{"id":41499,"date":"2015-02-13T18:34:29","date_gmt":"2015-02-14T01:34:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=41499"},"modified":"2015-02-13T18:34:29","modified_gmt":"2015-02-14T01:34:29","slug":"srilanka-and-her-current-political-disarray","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2015\/02\/13\/srilanka-and-her-current-political-disarray\/","title":{"rendered":"SRILANKA AND HER CURRENT POLITICAL DISARRAY"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kanthar Balanathan, Retired Director & Power Systems Specialist Engineer, Australia<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n

Specific people in SriLanka, both educated and impulsive took pleasure to read the 100 days <\/strong>implementation of a multitude of matters, by the suddenly gathered mixed ideology groups.<\/p>\n

DEMOCRATIC ELECTORAL SYSTEM<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The election concluded with 6,217,162<\/strong> votes secured by HE Maithripala Sirisena (HEMS), and 5,768,090<\/strong> votes secured by former President Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa. Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa (MR) secured 92.7768% of the total votes secured by HEMS. Further analysis reveals that in the Polonnaruwa district, MR secured 71.39% of votes secured by HEMS. However, in the Hambantota district, HEMS was able to secure only 57.01% of the votes secured by MR. This is a vibrant indication of who is popular among the citizens of SriLanka.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the North HEMS received 394,991<\/strong> votes and MR received 108,831<\/strong> votes. In the East, HEMS received 583,120<\/strong> votes and MR received 214,769<\/strong> votes. In total, HEMS received 978,111<\/strong> votes from the N&E, and MR received 323,600<\/strong> votes from N&E.<\/p>\n

It was so disappointing to note that 17 SriLankan petty politicians, contested and wasted 138<\/strong>,200<\/strong> votes for nothing, but political gambling, and\/or political sadism.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The criticality we have to address here is, for an executive president election, just a 3.7% difference in votes between the two, and\/or 51.28% against 47.58% is adjudicated as DEMOCRACY\u201d.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    CAN THIS BE A GOOD SYSTEM OF PASSED BY VOTE\u201d ELECTORAL SYSTEM FOR AN EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

    Well, we have a mind set to accept that as democracy, because the west said so; i.e. 10 against 9. However, we have to investigate the different electoral system in other parts of the world, to arrive at a free, fair, and reasonable electoral system for SriLanka.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. From the majority of 449,072 votes, a mere 224,537 votes decided the victory in terms of democracy.<\/strong><\/li>\n
    2. In the North HEMS received 394,991 votes which determined the victory. Adding the N&E votes, it is definitive that Tamil (majority) and Muslim votes directed HEMS to victory. Further a portion of the UNP supporters voted for HEMS. Therefore it is certain and undisputable that Tamil votes escorted HEMS to victory. <\/strong><\/li>\n
    3. Why did the Tamils vote for HEMS? (a) Is it anti-MR sentiment? (b) Do they have a superficial belief that HEMS will grant Police & Land powers to NPC?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Ref:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 http:\/\/www.slelections.gov.lk\/presidential2015\/province.html<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

      http:\/\/www.slelections.gov.lk\/presidential2015\/AIVOT.html<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

      100 DAYS PROGRAM<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

      Citizens of SriLanka assumed they could appreciate and welcome the changes. However, the change has been change of governance only so far, with marginal victory, may be, in agreement with some western influence and manipulation<\/strong>, because of their falcon formation defence\/offence strategy.<\/p>\n

      (US\u2019s contract on Diego Garcia is due to expire in 2016?<\/em><\/strong>)<\/p>\n

      The current regime shall not kneel down, and implement whatever is thrown onto them from the west and India.<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. On the 21st<\/sup> of January 2015, GOSL should have commenced the process of abolishing the presidential system.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        The process will begin of<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>abolishing the authoritarian executive presidential system<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>and replacing it with an executive of a Cabinet of Ministers responsible to Parliament, and of repealing the 18th Amendment to the Constitution with legislation to establish strengthened and independent institutions, including a<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>Judicial Services Commission, a Police Commission, a Public Service Commission, an Elections Commission, a Commission against Bribery and Corruption and a Human Rights Commission. This will be through a 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which will be presented to Parliament and passed as swiftly as possible.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

        Let\u2019s turn to the pages as follows:<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. http:\/\/indi.ca\/2015\/01\/maithripalas-first-100-days\/<\/em><\/a><\/li>\n
        2. http:\/\/www.dailymirror.lk\/100days<\/a><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          The process of abolishing the presidential system, which was the main focal point during the election, has not been concluded to date.<\/strong><\/p>\n

          Minister of External Affairs Mangala Samaraweera said that the Executive Powers of Presidency will be abolished by February.\u201d Ref: http:\/\/www.asianmirror.lk\/news\/item\/6675-executive-presidency-will-be-abolished-by-end-of-february<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

          Dr Dayan Jayatilleke, an intellectual veteran political analyst, says in his interview to the Sunday Observer as follows:<\/p>\n

          ‘Executive Presidency cannot be abolished in 100 days’.<\/h2>\n

          Ref: http:\/\/www.sundayobserver.lk\/2015\/01\/04\/pol10.asp<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

          The current action plan and execution by HEMS+ is not fully explained to the people of SL to-date.<\/p>\n

          However, people are fully aware that some MP\u2019s and ministers are, (a) worried about their pension rights, (b) how they plan to financially commit to the forthcoming election in April, if held, (c) internal quandary for portfolios, (d) exercise their ministerial power to boss around civil servants and diplomats, (e) terminate diplomat\u2019s appointments without adequate causes, and hard to find replacement of expert carrier diplomats.<\/p>\n

          These behaviours may lead SriLankans to judge the irrational schedules.<\/strong><\/p>\n

          To-date, the 100 days\u2019 work programme strongly focus on retribution of their opponents, but not interested in r<\/strong>ecuperation.<\/strong><\/p>\n

            \n
          1. Code of Conduct<\/strong>\n
              \n
            1. On the 22nd<\/sup> January: A\u00a0Code of Conduct\u00a0will be introduced for observation by all representatives of the People.<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n
            2. On the 2nd<\/sup> February: An ethical\u00a0Code of Conduct\u00a0will be introduced legally for all representatives of the People.<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              This task was given to Comrade Anura Kumara Dissanayaka (Cde AKD<\/strong>). What has the Cde got to say about the action plan?<\/p>\n

              Ref: http:\/\/www.asianmirror.lk\/news\/item\/6858-delay-in-mp-code-of-conduct-anura-kumara-explains<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

              It is fair to state that the only political party in SL, which is free of bribery, corruption, thuggery, and hooliganism in SL, is the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, JVP.<\/strong><\/p>\n

              It is people\u2019s expectation that Cde AKD will come up with an unblemished, comprehensive Code of Ethics<\/em><\/strong>\u201d document to be enacted. It is also fair to say that, though, MPs are peoples representatives, the final document or interim should be put to confab by selected \u2018peoples<\/strong> committees\u2019<\/strong> of districts in SL. It is the people who should advice on Code of Ethics of politicians and parties.<\/p>\n

              (There is a strong view that MPs may not acknowledge code of ethics, which will be tough for their survival.<\/em>)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

              PRIME MINISTER<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

              Section 65(2) (b) of the constitution states that the President shall appoint the Prime Minister. However, can the appointment of Hon Mr. Ranil<\/strong> Wickramasinghe<\/strong> be accepted as democratic and constitutional?<\/p>\n

              If this was undemocratic and unconstitutional, then the majority party MPs should have objected to this appointment. Could this appointment be considered as a dictatorial operative of the President?<\/p>\n

              There have been so many directives and operatives of GOSL, which are undemocratic. Are the MPs silent on those operatives, as a result of intimidation, or do they fear of losing their pension?<\/p>\n

              13th<\/sup> AMENDMENT AND NORTHERN PROVINCIAL COUNCIL (NPC)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

              The election manifesto or the 100 days program did not address on 13th<\/sup> amendment nor granting of police and land powers to NPC.<\/p>\n

              For the first time surprisingly, TNA politicians Sambanthar and Abraham Sumanthiran attended the 67th<\/sup> Independence Day celebrations. Their attendance has brought anger to the rest of the TNA members. Sambanthar\u2019s photos were burnt in front of the British PM\u2019s office in London. Ref:<\/p>\n