20th Amendment without repeal of 13A: A recipe for disaster
Posted on December 29th, 2018
Malinda Seneviratne
‘Stand Alone’ is a term that was used a lot during the discussion on the power of the president to dissolve parliament. The issue was whether the clause preventing dissolution until Parliament completes four and a half years supersedes the surreptitiously inserted clause permitting dissolution. That insertion was pernicious as was the entire 19th Amendment, clearly introduced for partisan purposes by the chief architects, meaning representatives of the United National Party and the Tamil National Alliance (Jayampathy Wickramaratne and M.A. Sumanthiran respectively). That the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) voted for it should be noted and seen as an example of political puerility.
Well, that’s been resolved by the Supreme Court. At the end of the day, much heartache was caused to diehard UNPers thinly disguised as born-again democrats. They are cured now and the chances are that they will retire their democratic urges until the party’s political future is next threatened.
There were positives. The notion of a ‘national government,’ in effect rather than in constitutional edict, was sorted out. The UNP plus the Sri Lanka Musilm Congress will not add up to ‘national government.’ So, although the ‘national government’ clause was inserted (against surreptitiously and against the grain of ‘good governance as well as rhetoric regarding cabinet size), the cabinet will be limited to 30. Secondly, the post of Leader of the Opposition went to the true Opposition instead of a staunch pro-government adjunct, the TNA, that is currently a tail wagging the dog as the adage goes.
There’s a third positive. It’s a positive that might jog the memories of retired leftists who’ve found lucrative positions in the NGO industry, have long since forgotten class struggle, have no qualms about being quiet on capitalism and would love people to believe that the UNP is the vanguard of the democratic revolution. Simply, Maithripala Sirisena is the first President of the country to actually speak up against neoliberalism.
His word? Well! But that’s a different matter. It’s a small positive, that’s it.
The talk now is about the Executive Presidency. That’s where the ‘stand alone’ matter comes into play. People talk about the Executive Presidency as the Mother of All Anti-Democratic Evils.
Make no mistake, there’s nothing angelic about the executive presidency. On the other hand, we need to remember that it is not the only evil around. And, as evil goes, it has its redeeming features, especially with respect to what I consider the most pernicious piece of legislation to follow J.R. Jayewardene’s constitutional tinkering exercise, i.e. the 13th Amendment.
The people of this country were conspicuously absent(ed) in that process. It was thrust down our throats to resolve a mis-defined ‘conflict’ and (partially, according to some, including the aggrieved) exaggerated grievances. And today, ladies and gentlemen (especially those chest-beating ‘democrats’ who came out of the woodworks recently), no one seems to really care about Provincial Councils. Six PCs are effectively non-functional. The terms of three more will expire in a few months. Not even the TNA, a party that wants more than what the 13th gave by way of devolution, doesn’t appear to mind the current state of affairs. As for the people, they have not uttered one word of concern.
That said, the 13th is still a part of the Constitution. This is where the 20th Amendment (which proposes to abolish the Executive Presidency) comes into play. The executive president is a key part of the 13th Amendment because it carries the safeguards against moves by provinces to break away.
Any move to abolish the executive presidency that does not at the same time address the impact of such an amendment to the operationalizing of the 13th is erroneous and irresponsible. Patali Champika Ranawaka’s party, the Jathika Hela Urumaya has consistently reminded lawmakers and others of this danger. What Ranawaka has to say now will indicate to what extent the party (and of course he himself) has dissolved its ideology for political profit.
A related issue is the fact that it would be a travesty of justice if these 225 Members of Parliament touch this constitution. Sure, that’s part of the Job Description as per the constitution, but they’ve demonstrated beyond any shadow of doubt that they are absolutely incompetent.
Only one member, Sarath Weerasekera, objected to the 19th Amendment, let us not forget, and that is as mentioned above a piece of garbage.
Moreover they had the opportunity to do away with the executive presidency (Note: Sirisena’s manifesto mentioned ‘change’ and not ‘abolish’). They didn’t. Events proved that the 19th, as far as pruning presidential powers, was eyewash. The checks introduced, namely the independent institutions, constituted a monumental joke considering the composition of the Constitutional Council (politician-heavy, federalist-heavy) and in terms of the appointments they oversaw (bypassing seniority in appointing judges for example).
Today, after being stumped by the hero-turned-zero Sirisena, those who used him and turned a blind eye to his many faults, want to bulldoze his office. That’s what it boils down to. And that’s exactly the wrong reason to engage in constitutional reform. You don’t do things just because you like the immediate beneficiary or because it helps you checkmate with a political opponent.
That’s the logic that has prevailed in the 40 years that passed after the Second Republican Constitution was instituted. Apart from the 17th, it was all about political expedience (leaving out the 13th because it was extracted from a weak UNP President who, like his successors didn’t have faith in the citizens of this country) and not about the larger interests of the nation.
This parliament has outlived it’s usefulness on account of incompetence, subterfuge and downright disrespect for the people. They’ve prostituted the word ‘democracy’ enough. They are not to be trusted. Today, the movers and shakers in Parliament are essentially the Jathana Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the TNA, the former a shameless lackey of the UNP and the latter operating as though the UNP is its lackey. Both parties have terrorist pasts: the JVP in 1971 and in 1988//89 and the TNA as the mouthpiece of the LTTE. They are batting here with the UNP, which while in power unleashed terror and ‘disappeared’ some 60,000 Thajudeens, Ekneligodas and Lasanthas. The SLFP has it’s own violent history (1971). All these parties have shamed themselves to the point that they really don’t deserve the right to use the word ‘democracy’.
Ideally, the people should have the opportunity to state their opinion of this lot in a General Election. This side of such an eventuality, it is appropriate to point out the danger of constitutional tinkering by this Parliament. The 20th, as proposed, is a mischievous and dangerous document which can only make sense if the 13th Amendment is repealed simultaneously.
The UNP, fighting shy of holding even PC elections, ought to salivate at the prospect of not having to face the people before a General or Presidential Election, but this is not about the political tastes of a particular party. It is about sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is also about the blood and lost body parts of all those who fought against separatist terrorists. That memory must also be factored in.
If true representational democracy, territorial integrity and sovereignty are babies, then you can make a case for calling the executive presidency ‘bathwater’ but let’s not forget that the baby will be at risk of all kinds of infections if you throw THAT bathwater out whilst keeping the toilet wash that is the 13th Amendment.
December 29th, 2018 at 6:10 pm
Great, touching many concerns and wonderfully written.
December 30th, 2018 at 1:20 am
Not so.
In the absence of EP, the Supreme Court can freely enforce the Constitution which prevents disintegration of the country. In fact, this cannot be done today because the Supreme Court is harassed by the EP and the EP protects separatists and even terrorists!
Tell me which EP enforced the 6th amendment to the Constitution? No one except JR in August 1983. ITAK manifesto, constitution and the 2012 Batticaloa Resolution are separatist and racist. But where’s the EP? The EP is impotent to do anything because minorities cannot be antagonized by the EP and hope to win again.
13A cannot be removed because two EPs have given international commitments to keep 13A and even give 13 Plus in 1987 and 2009!
I would draw Malinda’s attention to the 2013 Wijerama Resolution. At that, the then EP Mahinda and present EP Sirisena and their party agreed to go beyond 13A by “negotiating” the “Concurrent List” of powers under 13A. At the same time the rival camp held a similar meeting in Singapore with LTTE Rump also participating. They came up with Singapore Principles. Sirisena contested from their alliance after agreeing to them! He has already obliged a number of them.
EP is a threat to national security, territorial integration of the nation and sovereignty post war. During the war, EP had some utility.
December 30th, 2018 at 9:25 am
Malinda your article is with lot of punch where punching is very much in need. 19th amendment was evil though both SLFP and the Jo voted for it with that one exception. The Executive Presidency should stay on and the 13A left out. Bu I fear what would happen if a UNP President if by some bad luck were to to be elected with Excecutive pôwers !! But otherwise the EP is an essential tool for a President of Sri Lanka. JVP is equally dangerous as the JVP and the TNA being the two sides of the same coin.
The JVP is moving the 20 A i to help the TNA to have a Federal Constitution and UNP to keep the Presidency. Both TNA and JVP should be defeated at the next elections. Now the Tamil Diaspora is trying to bring a case to try the Former President, the Defence Secretary and the Army Officers for genocide in an International Court….where does the TNA stand ?
December 30th, 2018 at 2:05 pm
Thank you, Mr. Seneviratne, for this important article.Instead of Western-style democracy which does not seem to work well even in the USA or the UK, we might, with some alterations, adopt the Chinese model which appears to work well.
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_China
Instead of one President, we could have a Governing Council body made up of at least 10 senior, educated, well known patriotic leaders, with experience and good character and ethics. We can have elections similar to the local government or the provincial elections and then choose a group of such 10 people who are mature, educated and with good character and morality and form a Council to govern the country along with a Cabinet of Ministers. India adopted the multi-party system and today they are also floundering. When the colonized countries freed them colonizers left behind a Trojan horse for each country to experiment which was the multi-party democratic system. You can see the net result. Sri Lanka MUST try to work out a system of Government suited to our Culture and situation being aware of possible destabilizing and take over possibilities from outside factors. We have the destabilizers within like the TNA whose allegiance is to Tamil Nadu and other foreign sources, and the Muslims whose allegiance is to the Middle East and other Muslim countries. We also have the Christian groups who get funding from the West to convert the locals as loyal power points. If the Sinhala Buddhists who are threatened try to protect themselves by asking for Land rights in the N&E, and a rightful place for Buddhism, Sinhala language etc., then some of the powerful foreign countries may brand us as not being democratic and removing human rights.
There is another major danger to Sri Lanka from Climate Change. UN has said that in 10-12 years the effects of Climate Change can accelerate and become irreversible. Sri Lanka is one of the countries which is likely to be most affected when it happens. We can see how the USA is being affected by fires on the West coast and very cold weather on the East coast along with strong hurricanes and tornados. Europe is also being affected in a similar way. Instead of fighting with each other, we need to get ready for these dangers that are coming and affecting the entire world.
Sri Lanka due to the strategic location has attracted the attention of the USA, China, and Russia. The recent movement of various superpower non-commercial ships in Lanka waters – was it necessary? I saw a news item that the US State Department is going to take urgent action against Jaliya Wickremasinghe which is an obvious attempt to thwart MR from running for elections. Is superpower interference going to upset elections again as they did in 2015 to twist our elections to allow puppets like Ranil who will destroy/sell our country gladly to come into power? Surely we have suffered enough. All the issues we are suffering from such as the support for war crimes investigation against Sri Lanka armed forces, support for the division of the country by the TNA, allowing Ranil to not have elections for 3 years while acting against MR, are all signs of foreign powers wanting to take control of Sri Lanka.
December 30th, 2018 at 7:54 pm
“Bu I fear what would happen if a UNP President if by some bad luck were to to be elected with Excecutive pôwers !!”
Well said Charles, that’s why need it abolished.
December 30th, 2018 at 9:07 pm
Chanaka,
If a UNP president happened to be elected, that is still ok. The problem of JRJ was that he had 5/6th majority in the parliament. None other president had such overvelming power. Many people still have missed the point. The point is our parliament has gone to dogs and we cannot trust them anymore. Did you see the news today? It reveals how bribery has done what ballet could not do. The decisive factor in our polity is not the ballot, it is money. Splitting people’s sovereignty into two branches is better than putting all eggs into one basket. The worst-case scenario is not any UNP president coming into power. Because I think, (just a hypothesis) still there are few UNPers with conscience in their heart. The danger is winning a traitor into presidency with two third majority in the parliament; with that, he/she might go ‘Ranil.’ Going Ranil means worst than going crazy.
December 30th, 2018 at 9:49 pm
“The danger is winning a traitor into presidency with two third majority in the parliament;…..”.
That’s why we should abolish it (EP).
I agree with what you say about corruption in the parliament (buying off MPs for money), but the bottom line is that we have to live with the parliament. We can’t abolish it, but we can abolish EP.
JRJ created EP not owing to his love for the country, he wanted absolute power. Just look at the mess the Presidents have made in the past 40 years.
The hope that a future EP will rule us as a benevolent dictator is too farfetched. As Dilrook has shown no future Presidnet will be able come to power without minority support. And, that means secret deals with them. And, TNA will not stop until gets full Eelam. Note that the Army acreage has dropped to 17% and next month there are going to release the farm lands!
Also, keeping two machineries of government is just crazy. Especially when the President and the PM are from two opposing sides, the country will be in a total mess. But, it is likely the future scenario.
December 30th, 2018 at 11:00 pm
1. In 1977 the Indian Colonial Parasites and India withdrew its support to Bandas SLFP and others who were Socialists.
By 1977 Bandas mob have managed to destroy the Sinhalese wealthy and Indian Colonial Parasites have managed to become filthy rich under the close economy.
JRJ was a Quarter Indian and was personally in the lap of the Indian Colonial Parasites like Banda’s mob.
JRJ was fully financed by the Indian Colonial Parasites and India.
So EP is a product of Indian and Indian Colonial Parasites li the Banda’s 1951 SLFP and its policies.
EP or not EP the only solution the Sinhalese have at the moment is to unite and stand up to the Indian Empire and Indian Colonists.
December 31st, 2018 at 2:05 am
Buying a president is much easier than buying 150 MPs.
Premadasa and Chandrika were bought by the Maharajahs. Sirisena was bought over by the rice mafia and some sections of the Tamil Diaspora. According to some JR was bought over by the Israeli intelligence agency and some argue that Mahinda was bought over by China. In essence all elected presidents were allegedly bought over by external forces.
If a citizen of a western country (USA, EU) becomes president, Sri Lanka is doomed. Even if a husband, wife, mother or a father of a US or EU citizen becomes president, Sri Lanka is gone. This was how the west manipulated India, Pakistan, Thailand, the Philippines, etc. using Italian, British and US citizens.
December 31st, 2018 at 8:20 am
All what you suggesting is to play into the hands of the formula of the UNP. Our system has been rigged. Parliamentary system is rigged beyond repair. Having an executive branch is safer for countries with semi federal systems. When we have executive branch and legislature, it will counter balance each other, and most importantly it is the only way to keep together this loose provincial council system. If you cannot see this clear danger of disintegration in the 20th, and if you are still saying the same things, I do not want to argue with you guys. So, you all want to hand over the country to a parliament with members who are for sale at highest bid. The news revealed that many UNP MPs received hefty bribes for remaining in UNP.
Whatever I say, people of Sri Lanka will get what they deserve. If people want destructive formula of 20th while having 13th in active, well then have it.
UNP supporters are politically blind and opportunity sensitive. Opportunism is their political theory. Okay so go for the Ranil’s formula and see what will happen.
December 31st, 2018 at 1:29 pm
For those who keep 5 precepts, do not need blessing and wishes from those who don’t keep. Those who lie and steal will never work for the country and cannot be trusted.
I wish all Sri lankans a happy 2019 without Palaath Sabha.
December 31st, 2018 at 1:52 pm
එක්සත් ජාතික පක්ෂය, ජනතා විමුක්ති පෙරමුණ සහ දෙමළ ජාතික සන්ධානය එක්ව නව ව්යවස්ථාවක්/සංශෝධනයක් ගෙන ඒමට ලහි ලහියේ කටයුතු යොදන බව අපි දැනුම්වත් වී සිටිමු.
එකී නව ව්යවස්ථාව/සංශෝධනය මගින් විධායක ජනාධිපතිධුරය මුළු මුණින් අකර්මන්ය වූ නාමික තනතුරක් බවට පත් කිරීමටත්, උතුරු සහ නැගෙනහිර පළාත් එක් කර එම පළාත් දෙමළ ජනතාවගේ නිජබිම ලෙස පිළිගැනීමටත්, පළාත් එකකට හෝ ඊට වැඩි ගණනකට එක්ව හෝ වෙන් වෙන්ව ජනමත චාරණ පවත්වා තීන්දු තීරණ ලබා ගැනීමේ අවස්ථාව ලබා දීමටත් යෝජනා වී ඇති බව ද අපි දැනුම්වත් වී සිටිමු.
තව ද මෙකී ව්යවස්ථාව කිසි දිනක වෙනස් කළ නොහැකි පරිදි, සංශෝධනය කිරීමට අවශ්යනම් ”සියලූ පළාත් සභාවල අනුමැතිය අවශ්ය වේ” යනුවෙන් වගන්තියක් යෙදීමට කටයුතු කර ඇති බව ද අපි දැනුම්වත් වී සිටිමු.
මෙකී නව ව්යවස්ථාව/සංශෝධනය ගෙන ඒම සඳහා දැනට පවතින පාර්ලිමේන්තුවේ 150 දෙනකුගේ ජන්දය අවශ්යය. නමුත් එක්සත් ජාතික පක්ෂය, ජනතා විමුක්ති පෙරමුණ සහ දෙමළ ජාතික සන්ධානය එක්ව ගත් විට එම ප්රමාණය නොසැපිරෙන නිසා, මදිපාඩුව එක්සත් ජනතා නිදහස් සන්ධානයේ (එ.ජ.නි.ස.* පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්ත්රීවරුන් වන ඔබතුමන්ලාගෙන් සපුරා ගැනීමට දැවැන්ත ව්යාපෘතියක් දියත් වී ඇති බව ද අපි දැනුම්වත් වී සිටිමු.
එසේ ඇතැම් මන්ත්රීවරුන් මේ ව්යාපෘතිය සඳහා එක්වීමට උත්සාහ දරද්දී අප සංගමයේ ඇතැම් සාමාජික ආචාර්යවරුන්ගේ ද මැදිහත් වීමෙන් ඒ කටයුත්ත ව්යවර්ථ කිරීමට මහත් උත්සාහයක් පසුගිය සතියේ දී ගැනුණු බව ද සිහිපත් කරමු.
එ.ජ.නි.ස. එක් මන්ත්රීවරයකු මිලදී ගැනීම සඳහා මේ රටේ සාමාන්ය මිනිසකුට ඇදහීමට පවා නොහැකි ඉහළ මිලක් නියම වී ඇති බව ද අපි දැනුම්වත් වී සිටිමු.
එ.ජ.නි.ස. පිහිට වූයේ බෙදුම්වාදයට, ත්රස්තවාදයට එරෙහිව ජාතික ව්යාපාරයක් ලෙසයි. ඒකීය රට රැුක ගැනීම, කොටි ත්රස්තවාදය පරාජය කිරීම, ජාතිවාදී පදනමින් පළාත් බෙදීමට හෝ පළාත් එක් කිරීමට එරෙහි වීම එම දේශපාලන ව්යාපාරය ඇරඹීමට මූලික වූ කාරණාය. 2001-04 සමයේ ජාතිවාදී සහ විජාතික බලමුළු ශක්තිමත්ව තිබූ අවදියක ඒවා පරාජය කරමින් රට ජයග්රාහී මගකට යොමු කළේ එ.ජ.නි.ස. මුල් වූ බලවේගයයි. කොටි ත්රස්තවාදය දේශපාලනිකව සහ යුදමය වශයෙන් පරාජය කෙරුනේ එ.ජ.නි.ස. ආණ්ඩු බලය දැරූ කාලයකදී ය. 2015 අගෝස්තු මහ මැතිවරණයේදී ද කිසිදු අඩුවකින් තොරව ජාතිවාදී අභිලාෂයන්ට එරෙහිව ඒකීය රටක් වෙනුවෙන් එ.ජ.නි.ස. පෙනී සිටියේය. එ.ජ.නි.ස. නියෝජනය කළ ඔබ වෙනුවෙන් ජනතාව ජන්දය ලබා දී පාර්ලිමේන්තු යැවූයේ ඒ මතය නියෝජනය කිරීමටයි. එහෙත් දැන් ගෙන ඒමට උත්සාහ දරන නව ව්යවස්ථාව/සංශෝධනය මුළුමුනින්ම විජාතික ව්යාපෘතියකි; නූපන් පරපුරත් අභාග්ය සම්පන්න ඉරණමකට ඇද දමන කොඩිවිනයකි.
2004 දී සහ 2009 දී යුදමය අතින් පරාජය වූ බලවේග අද වෙනත් මුහුණුවරකින් නව ව්යවස්ථාවක්/සංශෝධනක් රැුගෙන අප හමුවට පැමිණ ඇත. නව ව්යවස්ථාව/සංශෝධනය සඳහා කැමැත්ත පළ කිරීම ඔබට ජන්දය ලබා දුන් ජනතාවගේ අභිලාෂයට පිටු පෑමකි; මහා ද්රෝහීකමකි; අහස පොළව නුහුලන අපරාධයකි. එවැන්නක් සඳහා ඔබට කිසිඳු අයිතියක් නැති බව අප සිහිපත් කරන අතර මේ මහා පාවා දීමට දායක නොවන ලෙස අපි මහත් ඕනෑකමින් ඔබතුමාගෙන්/තුමියගෙන් ඉල්ලා සිටිමු.
තෙරුවන් සරණයි!
ජාතික විශ්ව විද්යාල ආචාර්ය සංගමය වෙනුවෙන්,
මහාචාර්ය චන්න ජයසුමන
December 31st, 2018 at 2:51 pm
Same with 13A. Approval of all PCs is needed to reduce powers of PCs. Parliament is powerless to do it alone. This makes Sri Lanka an extreme federal country now.
Removing EP has no impact on national security or territorial integrity of the nation. Sri Lanka survived very well without EP. After EP was introduced Tamil and Muslim separatists became kingmakers. EP keeps Sri Lanka federal and gradually worsens it.
Very strange that pro-western JR’s concept of EP is embraced by “patriots”. No surprise these patriots have also embraced federal 13A.
If EP stays, a true patriotic candidate must contest the presidential election promising to abrogate 13A, etc. They may not win but will add pressure on the pseudo patriotic candidate to come to the party or lose out.
December 31st, 2018 at 4:09 pm
Very true, it is also very strange that these pseudo patriots, or perhaps paid trolls, haven’t seen that this slogan of abrogation of EP is only the rosy wrap to throw sand into public eyes; and also, it comes not as an expression of love for our democracy but to cover-up actual objectives in the 20th. It is opening the way for a separate state in NE and further disintegration of the country. EP is the mask of the 20th but the bill is nastier than that.
All the links constitutions are attached below alone with 20th amendment bill.
Please enjoy your day. Wish you all the best with 20th amendment and Happy New Year 2019!
In next year (2020), I hope you wouldn’t say that you got screwed by foolishly supporting 20th amendment in 2019.
Following is the link for 1978 original Constitution of Sri Lanka without amendments.
http://www.priu.gov.lk/Cons/1978Constitution/1978ConstitutionWithoutAmendments.pdf
https://www.wipo.int/edocs/lexdocs/laws/en/lk/lk007en.pdf
Following links will take you to the current constitution of Sri Lanka (as amended up to 15th May, 2015)
file:///C:/Users/kudal/Desktop/constitution%20of%20Sri%20Lanka%20after%2019th.pdf
and the next link to the bill of twentieth amendment.
http://srilankabrief.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Twentieth-Amendment-to-the-Constitution-English.pdf
December 31st, 2018 at 4:10 pm
Golden statement ! “Very strange that pro-western JR’s concept of EP is embraced by “patriots”.
It is a proof that those “patriots” are actually pro-western pretenders residing overseas or with more family connections to western world than to Sri lanka. Sinhala people do not want JR’s CONinstitution and money wasting Palaath Sabha ( Indian term).
December 31st, 2018 at 5:40 pm
Geeth
I am against ‘Buying off MPs’ for money. That is corruption. But, canvassing an opposition MP to join a government is far better than going into cohabitation with the racist TNA. I wrote my article (‘The Executive Presidency should be abolished’ – Lankaweb 27/12/18) and the subsequent comments with the best interests of the country at heart. I did not write it to support any political party or politician. I did not have the time to study the JVP draft Bill in detail. Superficially, I have seen defects in it. I think UNP now wants to debate that Bill only after the parliamentary elections, during the term of the next government. This is what the JVP leader had stated recently. Even Charles’ above comment shows that there is a chance that a UNP President could be elected next time. After the 51 day episode the UNP stakes have gone high. So, the next President could well be a UNP, Pohottuwa or SLFP candidate. No one can predict these things. My point is that no matter who would be the next President, the Executive Presidency should be abolished. It is very damaging to the country.
I am saying this because Tamil separatism is the biggest problem that the country faces. Past experience has shown that separatists are able to easily manipulate Executive Presidents to win their unfair and unjust demands. Another reason is that the Executive Presidency is too expensive to maintain, the country simply cannot sustain it. It often does work that the other arm of the executive (Prime Minister and the cabinet) does, thus creates duplicity.
The other big white elephant is the provincial councils. Unfortunately, there is no political will to dismantle it.
Under the separation of powers doctrine a government is divided into three branches – the legislature, executive and the judiciary. With the introduction of the Executive Presidency, our executive branch has expanded into two divisions – the Executive President and the Prime Minister. Effectively, instead of three, we now have four pillars of government! In the Westminster system we are the only country to have such a bizarre arrangement.
December 31st, 2018 at 9:42 pm
Chanaka,
I am not at all a fan of executive presidency. Executive presidency gets its currency/ validity only after 13th amendment and its provincial council system gets into prominence. Then there is another problem, the allocation of members from each political party on proportional system at district level is also a problem. By removing EP, do you think they are going back to 1972 constitution? No. They won’t. We are not going back to 1972 constitution.
Please see the problem holistically without taking parts in abstraction. We are discussing/debating not only about EP, we are discussing/debating about 20th amendment; and this amendment has some features to remove large part of Executive powers and other closes to accommodate Elam project. Eventually these powers of the president will go to prime minister in Parliament. Please read Dr. Channa Jayasumana’s short article.
Dear Chanaka, I am sorry about the country. What you are suggesting is a sure formula for the division of the our mother land. Is that what you want? Wish you a happy new year Chanaka. Hope you wouldn’t regret in 2020 for supporting 20th for dividing Sri Lanka.
January 1st, 2019 at 3:09 am
Thanks Geeth. Wish you and your family a Happy New Year too.
As stated earlier, I hadn’t had a good look at the JVP draft, hence unable to comment about it.
Yes, we should go back to the pre-1978 Constitution. It worked us so well.
This means we will have an MP for each electorate. Unlike now, people will know who their real MP is. In this way, Independents can enter the parliament. That is real democracy.
In relation to chit MPs (National List), my position is that that should be totally scrapped. It is totally undemocratic. MPs must be elected by the people.
If legislatures do not want to abolish 13th Amendment (13A), sadly, we have to live with it.
In regards to giving more powers to the provinces, I am not in favour (this is 13+). I would rather not address 13A with 20A (abolishment of the Executive Presidency).
Re 13+, I am against the giving of land and police powers to the provinces, also reducing the governors powers. These acts can cause the nation’s division. Definitely they will erode the Sinhalese rights and privileges in the north and the east. These are some of their main demands. Let’s look at the other proposals on a one-on-one basis.
Yes, prima facie the President’s powers (much reduced) will go to the Prime Minister and the cabinet. Fundamentally, defence and internal security will come under the Defence Minister. The Prime Minister will appoint the ministers, so the Prime Minister can assume the responsibility of the Defence Minister, otherwise, someone else can be appointed to that position.
The Prime Minister will preside over the Cabinet. So, it is a system of making collective decisions. Basically the Prime Minister will have to give deference to the majority’s view point. So, even if separatists exist in the cabinet, they will have less clout.
The best thing is that unlike the Executive President, the separatists would not be able to have ‘secret deals’ with the executive Prime Minister. Compared with the Executive President, the executive Prime Minister, though will be the head of the state, will not have absolute powers. But, when needed, the majority of the cabinet presided over by the Prime Minister can make all important decisions. For example, use of Article 154J of the Constitution to dissolve a provincial council.
PM Sirima executed the Sirima-Shastri pact, Executive President JRJ abrogated it.
The system we have now is very detrimental to the majority – the Sinhalese. Currently Sinhalese are not allowed to relocate from the south to the north. They cannot buy or sell land in most parts of the north and the east. Even ex Sinhalese settlers are discouraged from returning to the north and the east. There are impediments in following their religion, Buddhism (in Nawatkuli residents had to seek court’s intervention to erect a stupa in the village temple). Sinhala is barred in billboards, hoardings and some public signage. Tamil PHIs have discriminated against Sinhala sole traders. Sinhala has no or very little place in government offices. Basically, the discrimination we face in those areas is endless. All this has happened under the watch of the Executive Presidents.
January 1st, 2019 at 3:33 am
“PM Sirima executed the Sirima-Shastri pact, Executive President JRJ abrogated it.”.
Sirima got rid of Kotalawala Nehru Pact.
Her changes to the Constitution accelerated the down fall of the Sinhalese that started in 1956.
January 1st, 2019 at 6:10 am
Christie
My understanding is that Sirima – Shastri pact is more significant than Nehru – Kothalawela pact (1954)?
In the latter, it was only voluntary repatriation, and that also applied to those who upon return to India were entitled to receive Indian citizenship.
Sirima Bandaranaike did not change the Constitution. She merely signed a pact with Lal Bahadur Shastri, then PM of India, in 1964. It was a treaty entered between the two states. Under the pact our government agreed to grant citizenship to 300,000 Indian Tamils, and India agreed to accept 525,000. Citizenship of the remaining 150,000 Indian residents was to be negotiated later.
January 1st, 2019 at 8:55 am
Chanaka,
What do you mean by pre-1978? Pre-1978 is 1972 constitution. Going back to 1972 without addressing other issues, will create a field day for the black money that have brought in to our polity by LTTE Diaspora western manipulators, NGOs and others. Because our parliamentarians are not the ones we had in 1972. Do you know why separatists also demanding abolishing EP, they know that will create a field day for them and their money.
You say, “If legislatures do not want to abolish 13th Amendment (13A), sadly, we have to live with it.” This means you are ready to accept the verdict of our corrupt legislature. But I am not. That means wittingly or unwittingly, your demand of abolishing EP and separatist demand fosters the same purpose.
However, we are living in a different time. Time has been changed with 13th making 1972 constitution an antique. But you are OKAY with 13th. These two (1972 constitution and 13th) won’t go together.
After reading your comment I thought you shouldn’t advocate for abolishing EP, but more appropriately you should fight against 20th amendment.
You have said “The best thing is that unlike the Executive President, the separatists would not be able to have ‘secret deals’ with the executive Prime Minister. Compared with the Executive President, the executive Prime Minister, though will be the head of the state, will not have absolute powers.”
This theory goes with executive prudency as well, because if the legislature goes against EP, he cannot make secret deals with anyone and execute them. EP cannot function independently if the legislature does not approve it.
You also have said…”The system we have now is very detrimental to the majority – the Sinhalese. Currently Sinhalese are not allowed to relocate from the south to the north. They cannot buy or sell land in most parts of the north and the east. Even ex Sinhalese settlers are discouraged from returning to the north and the east. There are impediments in following their religion, Buddhism (in Nawatkuli residents had to seek court’s intervention to erect a stupa in the village temple). Sinhala is barred in billboards, hoardings and some public signage. Tamil PHIs have discriminated against Sinhala sole traders. Sinhala has no or very little place in government offices. Basically, the discrimination we face in those areas is endless. All this has happened under the watch of the Executive Presidents.”
What is the reason for you to believe that Executive Prime minister magically would change above situation? Isn’t this about the political will of the person in the office? How if the prime minister is Ranil because diaspora money had bought all necessary majority to appoint him as PM, would he change this situation?
This is my opinion.
If we do not ban all NGOs and decisively handle external meddling seriously, If we do not abolish13th and provincial councils, if we do not take care of them holistically to create a healthy climate for parliamentary democracy, then we need Executive Presidency.
For current dangers we have, to the current level of corruption, we need to preserve EP. It creates an impediment for the corrupt parliament, it creates a barrio for diaspora money.
However everything boils down to 20th amendment. Are you for it or against it? That is the most important question we have now.
January 1st, 2019 at 3:06 pm
Thanks Chanaka
Under Kotalawala-Nehru Pact we decided who should go back. All Indian Parasites who did not integrate had to go back. Lots of Indian Parasite merchants of the country went back. This was subject to Citizenship Act of 1947 or 48.
Unfortunately in 1956 India and Indian Colonial Parasites backed Banda won and it was the end of Sinhalese from getting freedom from the Indian imperialist.
It was the start of Srilankanism.
But India and Indian Parasites Sangam (Cabal) got hold of Banda; created SLFP and was the end of dealing with Indian Parasites and upliftment of the Sinhalese Buddhists, Christians and Muslims.
Under the Sirima-Shastri Pact repatriated had to go back by the Talimannar Ferry that was operated by India. It was most of the time under repairs.
Then came JRJ the Quarter Indian who saw that divided Sinhalese and the Indian Colonial Parasite block vote can do to the island.
January 1st, 2019 at 3:12 pm
Chanaka Thanks
Sirmawo was the first to meddle with our constitution; I think in 1972 that changed our country from Land of Sinhalese (Ceylon) to Sri Lanka (Sri Ilankai) the name people from the Indian subcontinent use to call us.
January 1st, 2019 at 3:23 pm
@Geeth
13A was passed following an international commitment made by the then EP. The whole parliament was against it. The EP forced them to pass 13A. In 2009 May the then EP gave 3 international commitments to keep 13A and even 13 Plus.
Separatists cannot have anything with the PM as the PM is not above the law. The moment it happens, the PM and separatists both will be hauled up in court in a textbook case of separatism and violation of the Constitution. But this is not the case with the EP. Our EPs protect not only separatists but also terrorists! A deal the EP has with separatists cannot be called into question because the EP is above the law.
There are many examples of this from all elected EPs.
The EP pushed for a confederated constitution called the “package” in 2000 via parliament. It was her baby which she very strongly pushed since the 1980s.
PM (Ranil) entered into an illegal deal with the LTTE in 2002 but it was arranged and supported by 2 EPs until 2008! Norway was brought into the country by the EP and the PM continued.
Similarly the same EP forced her next PM (Mahinda) to do another illegal presentation in parliament to share funds with the LTTE called PTOMS. Although the Supreme Court declared it illegal, parties that pushed for it were never punished because the EP was behind it.
Another EP in 1990 gave the LTTE weapons, cement, money, etc. Nothing happened because the EP is above the law.
The present EP is working the LTTE’s Singapore Principles (2013). Look at how he handed over the management of the economy to Tamils as agreed in the Singapore Principles.
Not just minorities, but also separatists and even terrorists have become kingmakers thanks the executive presidency. You manipulate the EP and you get the whole country. In a parliamentary system you have to manipulate 150 MPs which is impossible (without the EP forcing them). It has never (emphasis) happened in Sri Lanka!
January 1st, 2019 at 3:36 pm
Some here blast 19A. Who got it passed? The EP! He even boasted that he met each MP in parliament during lunch time and begged them to pass 19A.
Who got the LLRC report passed in parliament? The EP.
Who appointed SLMC Rauf Hakeem as the minister of justice at a time when Sri Lanka faced international demands to investigate war crimes? The EP in return for SLMC support for the 18A.
Who got UNHRC resolution 30/1 passed? The EP although he later distanced himself from it. This is a common practice of Sirisena.
Who allowed 2 bond frauds to go ahead? The EP although he blames others after the frauds had been done.
As you can see, the EP is behind every recent disaster. The war could have been won easily if we had a parliamentary system. It won’t drag for 26 years. It would be over in 4 years without compromise.
Take a leaf from India. I’m no fan of the Indian Union but if India had an EP system, Hindus would have been turned into a worthless majority with pro-Muslim and pro-Pakistan Congress always winning it. Even powerful nations with EP have messed up big time (USA, France, Ukraine, Georgia, etc.). Russia manipulated the US presidential election and got its way. Manipulating just one man has disrupted the world’s most powerful nation.
January 1st, 2019 at 4:55 pm
Who got the dreaded 13A ( disliked by most patriots, subjected to Mahinda only can keep it) passed ? EP !
On the book, it was EP who invited India to interfere (IPKF).
If there were no EP in 1987 it would not have been possible for India to introduce 13A.
January 1st, 2019 at 5:46 pm
Randeniya
EP was introduced when the republican constitution was enacted, the House of Representatives was replaced with the National State Assembly On 22 May 1972.
IPKF came to Sri Lanka without invitation.
Even if we had Executive Prime Minister India would have easily forced PM to accept 13A.
If that happened 13A would have been similar to 20A Amendment through which a provincial government can easily initiate a break away from the central government and declare unilateral independence.
Parliament can not impose any amendment to the constitution of the provinces without approval of each and every provincial governments.
January 1st, 2019 at 8:33 pm
Geeth
My answers are below in the same order as your queries:
My statement “If legislatures do not want to abolish 13th Amendment (13A), sadly, we have to live with it”. I stated this with a heavy heart. But this is the reality. Instead of repealing 13A the politicians want to give more. That is 13+.
Recently we had two golden opportunities to repeal 13A. That was soon after winning the war (in May 2019) and in 2012 before the NPC election. We thwarted both opportunities. Than abolishing 13A, the then government was keener on holding CHOGM (that also ended as a disaster).
Now it is very very difficult to abolish 13A, but not impossible.
13A can be repealed by a simple referendum, and I will be the first in the queue to vote in favour of the abolition. But, the parliament is silent about this. Politicians want provincial councils to prevail. Central government parliamentarians use provincial councilors to do most of their dirty work. They appoint their kith and kin as party candidates in the provincial council elections.
TNA will go to town against the abolition. There will be international pressure against it. A wise leader would be able to explain to the world especially to India as to why 13A must be abolished.
Yes, separatists have stated that they want the EP abolished. But, their main demand is 13+.
I think they have not stated whether or not they support the current (JVP) 20A.
Yes, pre 1978 Constitution = 1972 Constitution.
This Constitution is not a new one for us. We have experienced it and it worked so well for us. It was a smooth sailing Constitution. Under same, a Prime Minister resigned over a hartal (1953). Bribery and corruption were so less then. Each electorate had an MP and MPs were elected to parliament after winning close elections. Vijaya Kumaranathunge lost Katana by 45 votes (before 13A was introduced). Asan Kudus won Puttlam seat by 103 votes (1977). Popular MPs like Mudiyanse Thennakoon, RG Senanayake, Prins Gunasekera (1960), W Dahanayake (there were many) were able to enter the parliament as Independents. They beat both SLFP and UNP; and that was real democracy!
So there is nothing to be sacred of this Constitution (1972). The only problem is 13A, which is the new addition. I think under an executive Prime Minister we can curtail separatists more than under a President.
You said there is a lot of black money circulating in the country today. It is the job of the law enforcement agencies to catch them.
I have thought a lot about this – the Executive Presidency must go. Rather than solving problems, it is causing more and more problems. The country is hemorrhaging as a result.
From the very beginning, secret, unfair and unjust deals between EPs and unscrupulous minority groups/separatists have been the norm.
Secret deals between JRJ and Thondaman (Snr) are well known.
That is why separatists are so powerful and have enormous clout in the parliament today.
The executive Prime minister would not be able to magically change all bad things that had happened in the past. But lots of future bad things could be curtailed. The good thing is that the cabinet will be presided over by the Prime Minister; it will be difficult for the Prime Minister to enter into secret deals as mentioned above. The PM will be answerable to the cabinet. In UK or Australia – those Prime Ministers do not have unlimited powers. They exercise power only through the cabinet’s approval.
India has prevailed as a single country under an executive Prime Minister. They too have provincial councils. They too have groups that demand separate states within one India. If India too had an EP, it might have splitted into small nations.
Unscrupulous minority/separatist groups would find it very easy to enter into secret deals when a country is ruled by just one extremely powerful man/woman.
India has done well.
It is only in Sri Lanka that we have been unable to control a separatist group that make most unfair demands.
Our Army acreage in the north and the east has dropped to 17%, and farm lands will be released this month!
Sinhalese people have no right to live in most parts of the north and the east!!
Lots of Sinhalese think there are only 7 provinces in Sri Lanka. North and east are like foreign lands to them. Many Sinhala children have never been to those areas, even on a holiday. This is because of the inhospitability that has been created by separatist politicians.
Separatist politicians do not want us to visit those areas even on a holiday. Now they are asking for a special police force of their own!
Giving one person absolute power in this day and age is not good. This is what the EP that has lasted for 40 years has taught us.
Banning all NGOs is not the solution. We need laws to control and regulate them. If current laws are inadequate new laws must be passed. But our parliament does not seem to have time to enact legislation – the primary function of a parliament. When MPs stand up to speak most of the time they talk about their personal problems and difficulties, otherwise they maliciously attack opponents, using parliamentary privilege.
If you preserve the EP, the level of corruption, mismanagement and maladministration will go through the roof. This is wastage of our most precious money.
Currently as I understand it, 20A = JVP’s Bill to abolish the Constitution.
As I have articulated, on principle I consent to abolishing the EP, it is too early for me to comment about the JVP Bill. It should be a simple Bill by them. If complex then we will have problems. I will comment about it later.
Christie, you are right; Mrs B did change the Constitution in 1972.
NeelaMahaYoda
“IPKF came to Sri Lanka without invitation.” Are you sure about this? Didn’t JRJ rolled out a ‘red carpet’ for them?
“Even if we had Executive Prime Minister India would have easily forced PM to accept 13A.” – This is speculation on your part.
“a provincial government can easily initiate a break away from the central government and declare unilateral independence.” – Under 20A, the EP’s current power to dissolve PCs will be exercised by the PM.
“Parliament can not impose any amendment to the constitution of the provinces without approval of each and every provincial governments.” – Well, unfortunately this is 13A. The public do not want it , legislatures want it, and, want to give more!
January 1st, 2019 at 8:41 pm
Sorry instead of May 2019, should read as May 2009
January 1st, 2019 at 9:11 pm
NMY,
You said ” IPKF came to Sri Lanka without invitation ” , I agree but that was unofficial. Officially ( I said “on the book”), it was on JR’s invitation.
You said ,”Even if we had Executive Prime Minister India would have easily forced PM to accept 13A. ”
I don’t agree. It was JR’s dictatorial behavior that force parliament to pass with 2/3 majority. ( i.e. due to EP) Even so, if I am not wrong, health minister Gamini Jayasooriya resigned.
January 1st, 2019 at 10:05 pm
Every MP can earn Rs. 300 million equivalent to US Dollars 2 million. Supporting 20th is a way to earn for the entire life time. It is still not known how much paid for trolls and others outside the parliament who support the 20th. This is a joke.
Please see following videos.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=analysis+of+20th+amendment+in+sri+lanka&&view=detail&mid=6771BF9E367AD2DF7CB96771BF9E367AD2DF7CB9&&FORM=VDRVRV
Pivithuru Hela Urumaya statement
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=analysis+of+20th+amendment+in+sri+lanka&&view=detail&mid=E107CFB7315F7D9CF59CE107CFB7315F7D9CF59C&&FORM=VDRVRV
What other politicians have to say about 20th
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=analysis+of+20th+amendment+in+sri+lanka&&view=detail&mid=87B972570F160ABC9B9F87B972570F160ABC9B9F&&FORM=VDRVRV
January 1st, 2019 at 10:14 pm
Chanaka,
Please pardon me for asking this. Is this your only job? Are you getting paid for this? I have to work and I find very hard to find time to submit comments. Sorry for the delay for my comments. I’ll answer you as soon as I get a free time. Thanks
January 1st, 2019 at 10:18 pm
Chanaka,
By the way, you had said that you did not have a chance to read the 20th. I have posted the link in a previous comment. And I hope you might have an answer by the time I submit my next comment. Please do not avoid that question. It is damn important. If you ignore that question, I will have to consider that you are avoiding it by purpose.
January 1st, 2019 at 10:21 pm
Chanaka, Dilrook,
My question is what is your position about 20th amendment? Are you for it or against it.
January 1st, 2019 at 10:42 pm
Good question by Geeth. I like the argument going on here.
Both Dilrook and Chanaka are not directly supporting 20A but supporting removal of EP.
I remember very well it is UNP and JVP who proposed to remove EP ( also Sirisena) but they diluted it to “removal of dictatorial powers” due to pressure form JHU. In fact JHU came out of MR government asking MR to do that but MR refused. Had MR done that JHU would have been still with MR and if there was no election MR in power until 2016-17. Because of Sirisena ( with the agreement of JO) 19A was passed finally with only one vote opposing.
My personal view is most people think EP is good assuming Mahinda live forever and rule forever. DO they support EP is there is a possibility of Ranil becoming EP ? May be Geeth and NMY should kindly answer this question.
January 2nd, 2019 at 12:48 am
Geeth, Re your 10.18 pm comment, please read my previous comments (this article and my last article), you will find answers in them. What you consider yourself is irrelevant to me; I operate of my own free will. I write when I want to write. I do not think I have asked you to reply to my comments. I write for everyone to read. Hope this helps. Good luck.
January 2nd, 2019 at 7:24 am
@ Chanaka,
Do not have to get upset. Please answer my simple question. what is your position about 20th amendment? Are you for it or against it?
January 2nd, 2019 at 4:22 pm
20A is not only about abolishing EP.
EP must be abolished. No two words about it. In 1994 Chandrika, in 2005 Mahinda and in 2015 Sirisena became president promising to abolish EP. It must be done.
If 20A focuses solely on abolishing EP, I support it.
January 3rd, 2019 at 1:21 am
@ Randeniyage,
As a matter of fact, Ranil cannot win a presidential election. He himself knows it. So that part of the question is irrelevant (not to offend you). I do not advocate to keep E presidency expecting to preserve it for MR. I respect him, but he has his limitations and he knows it.
If he can be our president once more, that would be good since I assume former president Mahinda Rajapaksha has learned his lessons now.
However the reason why I advocate to preserve EP is completely based on current vulnerabilities of our motherland. The abject corruption in our parliament.
If MR cannot takeover, there would be some other candidates who loves the country. Don’t forget, the real leaders would appear from the crisis, and come forward from somewhere in the hour of need, although we have never anticipated such a leader right now. He might be in the second or third row now. There will be one. Please go back to our history. We have gone through even greater political calamities than current one. But Sri Lanka has prevailed. Anyway my first preference is MR since he has experience to handle our current challenges.
January 3rd, 2019 at 4:14 pm
Thank you Geeth for answering. NMY did not answer but I suppose his answer is the same.
Nothing offends me. I don’t support ANY of current parties.
So, in short, you people make few big assumptions.
1. Ranil cannot win Presidential elections. ( I disagree. This is a stupid and most dangerous assumption. Just think, how many times your assumptions were wrong ?)
2. MR loves the country. ( Again , no offense, I disagree.)
3. A real leader would appear ( you assume from M, camp, my guess ). Please give some names. I cannot see ANYONE. Most of them have cheated tax payer monies by some way or other. Those who do that DO NOT LOVE the country.
Rather than remove EP, please please please fight now to remove Palaath Sabha. ( Don’t tell me based on current vulnerabilities of our motherland it cannot be done. That is simply parroting MR)
January 3rd, 2019 at 9:37 pm
EP cannot face vulnerabilities.
When the PM was the head of state we handled them better.
MR cannot become EP again. Post-war MR was rejected by the people in 2015. That means he’s a failed national leader post-war. During the war, he was the best we ever had.
January 4th, 2019 at 8:34 am
@ Randeniyage,
At the end, everything ends on Ranil’s lap, right? Your logic, although you don’t say it directly, eventually ends with PM position going to Ranil. The problem of many who wish Ranil to win cannot tell that openly for obvious reasons. For that reason, they try to take ‘parangiya kotte giya’ route to bring Ranil in to the leadership. Ranil also came to leadership through this ‘Parangi route’ to go to Kotte. Those who are parroting to abolish EP have one main motive, by that way they can remove the main obstacle for Ranil, the people.
They want to remove people from the equation by removing them from their position of being only kingmakers of the nation. They want to handover that right to the corrupt bunch in the parliament. Because they know that the parliament, with all black money playing a bigger role than the ballot today, can buy MPs to cast MP votes in favor of Ranil. In that sense, you are also parroting the same old UNP ‘sooththare’ to make Ranil sitting in the PM position again and again. This is also simply parroting for Ranil. (Not to offend you)
The Main reason why I want to preserve EP at least for now is existence of 13th and to keep peoples’ ability to select their leader. I am not parroting for MR or anybody. I also know that according to current constitution, MR cannot contest for EP. I mentioned only my wish.
Ranil miserably failed million times and another million failures awaiting in future, but still you think he will win. But for you, that logic doesn’t go for MR even though he failed only once. Please fight to remove 19th to see if MR won’t win or lose. By that way you can create a level field and prove your point that nation has rejected him completely forever.
We are circling around same things and same arguments again and again. Some even do not believe we have vulnerabilities. Main problem of the UNPers is that they do not know the meaning of ‘reason.’ There is no rationale in their thinking. They are blind, just like JVP. Whatever their corrupt leaders say they take them as utterings of god. Even though you say you do not support any of current parties, your logic serves the UNP wonderfully.
Therefore, if someone says that Randeniyage walks like a UNP, talks like a UNP and acts like a UNP therefore he is UNP, I would find very hard to disagree with him. (Please take it easy. Please do not get angry with me. Thanks, and have a happy new year.)
January 4th, 2019 at 1:52 pm
Our EP has appointed Hisbulla as EPC Governor. This makes both Chief Minister and Governor of EPC Muslims!
Where are those who want to protect EP?
As long as EP stays, Sri Lanka will be further divided.
There is an attempt to push Basil to be appointed the NPC Governor. The President must not take such disastrous moves. An American citizen becoming governor of the Northern Province will be an utter disaster for Sri Lanka.
January 4th, 2019 at 3:34 pm
@Geeth,
My position was made very clear in simple terms 1,2,3.
You argued using various points I cannot even understand reading 2 times and conclusion is simply a personal attack on me.
That is OK, but I ask you few more question you don’t need to answer.
Except minorities, who brought Sirisena and Ranil back to power ? UNPeers ?
Do you brand those who voted against Mahinda are either UNPeers, Tamils and Muslims ?
So, you think those who demand honesty , dedication to our motherland and Sinhalese are UNPeers ?
You will definitely have to cry one day.
January 6th, 2019 at 10:44 pm
@ Randeniyage,
It is not a personal attack. Do you think that finding some similarity between your argument and UNP argument is a personal attack? If you do, then you must be a very good person.
What I wanted to do is simply answering your questions, and at the same time I wanted to show where your argument ends and to what end that it serves. Every argument has an end result isn’t it?
You have said,
Except minorities, who brought Sirisena and Ranil back to power? UNPeers?
Do you brand those who voted against Mahinda are either UNPeers, Tamils and Muslims?
So, you think those who demand honesty, dedication to our motherland and Sinhalese are UNPeers ?
To answer those questions from the beginning…No, not only UNPers, but there was a large majority of others who voted for MS.
No, I do not consider those who voted against Mahinda are either UNPeers, Tamils and Muslims.
No, I do not think those who demand honesty, dedication to our motherland and Sinhalese are UNPeers.
But what I am saying is that ‘supporters of 20th amendment while knowing very well that it will take away people’s sovereign right to select their leader of the nation and then handing that right over to the corrupt parliament is knowingly serving Ranil’s agenda. Ranil wants to become the Executive Prime Minister from the backdoor without facing the electorate. If he can remove people from the game, then he can manipulate all other players such as lobby groups, external money power, especially diaspora money and the money that has been stolen from the central bank, to buy MP votes and become the Executive Prime Minister.
If he can remove people from the game, then he can manipulate all these other factors in his advantage. The people are the only obstacle for Ranil. He wants Parliament to decide the prime minister. Parliament is not a place that you can expect honesty anymore. MPs will vote for the highest bidder.
While knowing this background, and outrightly ignoring this reality, if one brings the same old arguments, and then if these arguments are very similar to that of corrupt sugar coted UNP arguments that serves only UNP and Rani, then it is a problem. These arguments may sound patriotic, and may sound demanding for political justice. We’ve heard them in 2015 and are very familiar with them. But they actually serve only Ranil.
If you really want to demand honesty, dedication to our motherland, then please do not think that Ranil can bring anything even near to those words.
Dear Randeniyage, I do not think any of our politicians are completely honest. So, what we can do at this moment is finding someone who can deliver least amount of our aspirations. Ranil is out in that equation.