Why this delay taking action on 13 Amendment ?
Posted on June 21st, 2013
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ By Charles.S.Perera
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ WeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ learnt that the JHU presented a Bill on the removal of the 13 Amendement.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ We also learnt that a cabinet decision had been taken with regard to removal of certain clauses in the Amendment without really removing it, and that a PSC is to decide what further changes should be made to the controversial and down right undemocratic 13 Amendment.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Undemocratic because it wasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ forced on the people of Sri Lanka , making the 13Amendment not of the people, not by the people and not for the people.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The 13 Amendment was forced into the Constitution of Sri Lanka at the behest of an unfriendly thug of a neighbour to benefit a section of the population ignoring the rest. The Provincial Council System that came into beingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ with theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 13 Amendment based on a foreign model and written byƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ people of aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ foreignƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ culture, does not fit into Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Constitution.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Members of the PCsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ established under the 13 Amendment have lost their simplicity andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Buddhist and Sri Lankan characteristics , becoming a political creed strange to the culture and the environment.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The earlier we scrap the 13 Amendment better it would be for Sri Lanka and its people as a whole. The President , however, seems to think that the PC System is not bad and changing it cannot be done in a hurry.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ There is more than enough evidence that the PC system has not served the purpose of regional administration.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ India is definitely taking ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-ordersƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ from the State Department of USA, andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Hillary Clinton had personally met Jayalalitha.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Hillary Clinton did not visitƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka, which she should have done if she was a goodƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Secretary ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ State withƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ political acumen., and not pompous and pretentious.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Hence we cannot depend on India to help us solve our political problems though our political leadership act in the interest of Central government of India in its effort to keep TamilNadu within its fold.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ India so concerned about Tamils in Sri Lanka does not seem to be bothered about the most inhuman condition of living of the 16.2 per cent of the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Dalit population in India. What is IndiaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s solutionƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to Dalits who have no ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- human ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ existence, having minimum of modern facilities, living in fear of rape of women andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ most mean treatment met out to the males by the upper caste goons ?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ TheƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ government of Sri Lanka on the other hand makes no difference of the lower or higher caste Tamils inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ They are provided with the same rights and priviledges of the rest of the population.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ But yet it is the TNA MPs who are said to beƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of the priviledgedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ higher caste who do not extend to the Tamils of Lower caste the same respect and consideration that they show to the high caste Tamils, but force the lower caste Tamils to vote forƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ them lording their caste priviledge before them- the low caste Tamils.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ India has to look after its own affairs and let Sri Lanka look after its own. Therefore,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka isƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ not answerableƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to India for what it has to do with the 13 Amendment.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka is no more in the same position it wasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in 1987.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka is a developing country which is marching forward and every thing that would be an impediment to that march forward to progress and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ developmentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of Sri Lanka and its people has to be set aside forthwith as Sri Lanka had been overlooking that necessity far too long.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The sittingsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of the PSC are not still scheduled.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The President speaking at a press conference has said , ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦the PSC, which will soon be appointed, would be the forum for all parties to air their views on the 13A.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ but not specifiedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ when the appointments would be made and when the sittings will commence.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ However, it has been announced that the Speaker of the Parliament has appointed 19 members to the PSC but the nominations by the opposition have not been received as yet. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ If the urgent Bill the government is proposing to present to the Parliament is to remove the right of the President to merge two provinces , it is not that Urgent. In September the government is proposing to have ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ only the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ PC elections and not Presidential election, thereforeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ if the proposal is only a modification to the 13Amendment then what is urgent is the removal of ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ police and land powers.
June 21st, 2013 at 2:07 pm
This is the latest on the Provincial Councils (part of 13-A) from the President :
“Future of Sri Lanka’s provincial council system must be decided by the public -President
Fri, Jun 21, 2013, 06:58 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
June 21, Colombo: The provincial council system in Sri Lanka is not a total failure and had provided many benefits, and therefore the future existence of the system should be decided by the people Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said today.
Addressing the heads and chief editors of media institutions at the Temple Trees Friday, the President said although the provincial council system has been branded as a white elephant by many factions, it should be utilized to provide useful service to the public.
However the system has been established in the country for many years and cannot be changed by sudden decisions, he added.
The internal politics of any country is the most crucial factor than any other matter, he said, adding that the government has to consider the public opinion in taking political decisions.
He rejected media reports about the government planning to breach agreements reached in the 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord which created the provincial council system.
“We have not violated anything on the Indo-Lanka accord,” the President said responding to media queries.
Expressing his views on 13th Amendment to the Constitution, President Rajapaksa said the government has appointed a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) for the political parties to discuss the issue and take a decision not because of the upcoming Northern Provincial Council election.
“These amendments are not solely for the North and East. It is the rest of the Provincial Councils in the country that has to be changed and it is the view of the general public,” the President said.
The government has proposed an amendment to the 13th Amendment to repeal the provision which empowers the President to merge two or more provinces. The revision will be presented in Parliament as an urgent bill.
He urged the media not to entertain a wrong opinion regarding the 13th Amendment and requested all the political parties to participate in PSC and make their contribution.
The government is well aware of the pro-LTTE political fronts that are active in local and international arena to achieve their violent objectives and therefore the international community will be informed at foreign missions level about all ideas regarding the 13th Amendment, President told the media.
He dismissed reports which say that India had raised concerns with Sri Lanka on the 13th Amendment and said the reported visit by India’s National Security Adviser Shiv Shankar to Colombo in July is of a routine nature for discussions on the joint defence cooperation among Sri Lanka, India, and Maldives.
Ministers Basil Rajapaksa, Susil Premajayantha, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Keheliya Rambukwella, S.B. Dissanayake and Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga also participated in the meeting”.
June 21st, 2013 at 2:32 pm
We AGREE, dear Mr. President, let the PEOPLE of Sri Lanka decide whether to REPEAL or KEEP the 13th Amendmment in a NATIONWIDE REFERENDUM ….. But do it NOW, IMMEDIATELY without Further DELAY before the Nation is torn apart by this issue.
If it is REPEALED in the REFERENDUM, we can SAVE the funds spent on USELESS PC Elections. If not, you can modify the 13th Amendment appropriately, in ANOTHER REFERENDUM, before the PC Elections.
Unfettered National Elections to ELECT Representatives to the National Parliament is ENOUGH FRANCHISE for ANY Law-Abiding Sri Lankan citizen. Only Separatists seeking Communal Fiefdoms, and Power Hungry Bureaucrats wanting to live off their captive people want to PERPETUATE the Provincial Councils. We have TOO MUCH BUREAUCRACY in Sri Lanka …. ENOUGH is ENOUGH!
June 21st, 2013 at 3:17 pm
Those pro 13A Sri Lankans are the ones who corrupt up to their eye balls. Raw funded Sinhalese are the worst enemies of Sri Lanka. I can name and shame the rascals but it has been highlighted by Lorenzo. The traitors of Sri Lanka are money hungry and un-patriotic scum of the earth. Filthy Indians including the man in turban must realise that patriotic Sri Lankans cannot be bought over by Indian RAW. Dirty Indians never learn. The lesson taught by the Terrorist LTTE may be not enough. Harlf caste Rahul will never rule India as the Indians are racists. Rahul must realise that the Turban was put forward because of that reason.
June 21st, 2013 at 3:19 pm
Those pro 13A Sri Lankans are the ones who are corrupt up to their eye balls. Raw funded Sinhalese are the worst enemies of Sri Lanka. I can name and shame the rascals but it has been already highlighted by Lorenzo. The traitors of Sri Lanka are money hungry and un-patriotic scum of the earth. Filthy Indians including the man in turban must realise that patriotic Sri Lankans cannot be bought over by Indian RAW. Dirty Indians never learn. The lesson taught by the Terrorist LTTE may be not enough. Harlf caste Rahul will never rule India as the Indians are racists. Rahul must realise that the Turban was put forward because of that reason.
June 21st, 2013 at 3:37 pm
The president says the public should decide but he is not putting it to the public!
What is his position?
A referendum or no referendum?
June 21st, 2013 at 10:14 pm
“June 19, Colombo: A law student of Sri Lanka’s Open University in Colombo has stabbed the Head of the Department of Legal Studies at the University, the police said.
The faculty member, Yasodara Kathirgamathamby has been admitted to the Kalubowila Hospital with serious injuries and undergone surgery, the hospital sources said. She is currently receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit.
Mirihana Police have arrested the suspect identified as Siva Gnanasundaram Surendrajith, a resident of Kilinochchi.
According to a privately run radio Hiru FM, the student is a registered medical practitioner passed out from the University of Jaffna and pursuing a law degree at the Open University.
The faculty member has reportedly refused to accept the student’s late assignment saying that it was against the University regulations.
Meanwhile, the student had attempted to commit suicide following the stabbing and he is also receiving treatment at the Kalubowila Hospital under Police protection, local media reported.”
June 22nd, 2013 at 4:13 am
It seems that, compared to the expediency the President used military force to victory against the LTTE, he appears to be dragging his feet on ditching the13A. What is holding him back? In the West it usually is some form of blackmail, not too difficult to guess who or what that might be!!- S de Silva – London
June 22nd, 2013 at 5:38 am
I hope this is true.
Anything bad for them is good for SL.
“[TamilNet, Saturday, 22 June 2013, 08:55 GMT]
The Eezham Tamil fishermen’s efforts to reconstruct their war-torn lives face fresh threats from the occupying Sri Lanka’s rampant Sinhalicisation of the North. During the last two weeks, hundreds of Sinhala fishermen are being settled at Chu’ndikku’lam, a coastal village situated in Vadamaraadchi East of the Jaffna district. By employing banned methods of fishing, the invading Sinhala fishermen have been posing a grave threat not only to the resettlement of the uprooted Tamils in the village, but also to the livelihood of the Tamil fishermen of Vadamaraadchi East. However, the worst threat is Sinhala military and fishermen permanently choking the one and only natural entry point into the Jaffna Peninsula, as Chu’ndik-ku’lam is the sandbar that links the peninsula with the main island. 1000 houses are planned for colonizing Sinhala fishermen at this location, says TNA-MP Sritharan.”
June 22nd, 2013 at 5:46 am
LORENZO !, FRAN !, ANANDA !, S de S !, ~~~ My article early this week reflects, the only antidote for the 13th amendment is the Power of the Peoples Pistol ~~~~REFERENDUM. Just one bullet, YES or NO.
President says it is a White Elephant is true, but it cannot be killed. Strangest remark I ever heard from President.
Politicians who shouted for the abrogation of the whole 13th amendment, is now with their tails between their legs, agreeing for removal of land and police powers only. It has become a Circus, this 13th Amendment.
WHO IS THREATENING WHOM or WHO IS AFRAID OF WHOM. PRESIDENT HAS FAILED TO UNDERSTAND THE FEELINGS OF THE MAJORITY OF THE SRI LANKAN PEOPLE WHO ARE WANTING THE 13TH TOTALLY ABROGATED.
THIS FAILURE CAN LEAD TO A CATASTROPHIC DILEMMA.
COULD IT BE THAT THIS RAGING CULTURE OF NEPOTISM “*OF THE POLITICIANS, BY THE POLITICIANS, FOR THE POLITICIANS ~~~~~CANNOT BE UNDONE, LEADING TO CATASTROPHIC DOMINO EFFECT ??????
Possibly, this is the strongest reason to dilly~~ dally.
June 22nd, 2013 at 5:53 am
The entire 13-A ought to be removed, not just the Provincial Councils which is only a part of the 13-A.
The President is following due process in a Democracy. He is putting the PC issue to the People to decide as 2/3 Parliament vote is not working out. Let us be patient. Due process has to happen as per the Law of the Land.
Strong Grass roots empowerment with SLAS Administration best deal for growth in a small country like Lanka. Indian devolution of power models via language etc. are not working even in India ! India holds together her peace and administrative work through the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
June 22nd, 2013 at 6:01 am
Susantha,
You got the smell of what is keeping the 13th A. Provincials councils are a convenient place to get one’s kith and kin to employment and politics. President and other politicians have lots of them, who are already there. So how can he/they just abrogate it. Where can he/they get perks and jobs for them. So they are trying to keep the system to their advantage and somewhow also ensure that it does not become as bad as it can get. PCs will also help keep away the accusation of lack of devolution, to cool down India and IC, however diluted it is.
Me, Revula saha Kenda dekama beragannata darana utsahayak’.
13A will not go unless forced out by people.
June 22nd, 2013 at 6:59 am
Yes Ranjit, this is not a case of defying India nor the west. This is the case of the poor kith and kin, all connected to the Higher Caste Politicians in Parliament. Every one of them, including the Thugs, and the underworld, will face penury, if the Provincial Councils are negated. That is why the chamber is dilly dallying to remove only Land and Police Powers. Hypocrisy at its peak. I envisage unrest.
June 22nd, 2013 at 9:54 am
Ranjith, Susantha,
Yes, Indeed …. Cushy jobs given relatives and political stooges in the PC Bureaucracy is the FIRST of the FOUR Reasons for why the PC System should be DEMOLISHED that I had identified in a previous comment.
Therefore, it is also the FIRST of the FOUR BARRIERS that PREVENTS dismantling of the Provincial Councils, because each of them is supported by some group of current and future beneficiaries.
The GOSL secures its support partly from the giving of these patronage jobs, and therefore, maybe UNWILLING to move EXPEDITIOUSLY on this …. in the National Interest.
The only HOPE is that PATRIOTISM and GOOD SENSE of the Leaders at the VERY TOP will PREVAIL over GREED.
The GOOD SENSE is important, because the current EATING of all the HOGS at the Provincial Council TROUGH will come to an end if the Nation DISINTEGRATES into a Patchwork of Warring Communal Fiefdoms. NO ONE will be safe enough to be able to enjoy the swill.
REPEALING of the 13th Amendment, and DISSOLVING the Provincial Council System NOW is really the last phase of the Eelam War: EELAM WAR V. Lose this, and we will Unravel & lose ALL THE GAINS MADE at HUGE COST in BLOOD & TREASURE by defeating the LTTE militarily in Eelam War IV.
The Leaders of Sri Lanka will be HELD RESPONSIBLE by the Long-Suffering Patriotic People of Sri Lanka if they fail to do their DUTY TO PROTECT the Nation and its People.
RISE UP …. O Patriots of Mother Lanka …. RISE UP in your TENS OF MILLIONS … to SWEEP AWAY this FOREIGN BALL & CHAIN holding Mother Lanka HOSTAGE to eventual DESTRUCTION.
June 22nd, 2013 at 10:14 am
The reason for the delay to abolish the 13th amendment is concerns that New Delhi will take some kind of action. This was perpetrated by the visit of the TNA. Since the 13th amendment was created by India and Sri Lanka to end the war which it failed to do its’ purpose and is now nullified since the war was ended by other means. In order to remove the odious caste system in Sri Lanka among the Hindu Tamils an amendment that declares Sri Lanka as a Buddhist nation with rights of other faiths to function would lead to laws prohibiting the practice of the Caste system. The abolition of the 13th amendment, Included in that amendment should be stipulations that power is centralized. The Buddhist Sanga plays a greater role, any party seeking outside intervention will be treated as an act of treason, and that the integrity and unity of the nation gets a high priority.
June 22nd, 2013 at 10:18 am
JAYAWEWA! This is something I had STRONGLY advocated in the past to PROTECT the native people of Sri Lanka from foreign predators.
Given the huge DISPARITY IN WEALTH between Sri Lankan citizens and those in developed countries, there is a DISTINCT POSSIBILITY that Sri Lankans would be converted from landowners into renters … in their own Motherland … just like the Hawaiins today.
Citizenship is MEANINGLESS if the land belongs to foreigners!
Today they would be owner-investors, tomorrow they will DEMAND citizenship as well, creating another route to citizenship dispossessing the native people!
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Sri Lanka bans sale of state or private lands to foreigners
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
June 22, Colombo: the Sri Lankan government will prepare legislation banning the further sale of state or private land to non-citizens.
Sri Lanka President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance and Planning has forwarded a proposal to the Cabinet of Ministers seeking approval to instruct the Legal Draftsman to draft legislation to impose restrictions on transfer of lands to foreigners.
Accordion to the President’s proposal, transfer of state or private land by way of a sale, donation, gift, or by any other disposition to a person who is not a citizen of Sri Lanka will be prohibited.
Further a sale cannot be sold or transferred to a company incorporated in Sri Lanka where any foreign shareholding of such Company is 50 % or above to a Foreign Company, unless exemption is granted in terms of the proposed Act.
Under the proposed act, the state or private lands could be leased out subject to stipulations to non-citizens for a maximum period of 99 years, instead of outright sale.
The Cabinet has given its approval to the proposed legislation.
June 22nd, 2013 at 10:29 am
I hope these GOSL appointees to the PSC will have the BACKBONE to recommend the REPEALING of the 13th Amendment, and NOT FINE TUNING IT to please India and ENABLE the SEPARATISTS of the Tiger Nominated Agents (TNA).
………………………….
Sri Lanka appoints parliamentary committee to study the 13th Amendment issue
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
June 22, Colombo: The Speaker of Sri Lanka’s parliament, Chamal Rajapaksa Friday appointed the members of the ruling party to the proposed parliamentary select committee (PSC) to study the issue of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
The Speaker appointed 19 members from the ruling United People’s freedom Alliance (UPFA) and asked the opposition political parties also to name their representatives.
Irrigation & Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva was appointed as the Chairman of the Committee.
Other ruling party members appointed to the PSC are Ministers Prof. G L Peiris, Maithripala Sirisena, W D J Seneviratne, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Dinesh Gunawardena, Susil Premajayantha, Douglas Devananda, A L M Athaullah, D E W Gunasekara, Rishad Bathiyutheen, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Wimal Weerawansa, Basil Rajapaksa, Lakshman Seneviratne, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, and Janaka Bandara Tennakoon Deputy Minister Muthu Sivalingam, and MP Sudarshani Fernandopulle.
Sri Lanka’s Cabinet last week decided to appoint a PSC to discuss revisions to the 13th Amendment due to the divergent views of the coalition members over the 13th Amendment.
The Cabinet was of the view that a PSC would give an opportunity for all parties to express their views on the 13th Amendment.
Meanwhile Indian media reports say India’s National Security Adviser, Shivshankar Menon will arrive in Sri Lanka on July 8 to discuss the 13th Amendment introduced to Sri Lanka’s Constitution.
However Sri Lanka says Menon will be here on an earlier scheduled visit to participate in the Trilateral Maritime Security Conference.
June 22nd, 2013 at 11:44 am
OH PATRIOTS !!! Listen,
“”the proposed parliamentary select committee (PSC) to study the issue of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. ” What is there to ‘study’ ? What a set of Parliamentarians ? It has still not got into their heads what disaster it will bring to Sri Lanka. STILL STUDYING THE SAME SUBJECT AFTER 20 LONG YEARS EH ? ? Disgusting play acting. Parangiya kotte yanawa vagey.
This is Hog wash. Drawing a Red Herring across the Trail. This is pulling the wool over the eyes of Patriotic Sri Lankans.
Just take a look at the names of the Parliamentary Kinder Garten Students who are assigned to ”study the issue”. Even the Coalition Students of Parliament who had divergent views, are on the PSC, possibly asked to review their thinking of “THE ISSUE”.
SORRY ALL PATRIOTIC SRI LANKANS, WE ARE TREATED AS GAL MODAYAS, EVEN THOUGH WE TALK THE HIND LEGS OFF A DONKEY. Cant wait to hear the results of the Kinder Garteners.
June 22nd, 2013 at 1:38 pm
susantha
there are some more white elephants mahinda does not like to kill…. such as Mervin silva. we know why…..
Mahinda too is benifited by P.CS
HE THINKS THAT WE ARE GAL MODAYAS.. REMEMBER ONE TIME LANKAN MARXISTS TOLD THAT DUTU GEMUNU WAS A GADOL MODAYA
SUNDAY DIVAINA——- WIMAL W HAS SAID THAT IT IS BETTER TO GO ON BEGGING ON THE ROAD THAN SERVING THE GOVT. IF MAHINDA GOES AGAINST THE PEOPLE
June 22nd, 2013 at 1:45 pm
“””dasa laksha ganan athsan ethi pethsam eddith thava bala gena inne mona magulakatada——vVANCHAVA VANCHAVA VANCHAVA…. VENA KENGEDIYAK NOVEY
June 22nd, 2013 at 2:41 pm
Yes Sene !! I have written earlier that this is all BLUFF. Predominantly, VANCHAVA. I fervently appealed for a REFERENDUM. There is no other antidote for the 13th Indian Rope Trick. I see that many concur with me on that concept. Now PRESIDENT stands nude before the people, trying various routes to circumvent the abrogation of the 13th Amendment. PSC fig leaf will not be able to cover it.
The decision is in the balance:- LOYALTY TO HENCHAIYAS OR TO THE PATRIOTIC PEOPLE OF SRI LANKA.
HENCHAIYAS:- That is courting Disaster. People will not be with him.
THE PATRIOTIC PEOPLE OF SRI LANKA:- PRESIDENT WILL LEAD FOR YEARS. People will love him more and more.
June 22nd, 2013 at 10:57 pm
WONDERFUL! The British Tamil Forum is one of the main Eelamist Tamil Diaspora organizations. If they don’t want Power Devolved under the 13th Amendment, then the GOSL will NEVER satisfy the Eelamist Tamil DEMANDS with it, because it is the Eelamist Tamil Diaspora that is driving the pressure brought to bear on Sri Lanka by Western countries to do devolve power.
It is JUST AS WE HAVE SAID ALL ALONG: No reasonable accommodation can be achieved with the Eelamists; they want outright secession, just as the late unlamented Velupillai Prabhakaran wanted all along. He fought when he felt powerful, and talked when he was on the ropes, but NEVER BUDGED from his goal of an INDEPENDENT EELAM STATE. So it is with the Eelamists of today.
Therefore, AT LEAST NOW, dear Mr. President, TAKE A STAND and set an EARLY DATE for a NATIONWIDE REFERENDUM to REPEAL the 13th Amendment and DISSOLVE the Provincial Council System, and LET THE SOVEREIGN PEOPLE OF Sri Lanka DECIDE the ISSUE!
The RIGHT TO ELECT one’s candidates to the National Parliament is FRANCHISE ENOUGH for any Law Abiding Citizen. Only SEPARATISTS and Provincial Council Bureaucrats with CUSHY JOBS paid by the Sri Lankan Taxpayer want Provincial Councils. GET RID OF THEM, they are a source of ABUSE & WASTE, and are a RAVE THREAT to the INTEGRITY OF THE COUNTRY. Tiny Sri Lana DOES NOT NEED another layer of EXPENSIVE & UNNECESSARY BUREAUCRACY …. it makes Sri Lanka NON_COMPETITIVE in the Global Marketplace!
NEVER …. NEVER ….. NEVER let the UNREPENTANT SEPARATISTS Control Provincial Councils, or we will have COMMUNAL WARFARE AGAIN in Sri Lanka!
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British Tamils Forum Rejects Any Political Solution Based On The 13th Amendment
ColomboTelegraph.com
June 16, 2013
“Tamils reject any political solution based on the 13th amendment – it neither addresses the root cause of the conflict nor safeguards the Tamil national interest on the island.” says the British Tamils Forum.
Issuing a statement the British Tamils Forum says it insists that any political solution to the Tamil National Question has to be conducted through an internationally mediated referendum – only this can lay the foundation for a lasting peace and satisfy the socio-political and economic aspirations of the Tamils in the island of Sri Lanka.
We publish below the statement in full;
Tamils reject any political solution based on the 13th amendment – it neither addresses the root cause of the conflict nor safeguards the Tamil national interest on the island.
The 13th Amendment to the constitution, entrenched in the unitary state-centric model, cannot address the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil speaking people in Sri Lanka.
This amendment to the constitution is not in any way a starting point, an interim or a final solution to the conflict and it prevents any lasting negotiated settlement, reached with the support of the International Community. The British Tamils Forum strongly denounces any efforts to impose this unsupported and failed political response, which was reached for the benefit and interest of two countries – India and Sri Lanka – without consulting the Tamil Nation.
The 13th Amendment has several flaws: executive power will be exercised by a Provincial Governor appointed by the President; public services in the province will be controlled by the Governor; the President has the power to dissolve the Provincial Council; the Governor is not duty bound to the advice or instructions of the Chief Minister; the executive power of the Governor is subject to the control of the President; the Provincial Council cannot access the Provincial Fund without the sanction of the Governor; power over the police and public order is retained by the President; and the Disposition of State Land is also in the hands of the President; among many others.
Due to these flaws and inadequate provisions, it has been consistently rejected by the Tamil people and political leadership at several democratic stages, in the past and at present, ever since this bilateral agreement was signed between India and Sri Lanka.
The genocidal actions – pogroms, massacres, colonisation, land dispossession – committed by the Sri Lankan state in the Tamil homelands even under the current provincial council system foreshadow the realities of life following the 13th amendment.
All those who seek a genuine solution to the Tamil question must remain vigilant against falling into the traps that have been set by the Sri Lankan state and certain external forces to impose the 13th Amendment or a watered-down version of 13th Amendment upon the Tamils.
The Sri Lankan state, through its hard-line allies and ultra nationalist forces, has initiated a political campaign encouraging hard-line views and xenophobic sentiments on the 13th Amendment, with a view to diluting the amendment even further to its interest, before thrusting it upon the Tamils. This is clearly visible to observers of contemporary southern politics.
In the contrast, certain external actors who aspire to play the role of ‘saviour’ in the Tamil-Sinhalese political arena are pushing for implementation of the 13th Amendment in its entirety, in the pretext of rescuing the Tamils in Sri Lanka.
On these grounds, the British Tamils Forum stands in solidarity with our people in our Tamil Homeland and state that any political initiatives grounded in the 13th Amendment cannot be feasible and will not create an enduring peace in Sri Lanka.
The British Tamils Forum insists that any political solution to the Tamil National Question has to be conducted through an internationally mediated referendum – only this can lay the foundation for a lasting peace and satisfy the socio-political and economic aspirations of the Tamils in the island of Sri Lanka.
June 23rd, 2013 at 6:52 pm
The most PREPOSTEROUS thing is, that Sri Lanka is STILL paying heed to India, which initiated, trained, funded, and orchestrated Tamil Separatist Terrorism in Sri Lanka, allowing India even to modify our Nation’s Constitution.
The 13th Amendment was rammed down Sri Lanka’s throat at GUNPOINT; it is Sri Lanka’s PATRIOTIC duty to get rid of this FOREIGN IMPOSED BALL & CHAIN shackling Mother Lanka.
It is designed to divide Sri Lanka into a Patchwork Quilt of Racist Apartheid Communal Fiefdoms to placate Tamil Nadu politicians create a Greater Tamil Nadu, and allow India to continue its INTERFERENCE in the internal affairs of our Sovereign Motherland.
When India has DEVOLVED Autonomy to Muslim Kashmir Separatists, please let us know! Until then, BUTT OUT of our country!
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Amendment of 13A: Menon to meet Rajapaksa in July
By P K Balachandran – COLOMBO
NewIndianExpress.com
June 21, 2013
India’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Shivshankar Menon is expected to meet Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa here in July and convey New Delhi’s grave misgivings over moves to dilute, or even to do away with, the India-inspired 13th Amendment (13A) of the country’s constitution which devolves powers to the Provincial Councils.
Menon had revealed this to the six-member delegation of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) which met him in New Delhi earlier this week, Selvam Adaikalanathan, a member of the delegation, told Express. Adaikalanathan said that Menon would be here in mid-July.
Official Version
Indian official sources said that Menon would be in Colombo to participate in the trilateral talks on maritime security between India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives and that it was customary for visiting Indian NSAs to meet Rajapaksa, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and other top leaders of the government and the opposition. According to Adaikalanathan, Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid had also said that he would visit Lanka, though at a later date.
‘Broke Promise’
Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa had told The Island daily that it was India, and not Sri Lanka, which had failed to keep a promise. “India had promised to throw its weight behind Sri Lanka on the US-sponsored resolution at the UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva, but it went back on its word. India let us down in Geneva very badly,” he said.
NPC Polls
The ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party said on Wednesday that elections to the Northern Provincial Council would be held as promised in September this year, whether the proposed Parliamentary Select Committee on pruning the 13A completes its work or not. The PSC is yet to be appointed because the opposition parties have asked for time to consider the matter, said SLFP spokesman, Nimal Sripala de Silva. He, however, said the government would form a PSC with political parties willing to take part.