Anarchists ahoy!
Posted on March 16th, 2017
Editorial The Island
March 16, 2017, 9:21 pm
The Sirisena-Wickremesinghe administration calls itself ‘National Unity Government’. But, the much-touted unity is conspicuous by its absence. The yahapalana leaders don’t see eye to eye on virtually anything save the postponement of elections, holding the Joint Opposition at bay and feathering their nests. UNP and SLFP members of the Cabinet are always at daggers drawn.
Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake has declared that there has been no bond scam. In an interview with CNBC, he has said, “I give 100 percent guarantee there won’t be any area of dispute there. It is only anarchists who are trying to fish in troubled waters.” If so, has President Maithripala Sirisena erred by appointing a presidential commission to probe the bond controversy?
Karunanayake has stopped short of naming the ‘anarchists’. But, his sweeping statement, in our book, is an affront to all those who demand that those responsible for bond scams be punished and the stolen funds recovered. These campaigners include President Sirisena, who says there have been irregularities in the bond auctions at issue and wants to ensure that the culprits are arraigned on criminal charges. He revealed, in his address to the nation in the run-up to the 2015 general election, that he had demanded that Mahendran be removed from the post of the Central Bank Governor over the bond scams. His position has since remained consistent and even his political enemies have praised him for his bold decision to have the bond auction irregularities investigated.
It may be recalled that all parliamentarians including Finance Minister Karunanayake himself accepted the COPE (Committee on Public Enterprises) report on bond scams and called upon the Speaker to refer it to the Attorney General for action last year. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe himself sent the document to the AG posthaste in a bid to put the matter to rest. The report has held Mahendran responsible for the questionable bond transactions and called for legal action against him and others. Are parliamentarians including the 26 COPE members ‘anarchists’ trying to fish in troubled waters?
The Finance Minister’s right to express his opinion cannot be questioned and he is, in fact, desperately trying to boost investor confidence which has suffered a crippling blow from the bond scams. The economy is in bad shape and the Finance Ministry in badly in need of foreign investment to keep it afloat. But, the question is whether it is possible for President Sirisena to have the controversial bond sales properly probed while the Central Bank is under the purview of those who are all out to defend the suspects involved in the alleged financial crime, which they deny publicly. These elements are in a position to influence or intimidate witnesses who are currently serving in institutions under them and suppress incriminating evidence that can be used against their chums in trouble. Some of these beleaguered officials fear that they may even be hounded out of their jobs and left without even their pensions.
Some intrepid Central Bank officials have retained their sangfroid so far in the face of a hostile political campaign against them. But, there is no guarantee that they won’t crack under pressure with powerful government politicians having ganged up against them. How does President Sirisena propose to protect these officials? He should at least meet these professionals regularly and try to prevent their morale from sagging; they have become marked targets because they have stuck their necks out for the sake of the country.
President Sirisena ought to give serious thought to taking over the Finance Ministry and the Central Bank if he is really desirous of ensuring that the perpetrators of the biggest ever financial crime in the country are brought to justice. That is the only way he can atone for the political sin he committed in 2015 by dissolving Parliament to prevent a damning COPE report on the bond scams being made public before the general election in that year.
March 16th, 2017 at 5:36 pm
If My3 is serious and not playing to the gallery to keep the public at bay, he should do the following immediately:
1. Take over the Finance Ministry as this editorial suggest,
2. Take over the Foreign Ministry from Mangala as all what he does are against what My3, as the President of the country says… for example, UNHCR issues. Mangala is carrying out Tamil Diaspora’s agenda without any reservation and any resistant from other politicians from the government while the President and PM are telling the public the totally opposite.
If My3 at least does not do the above two, we have to take it as he is just keeping the public in a dream land while in the background, the agenda of their pay masters is executed.
Not only those two… The constitution, place for Buddhism, all what he says seems to be different to what is actually happening at the background. Still 65% of our people seems to be carried away with these lies…
March 16th, 2017 at 5:45 pm
Hiranthe,
Well said!
At the very least, MS should take over the Finance and Foreign Ministries.
At the very best, MS should DISMISS the entire Cabinet, reconcile with and handover the PM position to MR, and work with I’m him to create a SLFP/UPFA government.
The latter is the ONLY REAL WAY to bring the Bond Scam culprits to book and save the nation from disintegration and economic meltdown!
March 16th, 2017 at 6:42 pm
Sirisena has no regard for the nation (much like all other politicians). However, Sirisena seems to be a far more clever political strategist. Sadly, such abilities are used for political manoeuvring and not for the benefit of the country. Sirisena seems to be more interested in allowing the UNP ruin the economy and then trap the UNP to a presidential commission report on corruption and economic mismanagement close to the 2019 presidential election.
If they comply and get into a no-contest agreement (as they did in 2014), Sirisena will gain UNP’s electoral advantage. If not, he will punish the UNP, put all blame on it, take over their ministries and dish out some election sweeteners calling them fruits of better management. Either way he gains.
Or he may appoint Mahinda or someone from Mahinda’s camp when things go bad. Mahinda (or anyone else) cannot save the economy in 2 years (in time for the next election). So it becomes a trap. Then Sirisena and UNP will blame Mahinda for all economic disasters and gain political mileage.
This is what Chandrika did to win her second term in 1999. Although she started digging raves immediately after assuming office, it all died down until 1999 when a presidential commission investigated Ranil for Batalanda war crimes and crimes against humanity. However, after winning in 1999, it all was forgotten.
Instead of taking over these ministries that are an absolute disgrace, he is more interested in playing politics. He has hinted about an important ministry to Mahinda Amaraweera from Hambantota. Obviously a clear attempt to dilute Rajapaksas’ electoral popularity in Hambantota. Sirisena moved Mahinda out (which was an order not a request) of Hambantota and Chamal will not contest the next election due to very old age. It will be only Namal and he is not capable of amassing people of Hambantota in the long run due to his lifestyle.
Pitting Mahinda against UNP’s Akila in Kurunegala also served Sirisena blunt the astronomical rise of Akila (most likely the next UNP leader).
Hopefully Sirisena will put his very clever political astuteness to save the nation than his personal political fortunes.
March 16th, 2017 at 8:48 pm
The YAMAPALANA ACTIVISTS back in GEAR agitating for “Maximum Devolution of Powers”!
Those who HELPED TO PRECIPITATE the CURRENT DISASTER want to COMPLETE THE DESTRUCTION!
These BUGGERS are NOT “Civil Society”, but the MOST UNCIVIL in our SOCIETY because they are PRECIPITATING the DISMANTLING of our Motherland under the PRE-TEXTUAL COVER of “Yahap[alanaya”.
Note that NONE OF THEM are TAMILS, but SINHALESE!
“The new movement called for the abolition of the executive presidency, electoral reforms and power sharing arrangement.
Ven Dambara Amila,
Prof. Sarath Wijesooriya,
Saman Ratnapriya,
Sudarshana Gunawardena,
Lucien Bulathsinhala,
Gamini Viyangoda,
J.C. Weliamuna,
Brito Fernando and
Udeni Dissanayake
pressed the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government to fulfill its much publicized promises made in the run-up to presidential and parliamentary polls in January and August 2015, respectively.”
These are the PAID PUPPETS of the REGIME CHANGING foreign powers! MARK THEM WELL in INDELIBLE INK!
…………………………………
Yahapalana foot soldiers intensify campaign for new Constitution
Island.lk
March 16, 2017, 12:00 pm
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Civil society groups that campaigned for Maithripala Sirisena at the January 2015 presidential poll, have stepped up their campaign for a new constitution.
The project gets underway against the backdrop of members of the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) reaching consensus as regards a new resolution to give space for Sri Lanka to introduce constitutional reforms and address accountability issues.
Twice President Chndrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, UPFA General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera and Minister Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka on Wednesday (March 15) joined the inaugural meeting called by the newly formed National Movement For A New Constitution at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (SLFI).
Convenor of the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) Prof. Sarath Wijesooriya had called the Wednesday’s meeting on behalf of the new grouping.
The new movement called for the abolition of the executive presidency, electoral reforms and power sharing arrangement. Ven Dambara Amila, Prof. Sarath Wijesooriya, Saman Ratnapriya, Sudarshana Gunawardena, Lucien Bulathsinhala, Gamini Viyangoda, J.C. Weliamuna, Brito Fernando and Udeni Dissanayake pressed the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government to fulfill its much publicized promises made in the run-up to presidential and parliamentary polls in January and August 2015, respectively.
Ven. Amila underscored the responsibility on the part of the incumbent government to introduce a new constitution.
Activists carried off a bearded person out of the auditorium after he hooted after the arrival of Mrs Kumaratunga at the venue.
Political commentator Gamini Viyangoda explained that required constitutional reforms, including the abolition of the executive presidency couldn’t be realized without going for a referendum.
Referring to a recent statement made by State Highways Minister Dilan Perera, Viyangoda said that he, too, accepted the SLFPer’s assertion that the government faced certain defeat at a referendum. Viyangoda said that the people had been disgusted due to the failure on the part of the yahapalana government to keep its promises. Therefore, tangible action should be taken without further delay to punish those who had robbed the country during the previous administration, Viyangoda said.
Urging the government to go ahead with constitutional reforms, the civil society activist said that people with vested interests were hell-bent on sabotaging the process. Viyangoda said that the division of the country on ethnic lines could be averted only by devolving powers. Viyangoda asserted that division of the country could be averted through constitutional means, by empowering the Provinces, he asserted.
Viyangoda pointed out the absurdity in the notion that devolution of power was meant only for the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
The Supreme Court in late 2006 de-linked the Eastern Province from the North on a technical matter.
Referring to the civil war in America involving eleven Southern States calling themselves Confederate States of America, Viyangoda said that the following the crushing the separatist movement, devolution of powers wasn’t stopped. Viyangoda said that Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, father of Indian constitution hadn’t been deterred by the breakup of the country at the independence to devolve powers. Viyangoda stressed that both the US and India had proved that devolution posed no threat to stability and unity.
Viyangoda cited Switzerland and Belgium as smaller countries which achieved success through devolution.
The civil society activist said that the Brexit and Colombia were examples that couldn’t be compared with Sri Lanka.
However, the referendum on constitutional reforms in Italy late last year is relevant to Sri Lanka. The then Italian Premier Renzi’s constitution reform plan had been rejected by voters as he wanted to strengthen the Center. The project was meant to strengthen central government and weaken the Senate, the upper house of parliament, Viyangoda explained.
“What we are pushing for is the entire opposite to what Italy wanted to do. We want maximum possible devolution of powers.”
Recently some members of the National Movement For A New Constitution met President Maithripla Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat to discuss ways and means of advancing what they called the yahapalana agenda.
March 17th, 2017 at 4:54 am
Thank you Ananda for Sharing this.
We should mark these traitors of Mother lanka..
March 17th, 2017 at 12:13 pm
ANANDA !! RATHANAYA SHOULD ALSO BE ON THAT LIST.
March 18th, 2017 at 5:15 am
Sudath Says
Island editorial is an eye opener not only My3 but to the whole country and to all who loves this country. If the President does not take immediate corrective measures as suggested by this editorial and those who have opined their suggestions on the editorial and continue to play dirty politics and continue his which hunting against MR and his camp he will get bogged in a no return situation
More than sacking the Foreign Minister and Finance Minister and taking over the Finance Ministry and the Central Bank as suggested by the above commentators I suggest he should also immediately sack the Prime Minister if he wants to save his skin first and then reorganize the whole Parliament by replacing the unconstitutionally appointed PM,. the Leader of the Opposition and also the Chief Organizer of the opposition.both appointed violating the Constitution and all Parliamentary procedures. Also I suggest he should reduce the mega Cabinet (rather a container) of 112 to a maximum of 25 and stop all activities pertaining to the Constitution making until a new Government with a public mandate to make a new constitution is elected
Cut down all extravagance, reduce attending daily meetings , shuttling from one to another all over the country and making cheap speeches and instead resort to serious actions through a twenty four hour active steering Committee or a Special Presidential Task Force of few intelligent educated, honest and patriotic people under the guidance of proper advice, to rescue this country from the political, administrative, financial, economic and social mess in to which his government has put it. .
At least now he must be intelligent enough to understand that he is been driven down the political Gadarene slope by Ranil the crook and his rogue cohort from which My3 will never be able to escape.. Also he must realize that delaying local Government election is seriously eroding his chances of winning at least a few of them If he scrap the curse that is Provincial Councils which has already ruined the entire system of Governance in this country he will score heavily on that point