Timeline to abolish the 13th Amendment – A nationwide referendum on Friday, 30 August 2013
Posted on March 30th, 2013
Sri Lanka Support Group, Canberra
The timeline
- April 2013 (after the New Year) – The ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Cabinet approves the proposal to abolish the 13th amendment ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…”
Preamble to the CabinetƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Proclamation ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…”
The Cabinet agreedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that the provincial councils are a white elephant, it was imposed on the country in 1987 under extreme duress,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Government cannot any further financially sustain them, it is the GovernmentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s experience that Sri Lanka is too small to be governed by nine separate provincial governments, what Sri Lanka needs is a strong, benevolent Central Government that will duly look after all its people and the current Government is committed and capable of providing same. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The majority of the people of Sri Lanka have shown strong resentment towards maintaining the provincial council system, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the resentment has grown over the years and has now reached the peak. Over the past 26 years the provincial governments have renderedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ little service to the public, therein increased ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ corruption and other social evils, have enacted laws that are inconsistent with the powers vested with the central Government, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ have impositioned unfair taxation on constituents and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ have encroached into areas of power that are not vested in ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ them under the incidental heads of powers of the Constitution; ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the most important and notable reason to abolish them being they have become a serious threat to the countryƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s sovereignty, national security and territorial integrity. Effectively, it is in the best interests of Sri Lanka that the provincial governments are abolished as soon as practicable, especially given the fact that terrorism has been eliminated from the country. The ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ violent and other ugly incidents in Tamilnadu, India ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ against Sri Lanka and Sri Lankans and the unprecedented bias that has been shown against Sri Lanka by theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ international community (ie, by the US, EU and India) where they passed another adverse resolutions against ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka in March 2013 at the Human Rights CouncilƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in Geneva, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ which resolution if fully implemented will lead to probable secession of Sri Lanka and will cause social, economic and other damage and social upheaval in the country. It is also probable that maintaining of ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the current provincial government system will lead to formation of a separate country in Sri Lanka ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” something like a South Sudan, an Eretria or an East Timor ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ being formed in Northern Sri Lanka, and the Government and people of Sri Lanka do not want such a situation to arise, hence the Government will take every ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ possible step to stop that from happening. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Therefore, the GovernmentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s decision that the provincial government system should be abolished by way of amending the Constitution wherein all current powers of the said provincial governments will ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ vest with the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ central Government.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ However, the final decision to change the Constitution will be decided by the people of Sri Lanka at a nationwide referendum to be held on Friday 30 August 2013.
- April 2013 – The President meets with the heads ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the leading political parties
- April 2013 – TheƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ President meets with all the Chief Ministers and Governors of the provincial councils ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” It is expected that these delegates ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ will give consent to the Government that the provincial governments should be abolished (subject to the citizensƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ consent at a referendum).ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The provincial government politicians and their personal staff will be given notice of the possible abolishment of the Provincial Councils within 4 months. The administrative staff will be informed that they ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ will be absorbed into the central government public service. A separate authority will be set up to oversee the smooth and effective transition of the provincial government machinery into the central Government, so that no last minute corruption and other malpractices will occur.
- Early May 2013 – The President meets with the service commanders
- Early May 2013 – The President meets with Buddhist priests (leaders)
- Early May 2013 – The President meets withƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ other religious dignitaries (leaders)
- Early May 2013 The President briefs the media
- Early May 2013 The President addresses the nation live on TV and informs the people
- Early May 2013 – The Foreign MinisterƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ meets with the Indian High Commissioner and informs him of the process
- Early May 2013 – The Foreign MinisterƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ meets with the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and informs him of the process
- Early May 2013 – The Foreign MinisterƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ meets with the Ambassadors of the EU nations to Sri Lanka and informs them of the process
- Early May 2013 – The Foreign MinisterƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ meets with the Ambassadors of China, Russia, Pakistan and other SAARC countries and informs them of the process. If possible, he will meet with the representatives of Congo, Ecuador, Indonesia, Kuwait, Maldives, Mauritania, the Philippines, Qatar, Thailand, UAE, Uganda andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Venezuela who opposed the recent Geneva Resolution against Sri Lanka.
- ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Early May 2013 – The Foreign Minister addresses the foreign government representatives, including diplomats and brief them of the process
- Early May 2013 – The Sri Lankan High Commissioner in New DelhiƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ meets with the Indian Foreign Secretary and informs him of the process
- Early May 2013 – The Sri Lankan Ambassador to the US meets with the US Assistant Secretary of State in Washington and informs him of the process
- Early May 2013 – The Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s representative to the EU meets with the EU Commissioner and his staff in Brussels and informs them of the process
- Early May – 2013 The Secretary to the Ministry of Planning and Implementation addresses foreign company representatives, foreignƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ NGOs ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and other foreign agencies operating in Sri Lanka and brief them of the process
- Early May 2013 – for security reasons, the Sri Lankan High Commission in Chennai and the Mahabodhi temple in Chennai are closed down temporarily. Sri Lanka requests the Indian central government to provide security to these premises ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and all other Sri Lankan assets in Tamilnadu. Sri Lankans especially the Sinhalese and more importantly Buddhist monks are strongly advised not to travel to Tamilnadu until further notice. The Sri Lankan students, especially the Sinhalese studying in Tamilnadu (if any) are strongly advised to seek transfers to other universities outside of Tamilnadu in India or return to Sri Lanka, who will then be given placements in Sri Lankan educational institutions.
- A nationwide referendum is to be held on Friday 30 August ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 2013 (the Government will declare this as a Public Holiday)
- The question to be asked in the referendum ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…”
ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Do you wish to maintain the 13AƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ amendment to the Constitution that was enacted in 1987, that has created the present provincial government system?
- JuneƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 2013 ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” August 2013 ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Referendum campaigning. It is expected that the UNP, TNA and minor parties may campaign for the Yes vote. The Government will campaign for the No vote. The position of the JVP is to be articulated by them.
- 30 August 2013 – the Referendum day with foreign observers monitoring the island wide referendum
- 31 August ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 2013 – the Referendum results are announced ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” It is hoped that the No vote has won, with a resounding majority. Majority of the people in the North and East would vote ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”NoƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢
- Early September 2013 The parliament sits – ratifies the referendum results by way of a majority decisionƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and amendsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the Constitution ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ formally ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” also sets ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ out how the government machinery will work in the provinces (it will be a going back to the old Government Agent (GA/AGA) system ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” what existed prior to 1987.
- Mid September 2013 ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ – TheƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Supreme Court will ratify the amendments to the Constitution
- Mid September 2013 ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Amendments to the Constitution receive the PresidentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s assent
- Late September 2013- Mr Ravinatha Aryasinghe informs the Geneva Council Sessions about the new developments in Sri Lanka, and why Sri Lanka could not comply with the Geneva Resolutions (the provincial councils have been abolished by public referendum)
- October 2013 -CHOGM isƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ held in Sri Lanka very successfully.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ If the member countries decide against of holding same in Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka consents to transferring the Conference to another country (ie Malaysia or Mauritius). Sri Lankans cancels the order for delivery of 100 odd new Benz cars for the foreign dignitaries. if they are already delivered then sold to locals at a public auction. The President will still attend CHOGM to be held in another country, unless Sri Lanka is suspended from CHOGM. Then ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka will happily accept the suspension, the ultimate loser will be CHOGM and not Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka will not vie for CHOGM games ever again
- 31 December 2013 ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Sri Lankans celebrate the dawn of 2014 with a sigh relief that their country has yet again being saved by a thin margin, due to the fine efforts of the patriotic and intelligent citizens of Sri Lanka
srilankasupportgroup@bigpond.com
March 30th, 2013 at 3:25 pm
Very good.
Right on time BEFORE the proposed September NPC election.
SCRAP 13 amendment.
March 30th, 2013 at 3:26 pm
I think this is an appropriate action to at least save country from separation and save millions of dollars waste of hard earned public funds. But the down side might be action by US and others to force GOSL to power devolution this might result in sanctions and or force. GOSL must think of counter action as well. We must act now, time is running out!
March 30th, 2013 at 4:05 pm
This appears me to be a PRPOSAL from the Sri Lanka Support Group in Canberra and not (yet) the position of GOSL
Is this all necessary when instead GoSL has a majority to have 13A abrogated in parliament? A referendum will be perhaps ‘more credible’ before the UN etc, and more costly – can some legal specialist please answer this. S de Silva – London
March 30th, 2013 at 4:54 pm
contingency plans militarily are important if ever this materialises.
timeline;
usa and india might invade heladeepa, probably they have already have plans in place. with the three pussycat dolls, hillary(although out, still is in), jayalalitha and pillai seem to have some pussy power.
to avoid this happening we must;
get help of russians to have their sub-marines in trincomalee harbour, just as a deterence.
handover a part of magampura harbour to chinese navy, with a bilateral agreement to fight the enemy, especially india. india should be hit from pakistan – west, bangladesh – east, china – north and lanka – south with russian and chinese help.
embargos may come into play as long as the anglo saxon ungulate controls the sea routes. but they will nullified if chinese and russian naval presence in the island is in force.
begining of the end of chogm will materialise with from the expulsion of lanka (we who love lanka must sincerely hope this expulsion will happen anyway)
conservatives and so called western educated lankans may find this absolutely crazy, especially to have some foreigners on lanka soil, but we may be heading for a real confrontation, just because of one irresponsible group of people originating from south india, who have deceived the whole world with their lies to gain unwarranted demands.
March 30th, 2013 at 5:22 pm
Let see people’s power at work now! Well done MR and team.
March 30th, 2013 at 9:39 pm
After that bury CHOGM and UNP as well for ever. All Sri Lankans can live in harmony.
March 31st, 2013 at 7:06 am
This is good news indeed ! We have wanted the 13-A removed for a long, long time.
The other Democracies in the world ought not to/should not protest as GoSL will be following the Democratic method of governance, via the Constitution. It is the Constitutional right of the government to have a Referendum.
Organisations such as the Bodu Bala Sena must educate the people on the need to remove the 13-A.
Our heartfelt thanks to the Sri Lanka Support Group, Canberra !
March 31st, 2013 at 7:45 am
GOOD . I CAN HAVE A GOOD PEACEFUL SLEEP
March 31st, 2013 at 9:17 am
May be only a proposal by the support group
ANY WAY FIRST THEY SHOULD SCRAP IT IN THE PARLIAMENT WITH TWO THIRD MAJORITY AND THEN HAVE A REFERENDUM TO MAKE IT MORE CREDIBLE.
March 31st, 2013 at 2:07 pm
I am sure as some pointed out, under the present constitution, & 2/3 majority, present parliament can abolish this draconian intrusive ammendment, forced by India on a sovereign, democraatic country.
If need be, at a later stage a referundim could be held to solidify & give weight to the decision, plarliment made.
Good Luck..lankan group in Canberra, Australia. .all in the name of peace , security, love for our motherland…..~ another expat giving his views.
March 31st, 2013 at 2:19 pm
That’s an excellent move.
It is more than separation and power hunger greed; nine provincial councils will drive the country to starvation. Nine Chief Ministers and their flipping Cabinet will not generate food and technology for the people of SL. SriLanka is too small to have those luxuries of sector governance. Every SriLankan, including those Tamils in the island should review their thoughts, and do critical analysis whether they need Food, Health, Education, Employment, good infrastructure and sound governance to live in peace and harmony. We are SriLankan. We are not Tamil Nadia’s or Indians for that matter. We love India and India should understand that SriLanka is a separate sovereign country. India should also love SriLanka and help in a multi-directional plane.
We Tamils should move forward and not support those some of the insane Tamil politicians calling for power only. This is 21st century. The referendum should result in a landslide victory with over 98% calling for “NO” – Provincial Council administration, and fling the 13+ amendment to the garbage disposal unit.
Let SriLankan awake up from those fantasies of suppliant luxuries.
The west should understand what dominance means and not interfere with Democracy. Definitely US will not like USA been broken into several Republics?
March 31st, 2013 at 3:14 pm
Just superb, no use been reactive to provocations from Terrorists sympathizers, terrorist handlers in US and EU and their support groups in India. We need to be proactive and flush this 13th amendment down the toilet. This referendum will get 95% support. What a great article. Must be done.
March 31st, 2013 at 3:23 pm
Kithsiri,
I find your recent comments increasingly SUSPICIOUS.
What is going on?
We ALL KNOW Sunil and Sri Lanka Support Group, Canberra are HARDCORE PATRIOTS.
Let me DO THE TEST that separates patriots from others.
Do you want to SCRAP 13 amendment?
YES
NO or NO ANSWER
As you know 13 amendment is INDIAN. Unfortunately our constitution has INDIAN dirt in in BECAUSE of the 13 amendment. If we can FLUSH this INDIAN dirt out, then our constitution becomes better.
March 31st, 2013 at 3:27 pm
Absolutely Kanthar.
Actually Tamils also support the SCRAPPING of 13 amendment now.
For a different reason though. They say it doesn’t recognize Tamil Elam, etc., etc.
That does not matter. Lets first SCRAP 13 amendment together. Then we can battle out the rest.
ONLY Tamilian “MODA-RATES” support 13 amendment. They are the MOST dangerous. We DON’T NEED Tamil MODA-RATES. We need Tamil SL patriots. Don’t get confused. Tamil SL patriots NOT Tamil MODA-RATES.
March 31st, 2013 at 3:30 pm
The referendum question will be in Sinhala, Tamil and English.
The Tamilian version should SUBTLY be worded in such a way to induce Tamilisns to say it should be scrapped. The end result is same SCRAP IT.
If we can get the northern fools also to scrap it, NORTH AND SOUTH both will say SCRAP IT, not just the south. Then the Endians will be left without ANY support.
March 31st, 2013 at 3:43 pm
NOT if possible.
WE MUST meet and engage with the representatives of Congo, Ecuador, Indonesia, Kuwait, Maldives, Mauritania, the Philippines, Qatar, Thailand, UAE, Uganda and Venezuela who opposed the recent Geneva Resolution against Sri Lanka in ANY political solution instead of Endia and USA.
Then Endia will realize the mistake.
We should also have CLOSE MILITARY ties with them. Particularly THAILAND and INDONESIA.
March 31st, 2013 at 4:58 pm
Great work Sri Lanka Support Group (Canberra). We Sinhalese don’t want to divide Sri Lanka on race basis. 13th amendment is a failed Indian idea and a hidden agenda but not a Sri Lankan solution. Sinhalese want to live in this country with our Tamil, Malayalam (Keralite), Muslim, Burghers, Malay, Chetti nadians, Java (Indonesian) brothers and sisters as one family.
We need not only tamil areas in Sri Lanka as 75% tamils live in Sinhala majority areas. If someone tries to implement 13+ then there will be only tamil areas, only muslim areas, only Christian areas and ultimately Sri Lanka will be another Cyprus or Lebanon.
It is high time government to scrap this 13th amendment. In 1987 Rajiv Gandhi forced J.R.J to sign the Indo-Lanka pact on a curfew declared day and S.LF.P, MEP and J.V.P totally rejected it. Later LTTE also rejected it. Neither Sinhalese nor tamils wanted. Only India and Indian puppets E.P.R.L.F, Dayan Jayathileke, Wicramabahu and NGO’s want the 13th amendment.
March 31st, 2013 at 9:20 pm
Champika, Wimal, Gotabaya and others in the government have stated that the 13th amendment should be abolished or something very similar. Then, how can a proposal made by Canberra Support Group regarded as unpatriotic? It only gives suggestions how to do it, not an order on anyone. The timeline helps the Government to say there are wide views about provincial councils from several sides. Canberra Support Group has supported the Government all throughout, especially during war time. They have accompanied Government Ministers to meet with Australian Government Ministers and have lobbied heavily in favour of Sri Lanka. They are the leading group who fought against Tamil Diaspora that tried to block the entry to Australia of the current Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Australia, they also organized a very successful Seminar held in the Canberra Parliament attended by Australian Parliamentarians of all sides, soon after the war. The then Sri Lankan High Commissioner also attended. Almost all the patriotic Sri Lankan organisations worked with them to make the Seminar a huge success. I know they meet Canberra parliamentarians regularly in support of the Government, people like Don Randal, Juli Bishop, Laurie Fergusion to name just a few. To my belief they work very closely with SPUR and no doubt Ranjith Soysa will vouch. Simply, read their media releases published in Lankaweb alone, you will see how patriotic and authentic are
March 31st, 2013 at 11:13 pm
Kithsiri,
Good you support the SCRAPPING of 13 amendment.
So lets not fight among us as we ALL want ONE THING NOW – SCRAP 13 amendment. That should UNIFY us.
Absolutely not. CID works under the directions of MoD which is in touch with Sri Lanka Support Group, Canberra via the SL HC
As Melbourne Patriot said, the above is ONLY A SUGGESTED approach. I hope GOSL follows it because it is pretty complete. Well done.
April 1st, 2013 at 4:42 am
…….at least he should be proud that he was capable of producing two children.
April 1st, 2013 at 2:18 pm
Thanks Lorenzo, at least they are in touch with the MR administratio. Remember some time ago Kamal Rajapkse (no relative of MR family) put a pettition on lanka web got people to sign on I did too and may be you did too, but where did it get lost? This is my opinion, if the cabinet starts to discuss this INDIA will stop it on its tracts. I am not getting at Sunil Vijayapala, as he says I am a funny man.
April 1st, 2013 at 9:55 pm
Lankaweb should ban Kithsiri Athulathmudali from commenting. Please do this. He has unfairly attacked numerous good patriots, the latest beingthe great patriot, Kamal Rajapakse
Athulathmudali tries to get away with saying he is ‘funny man’, insulting others, especially very good patriots, is not funny thing. This is a serious forum
April 2nd, 2013 at 9:53 am
KITUL EPA VUNA ALIYEK VENETHI ANIK ALI RENENEN PENALA GIYE EKAY.
April 3rd, 2013 at 10:23 am
Kamal Rajapakse worked very hard about abolish 13 A petition, how dare someone like Kit Atul criticize him! Kamal continues to campaign very hard on abolishing 13A. Kamala is million times worthy than this old drunkard. Kit Atul is suffering from old age problem.Kit Atul at age 75 (his mental faculty is 85) is a lost man – I was told he was a vacuum cleaner door to door salesman working on commission now receives US pension, spends time on florida beaches looking at fat ugly white women. can’t make it to sri lanka due to lacked funds. lalith athulathmudali didn’t give two hoots to him this uneducated man was never considered a relative by athula, this old burger is not looking after his children, they hate him also his name sake wife