Dr Sudath Gunasekara (SLAS) Retired Ministry Secretary
11.01.2019.
Introduction
We all know that there is no Government in this counrtry at the moment. It is total anarchy that reign all over the country. In fact having started in Jan 2015 today it has reached its climax.In my view this is the cumulative end product of the political gambling by political parties that had been in operation since 1948, the year we are supposed to have got the so-called Independence from the British. The Soulbury Constitution that was a ‘made in Great Briton Constituion’, is a classic British colonial fraud and conspiracy to keep Sri Lanka under their controll for ever.
The prevaling system of Government in this country today is so corrupt, so disorganized, so messy and so distanced from the exalted purpose of the State and now that it has gone far far beyond any conceivable boundereis of reparation, I do not wish to talk of any possibilities of returning to normalcy within the on going political culture, as I foresee an imminant head on crash of this system in no time.
Therefore in this essay I propose to outline a new system of Government to salvage our motherland by restoring political stability and good governace in this country at least in future, for the benefit of posterity, if there is one going to be left behind in this country?
Under this proposal I will outline two systems of alternative Governments.
That is
1) A system of Government without Political Parties
and
2 A second system of Government with two Political Parties namely,
1) Sinhalaye Bhoomiputra Pakshaya
11) Sinhalaye Mahasammatha Paksaya
What is envisaged under 1 is a system of Government witout poitical parties and the one under 11 there will be only national political parties open to people of all ethnic roups. All ethnic politicians and ethnic groups have to join either Prty1 or 11 and there is no other option. Both these Parties will have one national policy, on subjects like the name of the country, the name of the nationality, law, language and religion that will never change, what ever the Government that comes to power. They should be non negotiable and inalienable.So that there will always be a strong government at the center and good governance will prevail for the prosperity and happynes of its subjects.Under this proposal all Political Parties named after ethnic, religious, regional or divisive basis like Federal etc, will be banned by law The most fundamental feature of this sytem is that it will be a government for the benefit of the people and the country and not for the sole benefit oftheir families and cronies as it has come to satay today.
This essay marked as Part 1 deals with the first alternativeThat is “A system of Government Without Political Parties.” It will be followed by Part 11 “A System of Government with Two National Political Parties “
Part 1
A system of Government Without Political Parties: A Key to a new political culture in Sri Lanka
(This is a revised memo first posted in Lankaweb, September 28th, 2016)
Dr. Sudath Gunasekara (SLAS) Retired Permanent Secretary to Prime Minister Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike
10.1 2019.
Introduction
Towards a Government without Political Parties, corruption, waste and extravagance. This is expected to replace the pressent system of kleptocratic Government, with good governance or Mahasammatha Government and install a system of government of the people, for the people and by the people in this country. Selection and election of politicians as well as the selection and appointments of Public Officials under this system will be based on the cardinal principles ultimate public good and meritocracy in the seats of Government . Both politicians and public oficials under this system will be only servants of the people and they will cease to be masters any more.
Begining of the tragedy
After establishing their hegemony through conspiracy and intriegue in 1815, the British for 133 years, directly destroyed and then plundered the resources of this Island nation. This was more conspicuous in the central hill country, where 600,000 acrers of virgin forest were removed for Tea plantations. It was purely done for the enrichment of their Empire. Simultaneously they also destroyed and destabilized the native political, socio-economic and cultural systems in the whole Island. The native social fabric was completely destroyed through a vicious mechanism of divide and rule policy. When they left in 1948 they left behind their own political, administrative and legal mechanisms through a British made Constitutions replacing the native systems. This enabled them to tighten the colonial grip in order to perpetuate their hegemony and exploitation by retaining the vital reins in their own hands. Westminster political systean dpolitical Party system that was completely alien to the natives was the main instrument through which they manipulated and controlled all ex-colonies with the assistance of a new generation of rulers they have nursed and bred over the years. This new generation who were subservient and servile to the colonial masters acted as their accredited local agents and continue to do so even today as Her Majesty’s obedient servants. As such none of the countries that were under them in fact is fully free, sovereign or Independent although they are said to be so.
Sri Lanka provides a glaring example as a victim of this colonial intrigue than any. After 70 years of so-called Independenec, they are supposed to have given in 1948, even today it is virtually run by Britain and its allies. The irony is that before 1948 it was only Britain that ruled this country but today it is run by a consortium of neo-colonial powers both directly and indirectly through their own so-called International Agencies like the UNO, World Bank, UNICEF, ADB and USAID. There is unanimous agreement that the political party system alien to this country, among many other colonial leverages as given above, introduced by the British in 1948 has become the main bane of this vicious circle. It has ruined this country, almost beyond recovery, leading to political, economic, social and cultural disintegration. The crust of the problem as I see is nothing but the civilization clash betweeen the Weast and the East.
This sad legacy is common to all the countries they conquered. Therefore no country that was subjected to their depredation can ever be free, either politically, economically, culturally or otherwise, until and unless these alien elements are completely eradicated and replaced with indigenous instituions of their own past civilizations. They provide a wealth of experience and knowledge the natives have gained over the centuries through trial and error and have come to stay as the most appropriate knowledge base for their environmnets.
It should also be noted here that we, were a great nation in the world for 2500 years, before the westerners came here to ‘civilize’ us as they say. It is true that we never had either a written constitution or political parties in this country from the inception of history as we ruled under a different system. But we had royal decrees written on stone pillars and rock slabs that laid down rules and regulations of state craft. Besids we also had a very rich code of customs, traditions and comventions of good governnace enriched by Buddhist teachings that have shaped this country as a wonder in the East even in medieval times, long before UK,USA or any of their so called modern countries were yet to see any form of civilization. They were written on ola, and Tamba sannas. The fact that Italian explorers like Marcopolo and Morignolli who visited this country in the 14th century have described it as a paradise and Moringnolli went to the extent of saying ‘Paradise is seen on the earth itself. It is situated in the mountains of Ceylan’ proves what it had been like in the past
Begining of Colonial rule and repression
System of Colonial rule accompanied by repression started almost immediately after their occupation in 1815 and gradually tightened what was called political reforms step by step, starting with Brown Wrigg’s Royal Proclamation of November 1st 1818 which abrogated the Kandyan Convention of 2nd March exparte. They left in 1948 after laying a permanent trap in the Soulbury Constitution after introducing the first political party, the ‘United National Party’ (UNP) by which the British introduced the concept of many nations to Lankan to this country under sec 29 of the Soulbury Constitution for the first time in its 2500 year history. Ever since we remain trapped and caught in this vicious cycle of party politics that has almost ruined this country beyond redemption.
Debate on the political party system
Many a people have debated about the need for a change in this disatrous system. But no one has so far found any practical and feasible solution for this vexed national problem. What I put down here is the result of my search for a workable solution to that all important problem. I do not claim this to be a perfect answer. But I have an inner feeling that, if we implement this proposal, it will mark a turning point in the country’s political history, in our joint search for a satisfactory answer for this no return situation. It is a new idea that came to my mind, capable of generating a live debate on this subject, that would finally bring about political solace to our motherland.
Two people have inspired me in this noble mission. The first is my good friend and colleague late U.B. Wijekoon, a senior Civil Servant and an uncommon politician who presented me a copy of a book called ‘Paksha Desapalanaya Ratata Sapaya’. written by him in (2010), highlighting the need to change this curse; making a request appealing to me to think about a solution for this cancerous social disaster. Ironically he had not offered a solution in his book. Dr Gunadasa Amarasekara, having inspired by the ‘Civilization State, written by Martin Jacques, who wrote a book recently (2016) titled Sabbyatva Rajya” calling for a new system of government based on our own civilization is the other person who accelerated my search on this subject. I thank both of them sincerely for their inspiration. Though this venture is not an easy job I descided to take up this challenge
However, at the very outset, I must modestly admit that this is not the result of an in depth research, on this subject. It is only a note prepared based on my thirty five years of experience and understanding of our political system, past and present, to be presented at a discussion organized by my colleague and friend Dr Nath Amarakoon at Navinna, Kotte on 15th October 2015..
I wish and hope this note will inspire you all patriots to search for the answer we all need very badly to rescue our motherland and the nation from the imminent threats snarling at us, both from external and internal sources.
The Philosophy and Mission
1 Balachackram hi nisrāya Dharmachakram Pravartatē” (The Wheel of Power Revolves on the Wheel of Dhamma)
2 Bahujana Hitāya Bahujana Sukhāya” Lord Buddha. (For the Good of the many; For the Happiness of the many)
Objective
To replace
The system of Government we have in this country today, what I call a Government by the Politicians, for the Politicians and of the Politicians” that has got reduced to ‘virtual tyranny of the politicians”
With,
A Home grown system of Government of our own A Government by the People, for the People and of the People,”
Based on the Dasaraja Dhamma, Pansil, Satara Sangraha Vattu and the Mahasammatha concept of state craft that had made this country a Proud Land of plenty, prosperity, peace and just governance for centuries in the past.
and
To set up a new form of Government similar to what Martin Jacques calls the ‘Civilization State,” based on our own indigenous political philosophy, institutions and systems, traditions and social values enshrined in Budddhist teachings, that formed the foundation of that heritage, to liberate this country from the Maciavellian model of Governance and the shackles and clutches of Western colonial hegemony and exploitation. It is also an attempt to fully free our people from their mental servility to Western forms of Government, alien and utterly inappropriate to the East; to inspire people of this country to understand the value and relevance of their age old and time tested native systems as the golden key to the portals of our future prosperity and pride. My final aim here is to call upon you all to ‘wake up’ from hibernation and to come forward to save the Motherland and lift it up once again to lofty heights as a strong, vibrant and a prosperous nation from the depths in to which it had been put by the colonial plunderers and their accredited local agents who took over governance from them. Making Sri Lanka the ‘ Wonder of Asia”should be our final goal in this mission.
Political parties the curse of the Nation
Of all legacies left behind by the British, political party system, has been identified as the most disastrous and baneful factor that has divided and ruined this country and the Sinhala/Sri Lankan nation, more particularly the Sinhalese, ever since 1948. It has not only set the Tamils and Muslims the Sinhalese but it has also divided the native Sinhalese in to different opposing camps like Kandyans and Low country Sinhalese and again on relgion and caste. It is now widely accepted by everybody as the most fatal cancer that has spread all over the body politic in this country, killing the political stability and the unity of this Island nation, as it has continued to promote the divide and rule policy of the British even after Independence. Therefore the crying need for an immediate solution to put back this great nation once again on its own feet.
We did not get any Independence in 1948
I begin on the assumption that we have not got any independence in 1948. I challenge any one who says we have got any independence other than a Parliament to make legislation and govern the way set down in the British made Soulbury Constitution. The way how the West and India run this country even today, with the assistance of their allies is sufficient proof of this pathetic situation. Have we won independence over our motherland, our language, religion, political institution, social system or our heritage and values as India or Mianma did in 1947? I posit, we are still not an Independent nation. Do we have at least a homemade Constitution after 70 years of ‘Independence’? Isn’t this country not run by the Britain even today, orchestrated by the UN and the so-called International Community and India to suit their agendas. So in this backdrop how can one say we are an independent nation. Apart from being an idependent nation, have we at least restored the name of this country, defined what our nation is and restored our language and relgion that were here in 1815.
The following model is proposed to make this country once again a free and an Independent and sovereign country.
Proposed model of Government
The proposed Model envisages replacing the existing so-called modern Western democratic system of government imposed on us by force and intrigue by the colonial invaders, with a novel native system, sans the political parties, administrative and legal systems and social values imposed on us by them. Going back to our roots in search of a permanent remedy to these ugly colonial legacies of political, legal,social, economic and mental maladies handed down to us by the West, to disrupt, disorganize and destroy our country to achieve their diabolical strategic, military and economic goals, is the aim of this effort.
Main features of the Government Machinery
1 Uttaritara Jatika Rajya Purohita Sabha (UJRPS) A Supreme National Advisory Council at the Centre ( S N A C)
Its constitution
- a) The Mahanayaka Theros of Malwatta, Asgiriya, Amarapura and Ramanna Nikaya 4
- b) MahanayakaTheras of Kotte ,Ruhunu, RangiriDambulu,UvaWanavasi Sects 4
c) Two eminent scholarly monks nominated by the 8 Mahanayaka Theras 2
- d) The three Religious leaders of Catholic, Hindu and Islam 3
- e) Speaker Rajya Sabh 1
- f) Attorney General 1
- g) Head of the Publicservice 1
- h) Secretary to the Treasury)* 1
Total 17
*(The Secretary to the Treasury, like in the Civil Service days, should be the most senior and competent Public Servant from the Sri Lanka State Administrative Service. SLSAS should also be fully upgraded and reorganized to the level of the unchallengeable Premier Public Service and the steel frame of the machinery of the State)
+ Except c all others be ex-Officio. President can appoint them on a letter from the 8 Makanayaka Theras
This will be a non-political Supreme National Advisory Council that stands above all political and state institutions and individuals in the country. It is an independent National Institution set up primarily and solely to protect and safeguard national interest and welfare of the people. It is expected that this Council will act as the guardian god to protect this country and the nation. This Council to be formally appointed by the President of the Republic.
There shall be a Secretary to this council, who should be of the highest rank from the SLAS.
eg Sec. to the President, Prime Minister and Treasury or even higher.
It is also suggested that a new Secretaries Service like in the old Civil Service days be created again from among the most senior and competent memebers of the SLA Service. Ministry Secretaries should be appointed only from this Service in order to maintain the highest standards and recognition.
Powers and functions of the Jatika Rajya Purohita Sabha (UJRPS)
1 Advising the government on all matters on national planning and agreements with foreign countries and all foreign agencies. No such agreement should be entered upon without the concurrence of the JRPS
2Vesting all powers presently exercised by the Parliamentary Committee on the selection of officers for local and Diplomatic posts should be vested with the UJRPS as the present Parliamentary Committee has now become a big fast as political considerations have overtaken its legal consideration.
3 All decisions and appointments taken and made without the concurrence of the UJRPS shall be declared unconstitutional and illegal
A fully eqipped National Secretariat for the UJRPS should be set up under a senior Secretary of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service of the rank of the Secretary to the President or Prime Minister. The CPC building complex at Pallekele Mahanuwara District could be used for this purpose as the Provincial councils will be abolished under the new system.
2 Supreme National Planning Council (SNPC) Uttaritara Jatika Selesum Mandalaya (UJSM)
It is also proposed that we set up a Permanent Supreme National Planning Council consisting of 10 or 15 eminent persons in fields like Economics, Finance Agriculture, Environment, Industry Education, Trade and Commerce, History and Culture of this country etc, to prepare the overall National Plan so that politicians will have only to implement national policies after they get elected.
This will be appointed by the President of the Republic on the approval of the Jatika Rajya Sabha and the concurrence of the Supreme National Advisory Council UJRPS.
Every plan prepared by this Council has to be formally approved by the legislature and the President of the Republic in consultation with the Supreme National Advisory Council UJRPS
3 A Strong Central Government
1 President (to be called Lakisuru)
The President of the Republic of Sinhale shall be elected by the people or by an electoral college as given below. He will be the Head of the State, the Government and the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces
He shall be elected on a non-party basis by an Electoral College consisting of
Members of
- a) Jatika Rajya Sabha (JRS) National level
- b) Uttara MAntri Sabhava National level
3 Ratasabha Rata level
- c) Disa Sabha (DS) District level
- d) Upadisa Sabha (US) Divisional level
- e) Gamsabha Village level
6 e) Grama Sabha (GS) village level
(as proposed to be newly set up)
7 Or directly by the people of the whole country
It is proposed that TWO or THREE names of outstanding personalities over 40 years shall be nominated as candidates by the Supreme National Advisory council to the Election Commission so that people also could have a wider choice. Selection could be made on public nomination or self -application submitted to the UJRPS/SNAC The UJRPS in sessions can deliberate an dselect the three names on their own or from public nominations
After nomination is made and the approval of the Supreme National Advisory Council is given, the Election Commission will arrange for three Public debates over the TV to enable the people to select the best person
The aggregate of all votes received by a candidate should exceed 50 percent of the valid votes poled for him to be declared elected as the President.
Persons nominated for the post of President should be of unblemished character, over 40 years of age and who has rendered a distinguished service to the country in any field like Law, Politics, Administration, Academia, Science, Finance, Agriculture and Industry, Trade and Commerce and Culture or any other professional field. He should be a proven National Figure acceptable to all at Home and who could command the respect of the International community. .
Only a Sinhalese Buddhist shall be nominated for this position. That was the inalienable tradition in this country throughout history for the past 2500 yers
His term of office shall be 6 years. He should not run for office for more than two consecutive terms unless the whole country wants him back.
He cannot be removed from office during his tenure wihtout referendum among the electors as the case may be.
2 Prime Minister ( Agramatya)
An Electoral College consisting of the 18 Chairmen of the 18 Executive Committees (JRS 15+ UMS 3) as stated below will elect the most suitable person among them as the Prime Minister. He shall be formally appointed as the Prime Minister by the President of the Republic thereafter, with the concurrence of the Supreme National Advisory Council. The Prime Minister shall be in charge of the subjects of National Security, External Affairs and Buddha Sasana. However the Prime minister shall always be elected from the JRS.
The President will preside over the Amatya Mandalaya (Cabinet) but he shall not be incharge of any Ministry
This will enable reducing the present scale of the President Office and Staff there by reducing the present mega vote unnecessarily spent on the President keepin to the bare minimum needed to maintain the dignity and security of thr President.
3 The Jatika Rajya Sabha (JRS)
(Ratika Rajya Sabha (Parliament) shall consists of The President, Pahala Mantrana Sabha (PMS) and Uttara Mantrana Sabha (UMS)
Rajya Sabha consisting of the two Houses shall be the supreme Legislative body in the country. Its legislative power is in-alienable.
4 The Pahala Mantarna Sabha (PMS)
It will have 168 Members elected to represent the 28 Districts at 6 Members per District The 28 Districts to be set up under the Tun Rata Sabha system as given below).Each District shall be demarcated in to 6 Eelctorates to enable the JRS Memebers to be elected
The Jatika Rajya Sabha will get the Sabhanayaka (Speaker), Niyojya Sabhanayaka (Deputy) and Karaka Sabha Sabhapathi (Chairman Committes) elected at its first meeting. It will also elect the 15 Executive Committes at this meeting.
When these three members gets elected as above, the balance 165 will form in to 15 Executive Committees at 11 members each.. Each Committee will then elect one member as its Chairman and another as Deputy Chairman.
Where a Committee is unable to elect its Chairman the President, in consultation with the Sabhanayaka (Speaker) of the House will appoint a Member from among the members of that Committees to be Chairman
5 Uttara Mantrana Sabha,UMS (Senate)
There shall be a Senate of 36 members; 28 elected representing the 28 districts, and 8 nominated to represent eminent persons who have rendered a distinguished service to the nation in different fields such as Politics, Administration, Finance,, Science, Education, Arts and Literature, Business & Commerce and Agriculture or any other field..
The 28 Senators be elected by each District at the General Election conducted for the election of Rajya Sabha Members by introducing a separate ballet paper giving three names for each District to be elected as Senators enablling the people to have a wider choice.
The nomination for the Senate should be for the whole District and not for an electorate as in the case of a JRS Member.Three names shoul be nominated for UMS. The one who gets the highest number of votes will be declared the Senator for that District as there is only one place for a District in the senate
Qualifications for one to be nominated and the process of selection and election will be the same as for a Member of the Jatika Rajya Sabha or Rata Sabha except that acandidate for the UMS should be over 40 years.
The UMS will also elect its Sabhanayaka and Niyojya Sabhanayaka at its first meeting and thereafter it will form in to 3 Committees and elect the Chairmen of the Committes.
The President will appoint the Chairmen of the Executive Committees of the Jatika Raj Sabha as Ministers. (PMS 15 & UMS 3). Minister of justice shall be from the UMS. He will also appoint 15 Deputy Ministers from the PMS and 3 Deputy Ministers from the UMS. But he cannot remove any Minister or Deputy unless the Committe Concerened makes such formal request in writing from him for reasons such as misconduct, insolvency, failure to perform his duties due to illness, misbehavior, breach of trust or finding guilty by a court of law etc
This will remove the arbitrary powers of the President in appointing and removing Ministers and Deputies at his will to suit his private agenda like a despot, as it is done today and make the process more democratic and also allow the Ministers to work independently as representatives of the people answerable to them instead of the President. (Under the present system not only the Ministers and Deputies but all MPP and even the organizers have become virtual hostages in the hands of the President or Party Leader. So much so it has boiled down to a one man show- a virtual dictatorship. The proposed arrangement is expected to restore democracy and Yahapalanaya in its true sense once again in this country unlike ).
Thereafter at a Joint meeting of the Chairmen of the 18 Executive Committees (JRS 15+UMS 3) will elect the Chairman of the National Executive Committee who shall be the nomminee for the post of Prime Minister. Therafter the Presddent shall appoint the Prime MInnister after getting the concurrence of the UJRPS
Term of office of Jatka Rajya Sabha as well as UMS shall be 5 years starting on 1st of May immediately following the General Election
6 The Amatya Mandalaya (Cabinet)
There shall be an Amatya Mandalaya of 19 including the President of the Republic. All the Chairmen of the Executive Committees will function as the Cabinet presided over by the President but he should not hold any MInistry. Of the 18 Ministers 15 shall be from the PMS and and 3 from UMS and one of them shall be the Minister of Justice. The 15 Committees in the PMS and the 3 Committes in the UMS will be named on a functional basis like Agriculture, Industries, Finance & Public Administration & Home Affairs, Justice, Health and social Service, Education, Lands and Irrigation, Trade and commerce, Public Works, Cultural Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Defense, Shipping and Aviation, Telecommunications, Information & Media etc. Only functionally related subjects should be allocated to each ministry.
4 Machinery of Governance
The present system of Government Ministries, Departments, Corporations and Statutory Bodies will continue to function after scrapping all superficial and redundant ones to maintain economy of governance. Number of these institutions should be kep to the bare minimum required for economy.
5 Sovereignty
Sovereignty of the people will rest with the people and it will be exercised by The President, Rajya Sabha and the Judiciary, and by the People at a referendum. The legislative powers of the Rajya Sabha shall be in-alienable
Government will execute its policies and Programmes at different levels through central government Ministries, Departments, Disa Lekam Karyala (District Secretariats), Upadisapathi Karyala (Divisional Secretariats) and Grampathi Karyala and Rata Sabhas, Disa Sabhas, Upadisa Sabhas and Grama Sabha and Nagara Sabhas at each level dealing with Governance and developments.
The Central government Officials at each level will function as the ex-officio Secretaries of the pheripharal government institutions. For example the District Secretary of a District will be the Secretary of the District Council. Same principle will apply at Divisional, and Village level as well, ending up with the Gampathi/Grama Lekam becoming the Secretary to the Grama Sabha at the village level.
6 The Head of the District Secretariat
The Head of the Ditrict Seretariat should be named as District Secretary and Disapathi. The anachronistic colonial term GA should be scrapped immediately as they have ceased to be the Agents of any government long ago and today they are only Public Servants of the people of this country, and as it also carries the stigma of colonial administration. Similarly the designation of the GS should also be changed as Gampathi/Grama Lekam
All these Government Institutions and Councils must be administered by professional Public Servants recruited through open competitive examinations only where meritocracy shall be the hallmark. No appointment in public Service both in th epublic sector and the corporate sector should be given on patronage outside the approved Schemes of recruitment. aThe prevailing pract ice of appointing of defeated ccadiddate to public service shold be immediately done away with.
The Sabhas should be headed by elected representatives as Chairmen. At the District level it should be chaired by the U M S member of the District and at the Divisional level by the MP/Minister as the case may be of the Division. This arrangement will enhance the sovereignty of the people while at the Same time strengthening independence and quality and efficiency of delivery of services by State officers at the same time.
However powers and functions of each of these officers and Chairmen should be clearly defined and laid down to avoid clash of interests and ensure smoothness in fairness and impartiality in Public Service.
Appointments to Public Service shoulsd be done strictly according to the ethnic ratio to avoid discrimination against the majority sinhalese.
7 Election of Members to UMS, Jatika Rajya Sabha, Disa Sabhas, Upa disa Sabha, Grama Sabhas. (The present Palath Sabha and Pradesiya Sabha system which ha sexponentially increased the number of politicians in this country will be scrapped with this reorganization and the normous amounts spent on them and those institutions with no gain to the country could be then spent on development)
This will be done on an electoral basis as decided by the Election Commissioner General who will also function as the Chairman of the National Election Commission.
8 Qualifications to run for political office
The selection as well as election of persons under this system will depend solely on the overall quality such as education, character and proven capacity, ability and commitment to serve the people. Minimum 5 years permanent residence within the electorate should be made compulsary for a candidate to qualify to be nominated for that seat.All those who aspire to get in to politics should clearly understand that politics is not a job to make money but it is only a chance to serve the people. Minimum educational qualifications should be laid down for candidate at each level Eg UMS and JRS minimum a University degree or above.
9 Selection and Election of Members to the Jatika Rajya Sabha and other Sabhas
Candidates at different levels shall be first selected by the respective Councils on public consensus by Nomination or application, from among qualified and distinguished persons permanently resident within such electorates. (They also can hold a primary election to select the). They will be elected on a non-party basis as there will be no parties in this system, on the first past post basis on and electoral basis thereafter. The simple criterion for selection shall be all-round suitability to hold public position. This system will see the real Mahasammatha principle in practice. (
Since Elections to JRS, UMS are conducted at District levels for the purpose of electing them, the District Council will submit two separate lists
One with the 3 or 2 names for each electorate, for the JRS candidates from among whom the voters of the respective electorate will elect 1 for the JRS
The other list of 2/3 names for the UMS for the whole Disava so that voters will have a wider choice. The one who gets then hihgest will get elected to the UMS
Only persons with permanent residence within the electorate/District as the case may be are qualified to be nominated for any given electorate.
The persons who come first in each electorate will go to the Jatika Rajya Sabhava.
In the case of the UMS list the one who gets the highest number of votes get elected tot he UMS. .
At the conclusion of the Election the Commissioner of Election will announce the list of Jatika Rajya Sabha. UMS Members accordingly.
The timing of elections should be logically arranged in a sequential manner to ensure there is no disruption of public life in the country and smooth governance is maintained through out
10 Local Government
This will be a Five- tiered structure
1 Grama Sabha – Grama Seva Level ;voluntay like Grama sanvardhana samiti
2 Korala Sabha Village Councils with Judicial powers as in the past
3 Upanagara Sabha
4 Nagara Sabha
5 Mahanagara Sabha
(details of functions of these institutions has to be worked ou)t
*Referring to Sinhalese Village Council system even J. F. Dixon, one of the most renowned British Civil Servants, GA of CP in his Annual Administrative Report of 1872 has described the Village Council system that was there before 1815 in this country as ‘a remarkable system of self government which under native rule was so strikingly developed in the Village Communities of the East’ He said so after reintroducing the system in the Central Province, they abolished in the wake of 1818 Independent Struggle. Korale level we can have the old Gamsabha for the purpose of deciding petty disputes at village level under the M/Justice to replace present Sama Mandala).
I strongly recommend we should review and re-establish this system at the grass root level as early as possible as a mechanism to effectively deal with village level problems. The only difference between thenand now will be: they were appointed by the King or his subordinates instead under the present sytem they will be elcted. (Setting up of people’s committees consisting of 5 village elders including the village monk, GS, village School master and three other elders is suggested to deal with petty village disputes to promote harmony and peace at each village level. I have experimented this system very successfully in 1966-1971 at Uda Dumbara when I was DRO and it proved a wonderful success in solving village level problems with no cost to poor villagers and also saving their time and money, to engage in their day to day work without resorting to cumbersome litigations
11 Election of Members of Disa Sabha (District Councils), Upadisa Sabha (Divisional Councils) Grama Sabha to be conducted as follows.
We start here with the Grama Sabha
Grama Sabha at GS Divisions Level
There will be a Grama Sabha for each GS Division consisting of all above 18 years in the village who are qualified for membership and it will function as a voluntary association of the village like a Grama Sanwardhana Samitiya. A Grama sabha will have an elected Council of 15 members elected by the residents of the Gramaseva Division. The Council will elect a Chairman for the Grama Sbah. There shall be one Grama Sabha for each Gampathi division.
A separate Committee under each councilor, comprising all villagers over 18 years of age will be set up at this level as well. Each such Committee will be directly linked to the 18 Executive committees at the centre (JRS 15+UMS 3) and the periphery.
The Grama Sabha will be elected for a period of five years by the voters of the Grama Seva Division at a Grama Sabha meeting summoned and presided over by the Gampathi.
The Gampathi while holding Office will also function as the Secretary of the Sabha as well.
The Village Monk, and the Village School Master will function in an advisory capacity while all village level public officers like the Cultivation officer, Cooperative Inspector, Public Health Officer an others of similar capacity will function as ex-officio members of the Grama Sabha. But they will have no voting rihgts.
The out going Grama Sabha at its last meeting at the expiry of its term of office should select the list of candidates for the next Sabha at its last meeting by consensus and submit to the Grama Sabha for approval for the next election. The term of office may be limited to two or three terms.
At the conclusion of the election the Council at its first meeting presided over by the GS they will elect the Chairmen of the 18 Committees and then elect one of them as the Sabhapathi/Chairman of the Grama Sabha.
For this Council to function smoothly with authority and in line with the national system the name GS should be replaced with the new term Gampathi/ Grama Lekam. The GS system has to be fully reorganized and re-structured (including the scheme of recruitment, educational qualifications and salaries etc) to meet the demands of this new situation.
The Chairman of the Grama Sabha will represent the Grama Seva Division at the Upa Disa Sabha
Upa Disa Sabha
The Upa Disa Sabha (Divisional Council) will consist of the MP of the Electorate, (Chairman)Upadisapathi, Ex-Oficio Secretary, Chairmen of the Village Councils and Grama Sabhas. (Village Councils to be set up at Korala level), and all Upadisa level Publlic Offocers. The Upadisapathi presides over the meetings as Ex-Officio Sabhapathi, and the OA/Chief Clerk of the Upadisapathi Office will function as the Lekam and he will keep the records of the meeting. The Sabhapathi of the Upa Disa Sabha (Divisional Councils) will represent the Upadisa Sabha at the Disa Sabha. Upa Disa should be co-terminus with the as far as possibe. For large eelctorate we may have more than one Upa Disava.
Disa Sabha
All the UMS, JRS Members of the respective Disava and the Disa Lekam/ and all District level Heads of Departments and Government Instituions, Upa Disa Sabha (Divisional Councils) Chairmen, Mayors and Chairmen of TCs and Village Council nominated by the Commissioner of Local governemnt in the District will go to form the Disa sabha. The UMS Member will preside over the Disa Saba and the Disa Lekan will function as th Ex-Officio Secretary of the Sabha. Main functions of the Disa Sabhava will be coordination and supervision of Govt work at the District level. If necessary you can have subcommittees at this level for each area such as Agriculture, Irrigation, Industry, Education, Religious and Cultural affairs and other development work
Rata Sabhas
The Chairmen and Secretaries of the nine (9) Disa Sabhas in each Disava (District) will also represent their Districts at the Rata Sabha, In addition to this the representatives of the Mahanagara and Nagara Sabha will also represent their Sabhas in the respective Rata Sabhas (Rata Sabhava 3 has to be worked out) The most senior Senator will presdie over the meetings of the RATA Sabha and the most senior Secretary of the Rata will act as the S ecretary of the RATA Sabha
This scheme is expected to drastically reduce the number of parasitic politicians, excess public servants and enormous public expenditure and improve coordination and efficiency of delivery of services to people. The Government Officials like the Disapathi, Upa Disapathi and Gampathi will represent the interest of the Central Government and the elected Chairmen at the District and RATA levels will represent the people’s interest at these respective levels. Both politicians and Public Officers will work together as a team to deliver the services to the people and carry out development withhin their respective Ratas, Disavas abd Upa disava.but at the same time each will act as a device of check and balance on the other to ensure the best service to the people.
(Details of powers and functions of each of these Sabhas, their officials, inter Sabha relations etc have to be worked out in detail as the above is only an outline of the proposal)
Note: Establishment of Rata sabhas may be dropped for the moment and reconsidered at a future date. But the RATA boundaries should be demarcated and established on ground to defeat separatism to re-establish the historical concept of the TUN RATA in the minds of people and also to erace the colonial legacy of Provinces from the minds of the people.
11 Elections
Elections to all Positions at all levels except for the post of President of the Republic shall be conducted as follows according to a fixed time schedule to avoid overlapping and ensure and sustain smooth operation of the Sabhas and not to minterupt the delivery of services to people.
1) Day one
Grama Sabha, Nagara Sabha and Mahanagara Sabha Elections
2) Day Two within one week after the day one
Village councils at Korale level Elections
3) Day Three within one week after the day Two
Upadisa Sabha NO Elections only forming
4) Day four within one week after day three
Disa Sabha, NO Elections only forming the Sabha
5) Rata only forming the sabha No elections
5) Presidetial election : Either under 3 (1 or 7) Details to be worked out
6) General Elections For the JRS and UMS as set out under 4 & 5
The election process described here will have no opposing propaganda meetings, no posters and cut outs or banners, no demonstrations, no murders, no bribes, no public demonstrations, no wastage of time and money, no disruption of public Services or any other Service and the cost will also be minimum, perhaps the country want even feel.
However in case of UMS, JRS and Village Councils after selection the selected candidates can have a maximum of 3 public joint meetings to enable the electors to have the best choice. As an alternative they also can have three TV debates instead of public meetingd. I would prefer this mrthod. This will further reduce cost and people’s productive hours could be saved as well. All candidates will speak on the same platform explaning their development programmes . There will also be no soliciting, back biting, bribing and infighting and above all politics in this country will, once and for all, cease to be a plundering business and get transformed in to a sacred mission of service to man, I hope.
Finally, I appeal you all Patriotic people to go back to the following traditional Geopolitical system to achieve our targets of building a stable, strong, peaceful and prosperous country.
12 The Tun Rata: Ruhunu, Pihiti and Maya (Tun Hele)
Devolution and decentralization of power to the periphery
The whole Island and its territorial waters will be divided in to three Regions (RATA) as Ruhunu, Pihiti and Maya keeping with the age old tradition that had been there in this country from 427 BC to 1815 AD. (no other country in the world has had an uninterrupted geopolitical system for such a long time like this)
This is how Mahavamsa narrates the demarcation of village boundaries by Pandukabhaya in 427 BC.
Dasavassabhisitto so – gamasiima nivesayi
Lakadeepamhi sakale – Lankindo Pandukabhayo’ (MV.X.103).
(King Pandukabhaya attained the throne in 437 BC).
(This demarcation of village boundaries was later incorporated in to the Tun-Sinhale map which continued until 1815 with minor boundary changes, the last being the Udarata Rajadhaniya (Kandyan Kingdom) with its capital in Senkadagala Pura (Kandy) extending up to the sea right round the Island including the Rjarata, part of Malaya Rata and Ruhun Rata excepting a narrow coastal belts occupied by the Portuguese, Dutch and British successively, more particularly in the South Western littorals).
It must be noted with precision that the Sinhale or Ceylon as the British called it, when it was handed over to us to be governed as a dominion under the Ceylon Independence Act 1947 within the British Commonwealth of Nations (10th Dec 1947) included the whole Island. The only part of the ancient Sinhale territory that was not handed back to us was the Maldives Islands, which the British retained as one of their protectorates under clause 2 Part 1 of the said order until 26th July 1965 and declared it as a separate country. Besides failing to claim for Maldives our politicians could not get restored even the very name of this country-Sinhale” ceded to them in 1815. They also failed to send out nearly 1 million South Indian coolies like what Burma did in 1947. Today they occupy nearly 13 lahks acres of our Motherland on the hills right at the centre of the country where the present government of RW has now taken steps to establish a Malayanadu for these Indian Tamils thereby not only betraying the sons of the soil, who owned it from the dawn of history but also hading over the heartland of our motherland permanently to India.
It is in this backdrop the following proposal is made with the best of intentions with a view to rescuing the country from the present tragic situation by bringing all communities together as one nation. In order to achieve this noble goal, it is suggested that we go back to the re-establishment of the ancient Thri-Sinhale with boundaries as shown in this map. This division will ensure equitable distribution of resources, both physical and human, among the three units (land, water, coast line and even people), restore ethnic reconciliation and firmly establish a permanent geopolitical framework that will, once and for all, put an end to the present political and ethnic crisis and lay the foundation for re-building a strong and vibrant nation state.
Above all it will enable us to get rid of the curse of the British Provincial System imposed on us in 1833 along with the Huniyama that is Palalth Sabha thrust on us by force by India in 1987 and also the Taml Homeland in the north and East given by JR under his July 29th 1987 Accord with Rajiv.
This, I am confident will provide the golden key to ethnic integration and national, Regional and village level development in this country.
The following map shows the proposed Tun Rata Divisions, 27 Districts and the Capital District.
Map 1
Sudath Sudath Gunasekara 2004
The 3 Ratas on ground shall be re-established accordingly. I have used Mahaweli, Walawe and Deduru Oya as their boundaries. But boundary changes could be altered after factors like population; area and ethnicity are carefully studied in detail before we finally decide on the boundaries to avoid future ethnic segregation. The need to not to disturb the overall historic ethnic composition, needed to avoid communal segregation, as a safeguard to territorial integrity etc to be born in mind, when demarcating these boundaries has to be stressed. The boundaries of the proposed geopolitical division will extend from top to the sea coast.
I do not propose to have have separate elected bodies for these 3 Rata at the moment The bounderies will will replace the Provincial Bounderies with many Provinces coming together. The Rata Bounderies will serve only as Sub-Administrative areas where the Districts will be brought together. They will serve only as geopolitical units for the purpose of cordinating the activities and implementing the development programes of the Central government in the Regions.
Each Rata will be divided in to nine Districts totaling to twenty seven (27) for the whole country. The 28th District where the Capital will be located shall be named as a special District (Capital District- This could be Mahanuwara or Anuradhapura) with special arrangements to represent it in the Jatika Rajya Sabha and the Uttara Mantrana Sabha. Within this geopolitical demarcation one has to give up all divisive dreams like Tamil or Muslim autonomy. Everybody has to think in terms of one nation and one country.
Each District will be demarcated in to six electorates using population and area as the criteria making provision for 6 MPP for the JRS, There will be only I UMS Member for 1 District. vize totaling 28 elected UMS Members for the whole country
13 Members to Jatika Rajaya Sabha and UMS
Other than the President of the Republic all other elected Members should be permanent residents of the electorate for which he/she seeks election or appointment to qualify to be elected or appointed to such posts. No person from an outside shall be appointed or nomination given.
But any person resident in any part of the country could be nominated for the post of President provided he has the necessary qualifications stipulated in the Constitution.
Abolish the Provincial Councils and Pradesiya Sabhas
This will save more than Rs 600 Billion annually currently wasted just to upkeep Provincial Councilors, their kith and kin and this monstrous and wasteful system for nothing (absolutely brings no benefit to the country) that takes the country and the nation down the Gadarene slope for total disaster and bankruptcy, that could be gainfully used for the development of the country,?
All development work at each level will be done jointly by the respective Sabhas and Government Departments. But intra-Divisional and Intra District and Intra-Rata project will be handled by the central Government. But no local work should be done by outsiders without the concurrence of the respective Sabhas. The central Government in this case will only facilitate the work with funds, technical knowhow etc. This will ensure self rule for the local people.
.Planning for the grass root level under this system will start at the Grama Sabha, Korala Sabha (Village Council) and it will be cordinated at Divisional, District and RATA level by implementing agencies.
No politician or public servant, either directly or indirectly shall be allowed to engage in contracts with the Government at any level.
The Provinces, Provincial Councils, and the existing Pradesiya Sabha will be scrapped and abolished under this system immediately.
The proposed Tun Rata Model will benefit the country in the following manner.
14 The proposal will,
1 Remove the Provinces introduced by the British in 1832 to divide and rule and destroy this country and the Sinhala Buddhist civilization in this country, the JR/Rajiv Accord of July 29 1987 together with the 13th Amendment that followed and created the Provincial Council System to the North and East first for his servival and later adpopted by him for the rest of the ountry for dirty political manouring.
2 Firmly establish a sound, strong and sustainable geopolitical framework that will consolidate the political map of the Island that conforms to geographical, regional, and cultural variations and lay the foundation for re-building a strong and vibrant Nation State. Here I propose the age old and time tested Tun Rata model as given in Map 1 with suitable adjustments.
3 Provide a framework for maximum decentralization of administrative powers to the within astrong Central Government that will bring about better democracy to the people and ensure balanced and contented development in the regions. The Distric, Division and the village model is the best decentralization unit I propose for this.
4 Stop ethnic segregation and polarization and promote ethnic and regional harmony and reconciliation that leads finally to national integration. It will also put an end to all agitations for separate and independent Tamil and Muslim political entities and induce them to think and behave as full citizens of this country without having allegiance to India, and Arab world or in the alternative leave for any Land of Promise of their own without grab parts of this country, the Home of the Sinhala nation.
5 Result in the drastic reduction in expenditure on Governance as the Provincial Councils and Pradesiya Sabhas white elephants will be abolished and the number of politicians and superficial politico-administrative institutions and so-called public Polirico-Administrative machenary will also be reduced
6 Drastically cut down the Government expenditure and make available more funds for national development that will improve the standards of living of the common people.
7 Put an end to colonial administrative and political legacies that nurtured ethnic polarization and colonial servility, their divide and rule policy that seriously hampered the forward march of the post-independent Sri Lanka and open up new vistas for a united and prosperous new Lanka.
8 Ensure fair and equitable distribution of resources both natural and human among the regions and promote maximum and balanced regional development.
9 Provides a political framework where all people will begin to think firstly, as members of a Rata (Ruhunu, Pihiti or Maya), and secondly, as one nation instead of the present tendency of thinking as Sinhalese (Low country and Kandyans), Tamils or Muslims etc.
10 Restore the lost core historical, political, cultural and economic heritage of the people of this Island nation and lay the foundation for future political stability and socio-economic prosperity as one nation
11 Put an end to the curse of provinces that were designed by the British to divide and dis-integrate this country on ethnic grounds and the Provinces and Provincial Councils forced on us by British and India to achieve their sinister private objectives of creating a Tamilnadu within this country.
12 Prevent the formation of the Malayanadu dream in Central Sri Lanka as it will get divided between the Tun Rata and EELAM in the North and East as it will get divided between Rajarata and Ruhuna
13 This system will do away with political rivalries and wastage of time, money and election related crimes and bring about a system of government of our own keeping with the age old traditions of the country.
14 Drastically reduce political and administrative positions and Institutions and overheads. Therefore it will result in drastic reduction of Government expenditure on salaries, vehicles, buildings and Elections etc
15 Remove dictatorial powers and immunity of the President and empower people with decision making power down to the very grass root level and make their sovereignty meaningful.
16 Will result in the devolution of power to the grass root level and people will share the power of governance making it fully democratic.
17 The number of Ministers and Ministries at the centre will get reduced to nineteen
18 Party politics will disappear from Trade Unions, Universities and government offices thereby millions of man hours lost per day on demonstration etc could be used for productive nation building.
19 It will mark the formation of a government by the people, for the people and of the people. Every citizen under this system will feel proud that he is also a and parcel of the Government.
20 It will mark the dawn of new era in democracy in practice and might become a model for all countries that have become victims of colonial exploitation and western systems of government utterly inappropriate to their local environments.
21 This will end the present system of Government by the politicians, for the politicians and of the politicians, their families and cronies” and instead we will have a Home grown system of self Government by the people, for the people and of the people”
22 This system of government is expected to guarantee governance in accordance with Dasarajadharma and enthrone the principle of ‘Bahujana sukhaya Bahujana hitaya” preached by the Buddha.
23 The new system of Government will also be based on the principle where the Wheel of Power will revolve on the Wheel of Dhamma and where Dhamma will form the solid Foundation of Governance.
24 It will mark the dawn of an era of new political culture leading the way to a ‘civilization State’ as Martin Jaque has described in his book ‘When China Rules the world’’.
25 Finally the whole country will begin to move forward with one national policy
26 There will a closer and harmornious relationship between the representatives and voters
27 No politician will be able to run away from responsibility firstly, as they have become local people who have amoral obligation to the people and secondly, as they could be recalled by the people
28 All institutions will have politicians and professional public servants who are compelled to do what the people want and none will be able to deceive and rob the people and do what they want.
29 The word political victimization will never be heard in this country thereafter as there are no political parties
30 There want be any claim for devolution as maximum power will be decentralized up to the village level under this system for people to take their decisions within the framework of broad National Policies.
31 With an Independent and strong Judiciary and Public Service completely free from political intereference; a New Political Culture in Sri Lanka and a new approach to Good Governance, all this you can expect under this system
32 Finally political, socio-economic, ethnic and regional conflicts will hopefully come to an end with ethnic and relgious reconciliation within an environment of integration in place of disintegration.
15 Proposed action Plan
It is suggested that first we appoint a panel of experts to finalize this document. It would be very useful to have public sittings on a District wise basis to get public participation before the preparation of the final Report on which we should base the Mahanuwara Charter 2019; Towards a New Political Culture in Tun Sinhale” to be released very soon. Under this system the people will prepare their election manifesto and get the politicians to agree to implement it instead of the present practice of politicians preparing their own manifestoes and get the people to vote for it.
Thereafter we invite party leaders for a joint meeting and present our document. The group who accept our proposals and gives a definite written undertaking to implement our programme to the letter after they win the election, we will organize the whole country to support them. Just like what the Sinhala Buddhist patriotic people did in 1956, but with a difference, that is they cannot go back on their promises like how they have been doing ever since 1948, with impunity. Besides acceding to our above requests they also have to agree to accommodate 28 candidates recommended by us to represent the 28 Districts and agree to reserve a minimum of five important ministry positions and five Deputy Ministry positions to our movement.
After coming to power under the present Constitution they have to agree to promulgate the new Constitution as agreed within six months and dissolve the Government. Thereafter new Elections have to be held under the new Constitution and immediately begin to implement the new Constitution
Overall these are only some random thoughts that came to my mind. Details have to be worked out jointly by a panel of patriotic experts in each field like eminent persons well versed in Local Government, Constitutional Law, Systems of government including our own traditional Sinhala system that was there from ancient times.
Dr. Sudath Gunasekara
21.Gemunu Mawatha, Hanthana Pedesa 10. 1. 2019.
Mahanuwara. 081 2232744—071 8075326
Nine Arches Bridge, Ella, Sri Lanka. Shutterstock.com
The whole country saw the manner in which diplomats of Western embassies in Colombo went to Parliament to express support for the move not to have a general election and even sat in the court rooms to ‘observe’ the proceedings. It is doubtful whether such scenes of open Western tutelage were seen in this country even in the colonial era after universal suffrage was introduced in 1931 and the Donoughmore reforms were implemented. Now, when people paid by the countries represented by those very western diplomats demonstrate in front of local media organisations what are we to understand from that? So far as we know Sirasa TV and the Maubima newspaper ad Derana TV and the institutions these demonstrations were held in front of are all entirely indigenous enterprises.
