{"id":58997,"date":"2016-09-21T11:44:53","date_gmt":"2016-09-21T18:44:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=58997"},"modified":"2016-09-21T11:44:53","modified_gmt":"2016-09-21T18:44:53","slug":"chandrika-key-decision-maker-in-govt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2016\/09\/21\/chandrika-key-decision-maker-in-govt\/","title":{"rendered":"Chandrika key decision maker in Govt"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Shaahidah Riza\u00a0Courtesy Ceylon Today<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n

United Peoples Freedom Alliance(UPFA) MP and General Secretary of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya(PHU), Udaya Gammanpila, believes that former President Chandrika Kumaratunga is the key decision maker of the present government. He added that her statement pertaining to a federal semi secular Constitution for Sri Lanka carries an enormous weight which dwarfs the contradictory comments made by the President and the Prime Minister who assured the public that the Constitution will not a be a on Federal model. He further added that the Constitution will be Federal in character and unitary in label.
\nExcerpts of the interview:<\/p>\n

?The UN Secretary General visited Sri Lanka last month and President Sirisena is in New York to attend the UN General Assembly. There have been a lot of recommendations and suggestions with regard to Sri Lanka; where does this end?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A. On 8 January, 2015 Sri Lanka was conquered jointly by the US and India. So, they have installed a puppet government like what the Portuguese did in the 16 Century to King Don Juan Dharmapala. This government is controlled, influenced and manipulated by these countries; and Ban ki-moon officially represented western interests. That is why his tone had drastically changed from 2009 to 2016. Last time, he never attempted to dictate us. But this time he appreciated the 19th Amendment. That is not his business. The UN can interfere in our internal affairs only to the extent to which we have consented to by our international covenants and declarations ratified and signed by Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n

There is no ratification about the Executive Presidency or on independent commissions. If the UN thinks it fit to have independent commissions for its members they have to encourage the USA, France, Germany, and UK to have that kind of independent commissions. These countries do not have such commissions. If the Executive Presidency is to be abolished they should have first advised the USA where the UN Headquarters is situated, instead of demanding us to abolish it. The UN considers Sri Lanka a colony controlled by them; they can dictate terms to us. Ban Ki-moon demanded the withdrawal of Army and military camps in the North. He forgot the fact that the North is not a part of the Tamil Ealam anymore; it is a part of sovereign Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n

Then he never had the guts to demand from the US to withdraw from his homeland South Korea. Korean school girls were raped by US soldiers. Koreans could only have formal protests requesting US Army withdrawal. Nothing has happened so far. He has not uttered a single word about it. But he talks about how the Sri Lankan military should be placed within Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n

He demanded the withdrawal of military camps because the people of the North said so, what if the people of the South say the same? The UN Secretary General irresponsibly makes statements; beyond his mandate. Unfortunately Sri Lanka President an obedient student said that he needed some time to implement what the UN wants, and added that there are some extremists who are obstacles to this. It shows that Ban Ki- moon has asked for certain actions with deadlines; as the President is scared to implement them in a rapid manner he demands more time. The President is duty bound to disclose these actions to the Sri Lankan people who appointed him.<\/p>\n

?As of last year, there has been talk of a new party surfacing with President Rajapaksa at the helm. What is the current status?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A. A new party is a precondition for a new alliance. We are keener about the new alliance than the new party. At the last parliamentary elections few of us vehemently protested against contesting under the UPFA ticket because of its leader President Sirisena. Unfortunately we had to go with the majority decision and are now suffering the consequences. That’s why soon after the parliamentary elections, as the PHU, we declared that we will never contest any future elections under the UPFA as long as President Sirisena is its leader. Since then we have been discussing about forming a new alliance. Almost all members of the UPFA are ready for a new alliance. Usually for a political front or an alliance, members are not persons but parties. Individuals become members of the parties and in turn parties become members of an alliance. So SLFPers of the JO don’t have a party of their own, to join our alliance. That is why we were delaying it. A new party will bring new trends and people will awaken with new hopes. That situation can be utilised for an electoral victory. In order to have a new party there must be an election in the near future. Otherwise, by the time elections are on that party will become an old story. We are more concerned about the elections than having a new party.<\/p>\n

? Where do you stand with regard to Constitutional Reform? Are you on any of the subcommittees?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A. That is also a controversy. We are very willing to be involved only then would we know what is going on. I volunteered to be a member of the committee. I was assigned to the Judiciary Committee. They would have thought as I am a Constitutional lawyer the best committee for me to handle would be the Judiciary Committee. I was more interested in the Centre for Periphery Relations Committee; that’s the committee which decides the nature of the State whether it would be unitary or federal. Most probably it will be pseudo federal. It will be federal in character but in label it is going to be unitary. That is the most important and most crucial committee. After discussing with our leaders, Dullas Alahpperuma who is the member of that subcommittee agreed to exchange committees with me. We handed over letters in the 3rd week of June requesting change of committees. We first handed in the resignation from the committees, as well as a requested for a change to the desired committees. They accepted our resignations, but didn’t appoint us to the new committees. As a result I have lost the opportunity to participate in the Judiciary Committee as well as the Centre for Periphery Relations Committee; for three months. I have reminded the Prime Minister, twice, so far. I feel that it is deliberate, as they do not want me on that committee because they consider me to be a spoiler.<\/p>\n

?Former President Kumaratunga has stated that Sri Lanka should go for a semi secular Federal Constitution. What does that entail?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A. There is no such thing defined as semi secular. You could say that Sri Lanka is a semi secular country because Sri Lanka has not recognzed any religion as the official religion. Sri Lanka has also recognized religious freedom in Article 12, and Article 14, and in Article 9 Buddhism has been given the foremost place. But it is not the official religion; Because of that SriLanka can be defined as semi secular. But President Kumaratunga is going to make it a semi secular State. Her semi secularism is something else. She was claiming that there was a problem with Sinhala Buddhist extremism. But knowing her character and her views, we know that she will recognize religious freedom to get away with Article 9. She also said that only Sinhala Buddhist extremists would oppose this move. But doesn’t she know that Article 9 was introduced by Dr. Colvin R de Silva who was a leading socialist in Sri Lanka. Presently the campaign to protect Article 9 is lead by Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith who is a leader of the Catholic community; not only in Sri Lanka, but the entire world. So, President Kumaratunga should sit back and think about this. It was introduced by a Marxist, and is protected by a Catholic priest. There is a reason for this.<\/p>\n

Buddhism has been the majority’s religion since the arrival of Arahat Mahinda. It has been the majority religion since then and was continued for a period around 2,300 years. There is no single country in this world which is associated with one religion for such a long time. In the UK Anglicanism is the State religion. In Norway Protestantism is the State religion; in Italy Catholicism is the State religion. Except for Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Turkey, all other Muslim majority nations have recognized Islam as the official religion. None of these countries have a cohesive relationship with their State religion in the manner Sri Lanka has with Buddhism.<\/p>\n

More than any other nation Sri Lanka has the right to recognize Buddhism as the official religion. Sri Lanka is considered as the headquarters, protector and the propagator of Theravada Buddhism. In the very same manner the Vatican protects Catholicism and Saudi Arabia protects Islam, Sri Lanka is duty bound to protect Theravada Buddhism. If Sri Lanka does not do that, there is no other nation to do that. That’s why these Marxist leaders had decided to prioritize Buddhism. Unfortunately President Kumaratunga who doesn’t know the history of this country and contemporary world practices has proposed a semi secular Constitution.<\/p>\n

Last May, the report of the Lal Wijenayake Committee was published. It’s a committee which consisted of 19 members appointed by the Cabinet. When they chose these people they very well knew their capacity, thinking and their views. So the government intentionally appointed these 19 members as they wanted a recommendation for a Federal State. After the publication of the Report there were some protests. In response to the protest, President and Prime Minister assured the nation that they will not bring a Federal Constitution.<\/p>\n

President Kumaratunga contradicts both the president and the Prime Minister. We know Sirisena, Ranil, and Chandrika are the trinity of this administration. President Kumaratunga is the bridge between the President and the Prime Minister. Additionally she is also the head of reconciliation. I think her statement has more validity than the President’s and the Prime Minister’s. Hence, both these leaders are duty bound to explain to the nation this contradiction.<\/p>\n

?On Monday the Chairman of the National Media Centre assumed duties. What is your view of the NMC?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A. Frankly, we don’t know the intention behind the formation of the National Media Centre. If government has to disseminate their actions, future plans and policies, there is the official organ – the Information Department to do it. As we know Imthiaz Bakeer Markar is a well respected person of this country. In 2001, I mentioned on TV at a debate that if Ranil Wickremesinghe, Chandrika Kumaratunga and Imthiaz Bakeer Markar contested at the Presidential elections I would vote for Bakeer Markar. This good person has been used for a bad purpose. There is no reason to establish another organ to inform the nation about the government’s activities. A lot of unpopular activities such as the ETCA, Hanuma Bridge, Federal Constitution and War Crimes Investigation are underway. All are very unpopular moves.<\/p>\n

Right now the Sri Lankan media is heavily influenced and controlled by the government. The Prime Minister has twice named certain media establishments and journalists and criticised them in Parliament. When a media institution telecast a news story showing a Buddhist monk destroying a plaque meant for President Sirisena that TV channel was under threat, of its frequency being withdrawn. Once the Media Ministry Secretary sent an outrageous circular to media institutions warning them to be mindful of what they broadcast, and write. The government unofficially controls the media. Because of the upcoming unpopular moves they want to officially do it through establishing the NMC. This ugly institution has been masked by Imthiaz Bakeer Markar’s genial face.<\/p>\n

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By Shaahidah Riza\u00a0Courtesy Ceylon Today United Peoples Freedom Alliance(UPFA) MP and General Secretary of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya(PHU), Udaya Gammanpila, believes that former President Chandrika Kumaratunga is the key decision maker of the present government. He added that her statement pertaining to a federal semi secular Constitution for Sri Lanka carries an enormous weight which […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-58997","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58997","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58997"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58997\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58997"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58997"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}