bandara; S.C.C.Elankovan; M.Y.M Faiz; Kumudu Kusum Kumara; Kanthie Ranasinghe; S.Thavarajah; S.Vijesandiran | Second Chamber should consist of:
a. One member each from the Provincial Councils proposed by each Provincial Council.(These members argued that the Chief Ministers belong to the Executive and therefore should not be a part of a legislative body). b. Six other persons from each Province elected by the members of the Provincial Council, the Mayors, Deputy Mayors of Municipal Councils of the Province and Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersons of all Urban Councils and Pradesha Shabhas of the Province through the system of first transferable vote.
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| S.Thavarasa; S.Vijesandiran | protection of minority interests from the majoritarian Parliamentary system is one of the prime objectives of establishing the Second Chamber. Hence there should be a mechanism in the Second Chamber to ensure:
a. That all the national minority representation added together in the Second Chamber would not be less than the majority community representation, or b. Weighted voting system in the Second Chamber in respect of Bills affecting the interest of minority communities.
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| Sirimasiri Hapuarachchi; S. Vijesandiran
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Small political parties representing diverse political ideologies shall also be considered in the nomination of members |
| DEVOLUTION | |
| S.C.C Elankovan; Kumudu Kusum Kumara; Winston Pathiraja; N. Selvakkumaran; Lal Wijenayake | Existing units of nine provinces with the option of one or more adjacent provinces, through referenda to join together as one structure/unit for administrative purposes. Article 154A(3) should be retained
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| M.K. Nadeeka Damayanthi; M.Y.M. Faiz; Themiya L.B. Hurulle; Kanthie Ranasinghe; | Existing system of nine provinces to remain. No merger should be permitted between any units. Therefore Article 154A (3) should be removed or should not be included in the proposed Constitution
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| Upul Abeyarathne; Harini Amarasuriya; A.M. Navaratna Bandara | Existing system of nine provinces should remain with Constitutional provisions for power sharing at the provincial level to ensure representation and participation of minorities in the Executive and Legislature
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| S. Thavarajah; S. Vijesandiran; M.L.A.Cader | Existing system of nine provinces to remain with a Constitutional provision for adjacent provinces to merge through referenda in the respective provinces. There should be provisions to ensure adequate minority group representation in the Executive and Legislature of the provinces. Muslims in the East and Malayaha Tamils in the Central Province should be allowed to create internal autonomous units. The Autonomous Unit / Council of the Malayaha Tamil community need to be empowered to address economic, social, cultural, religious, civil aspects affecting them only. The said Unit/Council should enjoy legislative and executive powers over defined matters which have an impact on their lives of the community
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| Kushan D’ Alwis P.C.; Sirimasir iHapuarachchi | Within a unitary State, power should remain with the central organ of the State. The Central Government can delegate powers to the provinces, but retain the power and authority to take back any power to the Centre without the concurrence of the provincial unit. Supremacy of legislature and parliament must be assured. The existing 9 provinces should remain. No provinces should be allowed to merge either politically or administratively. Therefore, Section 154 (A) 3 should be removed or no similar provision should be included in the proposed Constitution. No devolved unit should be created on the basis of language, race, religion or ethnicity
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| Sunil Jayaratne | The Unit of devolution shall be demarcated based on a rational basis taking into account, geographical, socio-economic and demographic factors in a way that national wealth and natural resources are distributed in an equitable and equal manner. The Unit should not be based on racial, ethno-religious or linguistic considerations
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| Kushan D’ Alwis, P.C. | suggested that the powers of the Governor which are in the present Constitution and/or Act Not 42 of 1987 shall be retained. If such powers are to be taken away an alternative institution at the centre shall be vested with such powers
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| Kushan D’ Alwis, P.C | Objected to Provinces/Regions establishing alternate dispute resolution mechanism including traditional systems of resolving disputes stating that such a mechanism may interfere with the judicial system and was opposed to the establishment of such mechanism
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| Kushan D’ Alwis, P.C | Suggested to retain the Concurrent List
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| Kushan D’ Alwis, P.C | Suggested that the Concurrent List can be removed IF police powers, land powers, international grants, foreign direct investment, international development assistance, environment international borrowing, administration of justice and archaeological sites are not given to the provincial government.
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| S.Thavarajah; N. Selvakkumaran | State land within a Province shall be a subject matter to be handled by the legislative and executive body of the Province. However, the Central Government shall have the authority to require a Provincial executive to release any piece of State land for its legitimate use in order to take forward any activity which falls within its purview of activities (specified in the Reserved List). And it shall be the duty of the Provincial executive to release such extent of State land within its Province to the Central Government to be utilised for any legitimate purpose falling within the Reserved List.
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| FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS | |
| Kushan D’ Alwis P.C and M.Y.M.Faiz are agreeable to the rights set out in this section on Fundamental Rights subject to the restrictions set out in Articles 15 and 16 of the present Constitution | Revise Article 16 of the current Constitution as it enables laws that contravene principles in the Constitution to remain in force. The Committee recommends appointing a representative high level committee to go into the question of traditional laws and customs with a view to engaging in a consultative process with all communities in terms of revising/repealing some elements within the customary and traditional laws which may be considered discriminatory
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| Kushan D’Alwis, P.C. expressed concern that this right should not be applied retrospectively
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Right for Non-Disappearance and that since Bill of Rights encompasses all the other suggestions, including right to life, liberty etc. this particular clause may not be necessary |
| THE JUDICIARY | |
| Harini Amarasuriya; M.K. Nadeeka Damayanthi; Sirimasiri Hapuarachchi; Winston Pathiraja; N. Selvakkumaran; S. Thavarajah; S. Vijesandiran; Lal Wijenayake | members recommend the establishment of a Constitutional Court with the following jurisdictions :
a. Determine the Constitutionality of proposed amendments to the Constitution. b. Determine the Constitutionality of the Bills of Parliament. c. Determine and declare whether the Bills of Parliament are inconsistent with the Directive Principles of State Policy. d. Judicial review of legislation to determine the Constitutionality of laws enacted by parliament and provincial councils. e. Declare on matters pertaining to the interpretation of the Constitution. f. Judicial review of any decision taken by the Judicial Service Commission. g. Hear appeals on judgment of the Supreme Court when the Constitutional Court is of the view that there exists a matter of national and Constitution al importance. h. Hear petitions challenging judicial actions, orders and judgment on the footing that it infringes on the exercise of Fundamental Rights/Human Rights. i. Consultative jurisdiction to enable the President, Prime Minister and Speaker to seek the opinion of the Constitutional Court on any matter of Constitutional importance.
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| Kushan D’ Alwis, P.C; M. Y. M. Faiz; Sunil Jayaratne; Kumudu Kusum Kumara; Kanthie Ranasinghe | members of the Committee were not in agreement to the establishment of the Constitutional Court as detailed above. They were of the view that it would allow for the Executive and Legislative branches of the government to interfere with the independence of the judiciary. They further State that there shouldn’t be a body higher than the Supreme Court. They also point out that there is currently no bar for nonlawyers to be appointed to the Supreme Court. While opposing the Constitutional Court as a separate body they instead propose a Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court within the judicial structure
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| A.M Navaratna Bandara; S.C.C Elankovan | establishment of a Constitutional Bench within the court structure but that it should not be composed only of judges of the Supreme Court, but also includes retired judges of the Supreme Court, persons of eminence with academic qualifications on law or related subjects, retired eminent personalities from the official or unofficial bar
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| ELECTORAL SYSTEM & PROCESS | |
| Kushan D’ Alwis, P.C | in support of the proposed 20th Amendment Bill without any changes. He does not agree to any of the recommendations on parliamentary elections that follow
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| UpulA beyrathne; Harini Amarasuriya; KushanD’Alwis, P.C.; M.K. Nadeeka Damayanthi; S.C.C. Elankovan; Kumudu Kusum Kumara; Kanthie Ranasinghe; N. Selvakkumaran; Lal Wijenayake; A.M. Navaratna Bandara | members were of the view that within a mixed system of elections and also in the event that a Second Chamber is established, a National List (NL) is not necessary |
| Sirimasiri Hapuarachchi; Winston Pathiraja; Sunil Jayaratna; | members were of the view that a National List should continue with the following conditions
Ø Reduction of the number on the NL Ø NL members should be nominated from the list and those from other lists should not be accommodated in it. The NL should have women and men nominated alternatively.
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| Kushan D’ Alwis, P.C.; Sirimasir iHapuarachchi
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Crossovers are not permitted under any condition |
| Upul Abeyrathne | Members should be allowed to exercise conscience provided that it will not destabilise the government. In order to ensure that it is necessary to introduce constructive no-confidence mechanisms
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| Upul Abeyrathne did not support the idea of an Election Calendar | An Election Calendar with definite dates scheduled for elections of President, Members of Parliament, Provincial Councils and Local Government should be introduced
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| PUBLIC SERVICE, PUBLIC FINANCE, AUDIT | |
| Upul Abeyrathne; Harini Amarasuriya; A.M. Navaratna Bandara; M.K. Nadeeka Damayanthi; S.C.C Elankovan; M.Y.M. Faiz; Sirimasiri Hapurachachi; Sunil Jayarathna; Kumudu Kusum Kumara; Winston Pathiraja; Themiya L.B Hurulle; Kanthie Ranasinghe; N. Selvakkumaran; S. Thavarajah; S Vijesandiran; Lal Wijenayake | a) Replace Article 54 (1) by the following paragraph;
The appointment, promotion, transfer, dismissal, disciplinary control and the improvement of management capacities of public officers should be vested with the Public Service Commission (PSC) which shall consist of eleven nonpolitical members appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Constitutional Council of whom not less than three members shall be persons who have had over fifteen years’ experience as a public officer. The other members of PSC should have the knowledge and experience on administrative law, public finance and human resources, business and public management”.
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| S. Thavarajah | Remove Article 52 (2) of the present Constitution as this provision negates the authority vested in the PSC and obstructs the Ministers and Secretaries developing good working relationships while maintaining the professional standards in the administrative system(One member did not agree to this recommendation
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| Kushan D’ Alwis, PC – ONLY MEMBER TO MAKE PROPOSAL | Chapters 9 and 17 of the present Constitution should be retained in its present form. The recommendations are a step in the direction of creating a federal State without using the title federal and also amount to forcing down federal concept on the people living outside the Northern Province who have never demanded or sought such a devolution regarding public services and public finances.
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| S. Thavarajah | The minimum allocation to the PCs and the LGs should be 25% of the State revenue generated through taxation or borrowings and that should be allocated among the PCs and the LGs by the Finance Commission (proposed ratio is 18% for PCs and 7% for LGs).One member proposed that in order for the devolution to be meaningful, the minimum allocation to the PCs to be 40% of the State revenue (30% to the PCs and 10% for LGs).
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| Kushan D’ Alwis P.C. | ONLY MEMBER TO DISAGREE TO repealing of Prevention of Terrorism Act claiming that the existing Public Security Ordinance can be amended to address the concerns regarding preventing terrorism in the country
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| LAND ENVIRONMENT & DEVELOPMENT | |
| Kushan D’ Alwis P.C., expressed his reservation for the inclusion of social service. | establishment of a Public Service Grievance Commission by the Constitution which should be an independent institution the chairperson and members of which shall be appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Constitutional Council. The Commission may consist of around seven to nine members drawn from experienced persons from a variety of fields such as social service,69 public finance, public administration, agricultural technology, law, human rights, technology, etc.
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Can those arguing the secular line for the removal of Buddhism from the Constitution explain why the religion Roman Catholicism was made into a State and given UN members? Obviously they have no answer. Everywhere the Pope visits as Head of State he is representing the Roman Catholic faith.
The Committee comments about ‘ failure to build a common Sri Lankan identity that respects the plurality and diversity of our society” that is because the term Sri Lankan came to be used only after 1972. Prior to that the country was Sinhaladeepa where all citizens were from Sinhaladeepa. It was with the Sinhale nation that the British signed the Convention. The Sinhale nation was the nation of all its citizens not only Sinhalese. People are unwilling to accept this clear fact and that is why there is so much confusion. No other identity can be parachuted. Moreover pride of place has to be given to the Sinhala Buddhists like everywhere else in the world immigrants and people who came initially as traders cannot be given equal rights to the nation except equality before the law.
The separatists had somehow managed to sneak in the Confederation of States/Union of Regions which is the foundation to separatism. Where is the Joint Opposition? Why are they not coming out to defend the rights of those that built this nation?
On what grounds is the Committee with all their learning accepting notion of Tamils and Muslims being ‘distinct nationalities’ for clearing while the former came from South India and have been referred to as Malabars and the artificial ethnic name was created only in 1911, the latter first came as traders from the Middle East and on the generosity of the Sinhale kings were allowed to remain. Muslims were treated as ‘aliens’ denied right to even own lands till after 1815. So how can both these groups be ‘distinct nationalities’ when their roots are in foreign countries?
The Committee is suggesting to set up a Land Commission of 4 members comprising Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim and Malayaha (Up Country) Tamils – which invariably gives Tamils majority status when 70% of the population in Sri Lanka are Sinhalese!!! Does the Committee not realize that the opposition to Tamil as an official language is mostly on account of India’s annexing tactics which invariably will mean that Sinhalese 14million will be the minority against a 76million Tamil population combining Tamil Nadu, already these Dravidians are freely flowing into Sri Lanka and settling here.
The Provincial Councils were introduced to solve problems by devolving powers. Ever since 1987 the provincial councils have been functioning but providing no such assistance to the people except nurturing political candidates and family rule. What guarantee is there that the newest concept gramarajya is no different and what is this new gramarajya map? Is it along the lines of the demands the separatists are making? Knowing that the PC system is such a cost burden for the tax paying public why is there no suggestion by this Committee so concerned about the welfare of the people to abolish the PC system altogether???
It is amusing that the Committee allocated over 600 words to emphasise the need for people with diverse sexual, gender orientations going to lengths to describe each case!
With regard to the women’s representation it is the logic that is baffling. Women want to be treated as equals but they also want to have an allocated quota for them because they are women… ladies promoting this please answer… shouldn’t merit matter more than quota – nobody wants a woman propped up into a place of authority just because she is a women if she is incompetent???
The inclusion of promoting WORLD RELIGION etc is another NGO ploy which finds its root to UNICEF with a long term goal of removing the child’s identity with their birth religion and the cultures and traditions that surround. It is no surprise that this item too has been sneaked into the proposals. These new educational googly’s are nothing but long term plans to remove people from the eastern dharmic faiths with lots of money being pumped into to tap into weaknesses of people and thereafter claim that these dharmic religions are useless. People should realize this bigger plan by now.
This new constitution is nothing but a betrayal of the nation’s history and a very insidious plan aimed at removing the Sinhala Buddhist hold and Theravada Buddhism which will have a domino effect on fellow Theravada countries also under similar incursions of late.
Shenali D Waduge
June 4th, 2016 at 10:52 pm
Shenali why, why, why our Sinhalese are so stupid and couldn’t understand what is going on in this country? Why our sinhala traitors in the Parliament raise their hands and give approval to such a constitution? What benefit they will get except branded them as traitors to Motherlanka. First is your homeland and second and third too as MR said after winning the war. We need to organize a people’s power before these LTTE and Muslim sympathizers destroy our land and the buddhist culture as well as the Sinhala race. Current traitors damn care about the country or our Sinhala race.Their main concern is how to payback their white masters and the Indian parasites who helped them to come to power by a coup. Wake up Sinhalese without killing each other. It’s time to take action and help to save our birth place Sri lanka.
June 5th, 2016 at 3:19 am
This is all catholic traitor chief pol pot ponil wickramasinhalakiller’s work. Puppet maru sira got no saying in
any of these. He is a mere puppet enjoying the time of his life. So who cares. In any case uneducated moron
doesn’t have much knowledge about these things. Put something in English he will run a mile. So pol pot ponil
wickramasinhalakiller knows this is the best chance. Please the minorities and destroy Sinhalese, Sri Lanka
and Buddhism. Obviously top marks from the catholic church for the die-hard catholic, token Buddhist.
Just one look at the committee is enough. It is like leaving fox in charge of chicken. In these traitors’ hands
old constitution will be at their mercy. All pol pot ponil wickramasinhalakiller’s hench men who will whatever
the pathalaya says. He is murderous (hope Sinhala modayas remember his work in the Batalanda camp),
crafty and totally treacherous. Catholic-run UNHCR will be putting pressure of course on MR and co to toe the
line in return for giving an easy go. Maru sira aka vairapala sorrysena has to say one thing. Go to China several
times and align with them and these rashes will disappear. Simple fix. Do it for the country you traitor. You are
the boss. Pol pot ponil wickramasinhalakiller is your subordinate. Show that for Sri Lanka’s sake, for Buddhism’s
sake, for Sinhalese’ sake. You are coming from one of our proud ancient kingdoms. Don’t insult those great
kingdoms, don’t insult those great kings, don’t insult a proud race. You and you family will be forever will be cursed.
Act now. Show you are a Sinhalese. Don’t destroy your country, don’t destroy a proud nation. Go to China now!
And tell them you are with them. They are the medicine for Sri Lanka’s all ills. Go now and stay with them. West
is history. Go to the new master. Save Sri Lanka, Sinhalese race and Buddhism from these catholic-run UNPatriotic
party. Where are you thibbotte? Can’t open your mouth? Go to Colombo. Walk all the way there if you have.
There will be so many followers. Go and stop your darling die hard catholic, token Buddhist pol pot ponil
wickramasinhalakiller before he destroys Sinhalese race, Sri Lanka and Buddhism! It’s your duty. You’ve done
enough damage. Remedy it! This is the hour of need. Act now without sitting on your back!
June 5th, 2016 at 12:00 pm
” In 1815 a selfish set of Chieftans handed over the Sinhale nation to the British. ”
Everything written in books is not true and we need to scrutinize deeply to get at the truth. These chieftains wanted to get rid of the foreign so called king who had no right to be the Sinhela king, especially due to his barbarity of infinite degree against our people. So thought British would help innocently unknown they were the vicious plotters. Even Chief Ekneligoda pulled the hand of this illegal king and gave it to the British to take him away.
June 5th, 2016 at 3:00 pm
anura_seneviratna,
And so, in betraying the King to the British in 1815, we fell from the Frying Pan Into The Fire!
That is why they say “Better the Known Own Devil than the Unknown Foreign Devil!
June 5th, 2016 at 3:50 pm
The Britsh sent whiskey as a ‘gift’ to King Sri Wickrema at the Palace at Senkadagala. The King in his drunken rages ordered terrible crimes against those he suspected of any treachery, right or wrong in his judgement.
So, it seems during this period the Lanka Monarch had two enemies :
– the Adigars who suspected that the King was a Pretender to the Throne (Chief Adigar Pilimathalawe’s son and not the son of Rajasingha II, by a Tamil courtesan : see book “Sri Wickrema Rajasingha – the Last King of Kandy by P. Dolapihila), and aspired for a more acceptable King.
– the would be Colonial British, who wanted King Sri Wickrema out of the way to conquer Lanka.
We agree with Ananda : “better the Known Own Devil than the Unknown Foreigner”.
Lanka is today reeling under the resultant forces of nearly 500 yrs of past Colonial rule …..
why repeat the tragedy for another near 500 yrs ?
June 6th, 2016 at 4:04 am
Yesterday, the third largest arms storage facility of the Sri Lankan Army went up in flames. Is this sabotage by the Yahapalanaya Government itself to weaken our Armed Forces? Weapons worth millions of US dollars went up in flames. Was Ranil, Sirisena, CBK, Mangala, RAW, the US, the UK, the EU, Norway, Sweden, Canada behind this? Is this to weaken our Armed Forces so that the TNA separatist terrorists can get what they want via constitutional changes i.e. Eelam?
A great danger facing Sri Lanka is the proposed constitutional changes. UNP MPs frequently come on discussion forums on TV and state that the policy of the UNP is maximum devolution of power within a unitary state. However, you cannot any longer call yourself a unitary state if you devolve too much power in the first place! Even now with the 13th amendment in force, Sri Lanka is no longer a unitary state. I would suggest that the Global Sri Lankan Forum write a press release suggesting that no more power should be devolved to the provincial councils than they have at present and especially not land, police and fiscal powers. The GSLF should demand unequivocally that North East Sri Lanka is definitely not a Tamil homeland as stated in the 13th amendment but the homeland of firstly the Sinhala Buddhists (as per the history and archaeology of the island) and subsequently and at present the homeland of all the people of Sri Lanka in total. The GSLF should absolutely demand this change be brought on as part of the13th amendment. The clause in the 13th amendment which says that any two provinces can be merged should also be deleted.
GSLF, please write a press release and release this to the Sri Lankan press immediately before Ranil, Sirisena, CBK and Managla bring on a federal constitution (disguised as ‘unitary’) with extremely wide powers with the North East being merged (effectively an Eelam) as what the TNA separatist terrorists, the US imperialists, the UK, the EU, Canada, Norway, Sweden and India wants.
June 6th, 2016 at 4:12 am
Stranges part about this so called Federal type arrangement appears to be a Tamil only North, a Muslim only East and the rest of Sri Lanka for anyone and everyone ?
From what I gather at present, this is the gist of the so called Fed type arrangement in the minds of the Yahap folk.
June 7th, 2016 at 5:15 am
There is no ethnic problem but a problem with the TNA racist, separatist, terrorists and its supporters phycology. This is the problem. the solution is for as many Sinhala people to be settled in especially the North and in the East too. This is the only solution to this problem. The problem is a physiological problem of the TNA racist, separatist, terrorists who cannot live in pace and harmony with all the other people in the island.
June 7th, 2016 at 12:26 pm
Fran Diaz,
Regarding ethnicity-specific Northern and Eastern Provinces while the rest of Sri Lanka is for EVERYONE, that is an old British ploy summarized thus:
“What is OURS is ours only, what is YOURS is negotiable!”
No wonder the Europeans of Napoleon’s day referred to the British as THE PERFIDIOUS ALBION!
June 7th, 2016 at 4:51 pm
Ananda,
You are right about the quote ” …. what is Yours is negotiable” !!
More news re the U.K. :
Sky News from U.K. reports :
They said that many millions of Pounds St. are being taken out of the country by investors prior to the European Union Referendum.
What is happening to the U.K. ?
June 7th, 2016 at 5:02 pm
Latest figures of the U.K. investor withdrawals amount to 59 Billion Pds St for one month, prior to Brexit (EU Ref.).
June 7th, 2016 at 10:08 pm
Ananda and Fran,
දෙමළ ආකල්පය: අපේ දෙය අපේමය; ඔබේ දෙය අප සැම සමගියෙන් බෙදා ගත යුතුය
Posted on May 2nd, 2015 Lankaweb
Dilrook Kannangara
දෙමළ ජනතාවගේ දේශපාලන, ආර්ථික, සංස්කෘතික සහ සමාජ ආකල්ප බොහෝ දෙනෙකුට ගෝචර නොවේ. ජාතිවාදියා යයි හංවඩු ගැසීමේ බියෙන් බොහෝ දෙනා ඇස් පනාපිට ඇති යථාර්තය සඟවති. දෙමළ ජනතාවගේ ආකල්පය නම්, “අපේ දෙය අපේමය; ඔබේ දෙය අප සැම සමගියෙන් බෙදා ගත යුතුය” යන්නයි. අද කොළඹ සහ අනෙකුත් ආර්ථික කේන්ද්ර වල දෙමළ ජනපද සැදී හමාරය. එහෙත් සිංහල සහ මුස්ලිම් ජනයාට දෙමළ බහුතර උතුරේ ජීවත්වන්නට දෙමළ මිනිසුන් ඉඩ නොතබති. එක දෙමළ කළමනාකරුවෙකු පත් වූ විට ඔහු පහල තනතුරු වලට බඳවා ගන්නේ දෙමළුන් පමණි.
දෙමළ ආකල්පය වන්නේ: අපේ දෙය අපේ පමණි; ඔබේ දෙය අප සැම සමගියෙන් බෙදා ගත යුතුය!
ලංකා දේශපාලනයේ විශාලතම පරාජයන් පසුපස නොයෙක් හේතු සහ අහේතු ඇත. ඉන් එකක් සුවිශේෂ වෙයි. එනම් දෙමළ ජනයා පිනවීමයි. විශ්වයේ කළු කුහරයක් පිරැවීම දෙමළුන් තුටු කිරීමට වඩා පහසුය.
සේනානායක-කොතලාවල පැලැන්තියේ මහා පරාජයට එකම හේතුව එනෙකුන් නොතකා දෙමළුන් සන්තර්පනය කිරීමයි. මැලේසියානු චෙල්වා හා පොන්නම්බලම් සමග ඇතිකරගත් ඩඩ්ලි-චෙල්වා ගිවිසුම යටතේ අති විශාල රාජ්ය අනුග්රහයක් දෙමළ ජනයාට ලබා දෙන ලදී. එනමුදු කිසිම ගුණවත් කමක් නොදත් ඔවුන් UNP රජයට මහා පරාජයක් ගෙන දුන්නේය. කුඩම්මාගේ සැලකිල්ලට ලක් වූ සිහලුන්ද එම පක්ෂය පිළිකුල් කරන්නට විය. සිදුවූ ඒ පරාජයෙන් සේනානායක-කොතලාවල පැලැන්තිය කිසිදා යලි නැගුනේ නැත.
1970 බලයට පැමිණි “ශ්රී ලංකා” රජයද දෙමළුන් පිනවීමේ යෙදුනේ සිහලුන් 20,000ක් මරා දමමිනි. යාපනයට දෙමළ අයට පමණක් විශ්වවිද්යාලයක් සාදා දුන්නේ ඉපැරණි බෞද්ධ කදුරුගොඩ විහාරය පාවා දෙමිනි. එනමුත් 1977 මැතිවරණයෙන් දෙමළ ජනතාව රජ කෙළේ අන්ත ජාතිවාදී ම්ලේච්ඡ TULF පක්ෂයයි. එදා බණ්ඩාරනායක පැලැන්තියද සොහොන් ගත විය.
ජයවර්ධන, ප්රේමදාස හා විජේතුංග දෙමළ ජනයා හැසිරවීමට මනා අවබෝධයක් ඇත්තෝ වුහ. ඒ 1965-70 වැරදි හඳුනාගෙන හදාගත් නිසයි. LTTE දෙමළ ත්රස්තයන් UNP නායක සංහතියම මරා නොදමන්නට, කුමාරතුංග ජනාධිපති නොවන්නට තිබුණි.
චන්ද්රිකා කොටි සහ දෙමළ ජාතිවාදීන් පිනවමින් ගෙනෙගිය පාලනය 2001 දී ඇනහිට්ටේ දෙමළ ජනයා ඇගේ පැකේජය සහ හමුදා පරාජයන් ගෙන් සැහීමකට පත් නොවූ නිසාය. 2001 බලයට පත් UNP ආණ්ඩුව දෙමළ කොටි සමඟ ගෙන ගිය මධුසමය හදිසියේම 2004 කඩාවැටුනේ දෙමළුන් UNPය දුන් දෙය වළඳා TNA පක්ෂයට කතිර ගැසූ නිසාය. චන්ද්රිකාට හෝ රනිල්ට යලි ජනපති විය නොහැක්කේ මේ සාපය නිසාවෙනි.
මෙම ඉරණමම රාජපක්ෂ පැටිකිරියටද ලබන බව 2012 සිට අපි පුන පුනා කීවෙමු.
නමුත් බිහිරි අලින්ට එම වීණා ඇසුනේ නැත.
අද රාජපක්ෂ පැටිකිරියට ලැබුවේ එම පරාජයමයි; විනාශයමයි. 2012 සිට රාජපක්ෂ රජය කලේ දෙමළුන් පිනවීමට අති විශාල මුදලක් නාස්තිකිරීමයි. ආර්ථික ඇමති තුමාට අනුව 2010ට පසු ණයට ගත් මුදලින් 90%ක් දෙමළ පමණක් වන උතුරට සහ දෙමළ-මුස්ලිම් බහුතරයක් වෙසෙන නැගෙනහිරට වෙන් විය. බොන වතුර ඉල්ලු සිහලුන්ටත්, බෝට්ටු සහන ඉල්ලු සිංහල ධීවරයන්ටත් වෙඩි ප්රහාර එල්ල විය. ගාස්තු ගෙවන පාරවල් සරන්නට අති මහත් රාජපක්ෂ චන්දදයකයන්ට කිසිදා හැකි නොවනු ඇත. මෙවැනි රාජපක්ෂ චන්දදයකයන්ට ඵලක් නැති වැඩ වලින් සිදු වුයේ කලේ පිට වට වැස්සෙන් කලය තුලට ප්රයෝජන නැත්තා සේ වැඩකි.
අද රාජපක්ෂ පැටිකිරියම වෛරීපාල සිරිසේනගේ යමපලනය මගින් මට්ටු කර හමාරය.
සිරිසේනද හා UNP ආණ්ඩුවද දෙමළ උගුලේ වැටුණු සැටියකි. එහෙයින් ඔවුන්ගේ ආයුකාලයද කෙටි වන්නේය. දෙමළ හොරුන් කෝටි ගනනින් බැංකු කොල්ලකද්දී නිර්දෝෂ වෙයි; සිංහල නායකයන් පසුපස භීෂණ පොලිස් ඒකකය එළවයි. සිවුර පොරවාගත් මුසාවාද රතන සහ පච රණවක ගලේ පැහැරූ බළල් තඩියනසේ අන්දුන්-කුන්දුන් වී හෙට දින පාර්ලිමේන්තු වරප්රසාද භුක්තිවිඳින්නේ කෙසේ දැයි දහ අතේ සිතමින් සිටිති.
සිරිසේන හා UNP ආණ්ඩුවද ළඟදීම දොට්ට දමන්නේ එම දෙමළ ආකල්පය විසින්මයි – අපේ දෙය අපේමය; ඔබේ දෙය අප සැම සමගියෙන් බෙදා ගත යුතුය.