{"id":84415,"date":"2018-12-27T14:13:58","date_gmt":"2018-12-27T21:13:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=84415"},"modified":"2018-12-27T14:13:58","modified_gmt":"2018-12-27T21:13:58","slug":"the-executive-presidency-should-be-abolished","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2018\/12\/27\/the-executive-presidency-should-be-abolished\/","title":{"rendered":"The Executive Presidency should be abolished"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chanaka Bandarage<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n

JR Jayawardane stated that in the Constitution that he drafted in 1978 he could do anything except, \u2018change a man into a woman and vice versa\u2019.<\/p>\n

When the Executive Presidency was introduced, Dr NM Perera asked the question If an insane person becomes a president, what would be the state of the country?\u201d<\/p>\n

Proponents of the Executive Presidency argue that if not for the existence of that position, the country would not have eradicated terrorism.<\/p>\n

It needs to bear in mind that the seed of terrorism was planted by the LTTE when the Executive Presidency was in existence.\u00a0 True, it was during Sirima Bandaranaike\u2019s time that Prabhakaran \u00a0made his first terrorist act –\u00a0 killing of the Jaffna mayor, Alfred Durraiappah in 1975, but JR Jayawardane had ample opportunity to\u2019 nip the LTTE terrorism in the bud\u2019 but he spectacularly failed.\u00a0 During his time not only did the seed of LTTE terrorism grow into a giant tree, despite the enormous powers he had, JR Jayawardane had absolutely no knowledge of how to curb or control it.<\/p>\n

Looking back at the recent past, it was during JR Jayewardene\u2019s Executive Presidency that so much of damage and destruction has happened to the country.\u00a0 The causation for same \u2013 taking wrongful decisions, should be directly apportioned to him; the Executive President:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • By introducing an open market economy on an ad hoc basis, the country became everyone\u2019s dumping ground for goods. The country\u2019s agriculture and local industries collapsed.\u00a0 By 1977, the country had almost become self-sufficient in food thanks to the \u00a0previous Sirima Bandaranaike government.\u00a0 But, JR Jayawardane recklessly opened the \u2018flood gates\u2019 allowing the import of almost every food item to the country.\u00a0 Basically, all that was achieved through the hard work of Sirima Bandaranaike government was wiped off\/destroyed.\u00a0 He failed to introduce measures to protect local farmers and local industries.\u00a0 Stringent tariffs that any country would impose on imports that are harmful to local producers were not introduced.\u00a0 The result of the collapse of the local industry is that today we import almost everything that we require, from the paper clip onwards.<\/li>\n
  • Large scale corruption that was previously unheard of became the norm of the day. A perception was created that not only corruption was alright, it was also respectable. The then President kept a blind eye allowing his ministers and faithfuls to plunder the country\u2019s wealth willy nilly.<\/li>\n
  • Communal riots broke out frequently where innocent Tamils were subjected to death and their properties were destroyed. We are still paying a huge price for the infamous \u2018Black July of 1983\u2019. The then President omitted to act fast, a grave lapse on his part.<\/li>\n
  • When the brave armed forces had cornered the terrorist leader Prabhakaran and his cohorts in Vedamarachchi (in 1986), JR Jayawardane abruptly stopped the onslaught.<\/li>\n
  • When the whole country opposed it, the then President signed the Indo-Lanka pact with India in 1987. He placed the country under curfew and signed it.\u00a0 In the said document, he wrongfully acknowledged that the north and the east are traditional Tamil homelands.<\/li>\n
  • The then President enacted the 13th<\/sup> Amendment which has caused enormous damage to the country. Under pressure from a foreign government, the then President quite unnecessarily agreed to create nine provincial governments in Sri Lanka.\u00a0 Not only that they are useless, ineffective and infested with corruption – as alleged by many; they have become massive white elephants in their own right.<\/li>\n
  • Re-emergence of the JVP insurrection in the late 1980s which not only destroyed the country\u2019s economy but also thousands of precious lives.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    This trend of terrorist killings, bomb blasts and destruction to property continued under subsequent Presidents, until Mahinda Rajapakse took control of the war between 2007 \u2013 2009.<\/p>\n

    Under the Executive Presidents thus far, not only has the country\u2019s economy deteriorated (we are one of the main debt ridden countries of the world), we have destroyed our natural environment.\u00a0 We could not even stop the Human – Elephant conflict (due to extensive jungle clearing the conflict was exacerbated by the accelerated Mahaveli Development program).\u00a0 Bribery, corruption and malpractices have become rampant and they have become part and parcel of our daily lives.\u00a0 It has come to a position that corruption is tolerated and accepted as respectable.\u00a0 In law and order, the country has performed badly and overall, we seem to have become a less loving and a caring society.<\/p>\n

    Mahinda Rajapakse showed brave leadership and crushed the terrorists in May 2009.\u00a0 This is an extraordinary achievement.\u00a0 It equals the Great War waged by King Dutu Gamunu against Elara.<\/p>\n

    The writer states that this reason alone should not be a reason to maintain the Executive Presidency.<\/p>\n

    Mahinda Rajapakse would have done same if he was the Prime Minister.\u00a0 He could have still utilised the services of Gotabhaya\u00a0 Rajapakse and Sarath Fonseka, the brave stalwarts who were directly responsible for bringing us the war victory (other leaders who worked with absolute commitment and dedication like Wasantha Karannadoda, Roshan Gunathilake etc should not be forgotten).<\/p>\n

    We should bear in mind that Sirima Bandaranaike as the then Prime Minister successfully repulsed the 1971 JVP insurrection.\u00a0 She did not possess Executive Presidential powers then.<\/p>\n

    The writer stresses that though the Executive Presidency helped us to crush the terrorists, it is not a reason for us to keep same forever.<\/p>\n

    JR Jayawardane did not create the Executive Presidency to curb a terrorist war.\u00a0 It was his mere desire to possess total power.<\/p>\n

    The writer states that the Executive Presidency has now reached its \u2018expiry date\u2019 and it should be abolished.\u00a0 He outlines the following further reasons:<\/p>\n

    Since winning the war in 2009, the country has grown into a \u2018different country\u2019. Today our priority is not curbing a terrorist war, but, sustainable economic development.\u00a0 Reconciliation has also become a main focus of the governments (the writer stresses that reconciliation should not be a \u2018one-way street\u2019; it is unfair to demand one section of the community (ie Sinhalese) to make all the commitments\/sacrifices).<\/p>\n

    Sadly, since winning the war, the Executive Presidents rather than strengthening the military has taken action to weaken them. \u00a0Scores of military camps have been closed in the north and the east and the trend continues. \u00a0The military run cafes, cafeterias, guest houses that the southern visitors to the north used to patronage were closed down.\u00a0 The valuable LTTE sites that the military maintained (like Prabhakaran\u2019s mansions\/swimming pools, LTTE bunkers, Soosai\u2019s home etc), which southerners and foreign tourists were eager to view were demolished\/destroyed.\u00a0 They were incentives for the southerners to visit the north, such visits (seldom now) are an integral part of creating ethnic harmony\/reconciliation.\u00a0 Furthermore, the LTTE sites were important to be kept (under the military control) as the northerners would then not forget the atrocities committed by the meglomanic terrorist leader.<\/p>\n

    The governments under the Executive Presidents have failed to build hostels, pilgrims rests etc in the north and the east for the southerners visiting those areas as they are essential to their safety.\u00a0 Today, Sinhalese visiting the north and the east are struggling to find safe accommodation, bearing in mind the emergence of various armed groups like the Ava group.<\/p>\n

    The Executive Presidents have failed to resettle the displaced Sinhalese and the Muslims in the north and the east.\u00a0 Nothing was done to assist the average Sinhalese in the south who wants to set up a home for themselves in the north or the east.\u00a0 Wigneswaran led NPC government took a heavy hand on the Sinhalese who wished to live in that province and did all it could to stop same from happening. \u00a0Even placing a new Buddha statue in a public place for worship was opposed by that administration.\u00a0 The list of discrimination\/racism against the Sinhalese by the Wigneswaran led Northern Provincial Government (NPC) is a long one.<\/p>\n

    In the recent past, under the rule of the Executive Presidents even the military that are stationed in the north and the east have been largely confined to barracks. \u00a0It is stated that more than 60,000 acres of land that the Army had occupied had been disbanded in the past few years.\u00a0 The writer is unsure of these numbers.\u00a0 There is more land to be\u00a0 released before the end of this year.<\/p>\n

    Again all those decisions have been taken by the Executive Presidents in their capacity as the Defence Minister.<\/p>\n

    It is strange that such actions have received little criticism.\u00a0 People in the south seem uninterested about the north and the east, as long as they remain parts of Sri Lanka.\u00a0 This is not wise thinking on their part.<\/p>\n

    Whether a Prime Minister with executive powers would act differently is a matter that cannot be addressed now.\u00a0 No one can predict who would become the country\u2019s first and subsequent executive Prime Ministers.\u00a0 It is not relevant to the matter that is at hand.<\/p>\n

    The good thing is that the proposed executive Prime Minster will be estopped from acting arbitrarily; it is a must that he\/she will have to work in unison with the cabinet of ministers.<\/p>\n

    Under the present system, the President could take decisions willy nilly.\u00a0 As enunciated above, since ending the war they have made lots of bad decisions.\u00a0 It is possible that the country may pay dearly for them one day.<\/p>\n

    The writer states that overall, the Executive Presidency has failed the country.\u00a0 It has not solved people\u2019s problem. It has failed to find solutions to people\u2019s new problems.<\/p>\n

    An important criteria of Westminster democracy is that important decisions of a country should not be taken by just one person.\u00a0 They are taken by a cabinet of ministers presided over by a Prime Minister.\u00a0 This is fundamental to most democratic governments such as UK, Canada, Australia, India, Malaysia, South Africa, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Singapore. \u00a0We were also like them prior to 1978.<\/p>\n

    One major drawback in the current system is that the Presidnet is not directly answerable to the Parliament.\u00a0 He does not attend parliamentary sittings and answer questions.\u00a0 But, under the proposed system the cabinet presided over by a Prime Minister will be directly answerable to the people, through the parliament.\u00a0 This is the \u2018Supremacy of the People\u2019 maintained through the Parliament.<\/p>\n

    Some argue that in Sri Lanka the cabinet may be comprised of ministers who would favour separatism and also that the future executive Prime Minister may not act in the best interests of the country.\u00a0 But, this is a hypothetical argument that cannot be addressed here.<\/p>\n

    If there is a fear that the executive Prime Minister as chairperson of the cabinet would heed to unfair minority demands, then same or more fear should exist if that person is elected by the people as the Executive President.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Say, a person against whom the people have doubts about becoming the proposed Prime Minister becomes the President after winning at a Presidential election, then those people should be extra alarmed.\u00a0 This is because the current Executive President has more powers than the future executive Prime Minister.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Again, it is much better for a group of persons to discuss issues and make decisions consensually, rather than one single person (the Presidnet) making them of his\/her own.\u00a0 Note Dr NM Perera\u2019s above statement.<\/p>\n

    What if an Executive President decides to act solely and close all military camps in the north and the east, merge the north and the east or release all political prisoners (as the Commander in Chief of the armed forces and Defence Minister he does have such powers).\u00a0 We would have no recourse at all then.\u00a0 Impeaching him\/her would not be a solution as the \u2018horse had then bolted\u2019. The good thing in the proposed system is that the Prime Minister as chairperson of the cabinet would not have such exclusive powers to exercise.\u00a0 His\/her powers will be much limited.<\/p>\n

    Some argue that one would not be able to place trust in the cabinet and maintaining the status quo is the best option.\u00a0 They see the current Executive Presidency as a safety net for the majority Sinhalese.\u00a0 They argue that since the President of Sri Lanka would always be a Sinhalese, it is safer to have the present system.\u00a0 This argument has no substance.\u00a0 Under the proposed system, the likely Prime Minister will emerge either from the SLFP (Pohottuwa included) or UNP.\u00a0 And leaders of those two parties have always been a Sinhalese. \u00a0In any case, our history is such that there had been Sinhala kings who had been unfaithful to the nation.\u00a0 There had been kings who had betrayed the nation.<\/p>\n

    We should also realise that in the future no one would be able to win a Presidential Election without the minority\u2019s support. \u00a0This means even a future Executive Presidnet will have to make promises to secure the minority vote.\u00a0 This is what happened in the 2015 Presidential election.<\/p>\n

    The President is now carrying out the promises he had made to TNA at the 2015 election – to release military land in the north and the east to people and various provincial government instrumentalities. \u00a0It may perhaps be that certain military camps are required to be close down for this purpose.\u00a0 The writer is unaware of the details.\u00a0 He fears that these action could have serious ramifications.<\/p>\n

    A main reason why the Executive Presidency should be abolished is the emergence of the situation where the President and the Prime Minister coming from opposing political parties and failing to work as a team, and start to \u2018fight\u2019 among themselves. Such a situation is a recepie for disaster.\u00a0 It is the country that will suffer and the people will have to pay a huge price for their leaders\u2019 egos. \u00a0Due to close elections that we are bound to have in the future, such situations could become the norm of the day.<\/p>\n

    More reasons why the Executive Presidency should go:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Costs<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Today the President\u2019s office has become a mammoth establishment.\u00a0 It is so giant; it is capable of running the country single handedly by itself.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    The writer has read that at least Rs 200 million is required to sustain the Executive Presidency each day.\u00a0 In the Parliament, it was recently revealed that an amount closer to Rs 5500 million was spent as the President\u2019s expenditure over a 3 or 4 months period. \u00a0The writer is unsure about the correctness of these amounts. \u00a0They could be less or even more. \u00a0In any case, it seems that the money required to sustain the Executive Presidency is enormous in any standard \u2013 even for a rich country.<\/p>\n

    Duplicity in work<\/strong><\/p>\n

    The government ministries and the office of the Executive President seem to carry out the same functions in different forms.\u00a0 This is a clear duplication of work.<\/p>\n

    Currently, the government enacts policies in the parliament and implements them through the ministers.\u00a0 The cabinet is presided over by the President.\u00a0 At the same time the Presidential secretariat runs its own policies and implements them through various staff.\u00a0 For this, a large staff is attached to the Presidential Secretariat.\u00a0 The exact number of Consultants, Secretaries, Directors and other staff work for the President is unknown, they must be in the hundreds or even in the thousands.<\/p>\n

    Under the 19th<\/sup> Amendment the President\u2019s authority is now restricted and the President is allocated only two ministries.\u00a0 This is good.<\/p>\n

    But, it is not a secret that the Presidents are likely to interfere in the works of the government ministers, bypassing the authority of the Prime Minister, who is currently above the ministers. \u00a0The President can give direct orders to ministry secretaries. \u00a0This conflicts with the work that the ministers undertake.<\/p>\n

    Again, basically, the Presidnet and the ministers doing the same or similar work differently is a clear duplication of work. \u00a0Then, vast sums of money are wasted.\u00a0 Especially as both the President and the ministers spend large amounts of money to publicise their work.<\/p>\n

    For example, the Agriculture department has its own grow organic food scheme, the President\u2019s office runs a similar program.\u00a0 The government\u2019s social service programs such as Samurdhi, Gamperaliya and Enterprise Lanka are directly in conflict with the President\u2019s Grama Shakthi program. \u00a0The government has grassroots level presence in the villages through Grama Sevakas, Samurdhi officers etc.\u00a0 The President\u2019s office has a Purawesi Athwela program. \u00a0There exists an Economic Development ministry, then the President runs his own National Economic Council.\u00a0 The list goes on.<\/p>\n

    The President currently is in charge of the ministries of Defence (the ministry of Law and Order is included), Environment and Mahaveli, the President\u2019s fund, and the Sanvardhana Lottery.<\/p>\n

    It is stated that the President\u2019s fund is not subject to audits (from inception).\u00a0 If this is true, it is not good.\u00a0 There should be checks and balances against all public funds\/accounts.<\/p>\n

    Usually the President makes appointments of the High Commissioners and Ambassadors. \u00a0Here, again one person making important appointments of his own.<\/p>\n

    Fortunately, the President\u2019s powers are curtailed by the four Independent Commissions (19th<\/sup> Amendment).<\/p>\n

    Mismanagement and maladministration<\/strong><\/p>\n

    There are hundreds or thousands of vehicles in the President\u2019s Office vehicle pool.\u00a0 Some of the vehicles used by the pre-2015 January administration were unable to be located several months into the new administration.<\/p>\n

    Thousands of people are attached to the Presidential security division.<\/p>\n

    Hundreds of people work in the President\u2019s media section.<\/p>\n

    These are enormous bureaucracies within the President\u2019s office.<\/p>\n

    The irony is that similar offices are maintained by another arm of the Executive \u2013 the office of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.<\/p>\n

    A large number of prime governmental buildings have been allocated for the use of the President\u2019s office.\u00a0 A number of buildings, mainly in Fort, have been taken on lease, the rent paid is unknown, but must be substantial.<\/p>\n

    Sri Lanka, a heavily debt ridden country, cannot afford to sustain \u2018two machinery of executive governments\u2019 \u2013 the office of the Executive President and the Prime Minister and\u00a0 the cabinet (ministries).\u00a0 Surely, one of them must be disbanded.\u00a0 It should be the office of the Executive President that must go. \u00a0This must happen as early as conveniently.<\/p>\n

    Proponents of the current system<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Those who want to keep the current Presidential system in tact state that there is an attempt to divide the nation through the proposed 20th<\/sup> Amendment.\u00a0 It is too premature to make such a critique as the bill to amend the Constitution through the 20th<\/sup> Amendment by JVP has not yet been released to the public. \u00a0In the event that it has been released (recently) the writer has not yet perused same.\u00a0 Hence, he cannot comment about the criticism.<\/p>\n

    As patriots, we have fought tooth and nail to oppose provisions to amend the Constitution that are harmful to the country\u2019s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We will continue to fight for same in the \u00a0future.<\/p>\n

    It is important to bear in mind that abolition of the Executive Presidency and amending the Constitution to grant more powers to the provinces (in realty to the north and the east) are two separate issues.\u00a0 The TNA is hell bent on asking for the latter \u2013 the Constitutional amendments. It is difficult to see how abolishment of the Executive Presidency would advance secession.<\/p>\n

    It is the people through a referendum that could determine such things as whether or not a Tamil Eelam should be created (not by the incoming executive Prime Minister – whoever it would be).<\/p>\n

    13th<\/sup> Amendment<\/strong><\/p>\n

    The writer states that when abolishing the Executive Presidency the 13th<\/sup> Amendment should also be abolished.\u00a0 The Provincial councils are also a giant white elephant.\u00a0 The provincial councils are a useless administrative machinery and are unsuitable for a small country like Sri Lanka.\u00a0 It is good for geographically big countries like India, Canada and France. Note that Australia has provincial governments but smaller New Zealand does not have them.<\/p>\n

    What Sri Lanka needed is a strong central government with power decentralised through GAs, Pradeshiya Sabhas and Municipal Councils. \u00a0\u00a0This is what we had under the old Saulbury Constitution.<\/p>\n

    We know that though majority of the people want the abolition of the provincial councils, unfortunately, there is no political will to do so.\u00a0 All major\u00a0 political parties want to preserve them.<\/p>\n

    There were opportunities to quash the 13th<\/sup> Amendment in May 2009 (soon after winning the terrorist war) and in 2012 before establishing the NPC. \u00a0What we demanded in 2012 was to abolish all 9 provincial councils through a nationwide referendum. \u00a0But, the then government was disinterested in the proposal. \u00a0The then government was determined to establish the NPC knowing well that Wigneswaran was becoming the TNA\u2019s Chief Minister (his candidature was announced prematurely).<\/p>\n

    Since inception in 1987, so much \u2018water has flown under the 13th<\/sup> Amendment bridge\u2019, it is unlikely that the legislatures would agree to dismantle the provincial government system.\u00a0 This is unfortunate (like many Sri Lankans, the writer will be extremely happy if this giant while elephant is abolished).<\/p>\n

    JVP proposals<\/strong><\/p>\n

    The writer is not a proponent of the JVP proposals to abolish the Executive Presidency.\u00a0 This is because he has not seen the full set of the proposal.\u00a0 But, he states prima facie<\/em> the JVP proposals sound good.\u00a0 The writer fundamentally agrees with the fight launched by Ven Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thero that the Presidential system should be abolished. \u00a0In the ITN interview that the venerable Thero participated just prior to his demise in 2016; what he professed therein about the abolition of the Executive Presidency is totally correct.<\/p>\n

    Non-Executive President <\/strong><\/p>\n

    The writer agrees that a non-Executive President should be appointed and he\/she should be the nominal head of the state. \u00a0That position can be appointed by the majority vote of the Parliament.<\/p>\n

    The writer opposes giving extraordinary powers to the said nominal President such as the Defence power and any ministries.\u00a0 Like in India the non-Executive Presidnet could be the ceremonial head of the defence forces, without specific powers such as giving orders to defence establishments. Defence should be a separate cabinet ministry and defence related decisions should be taken jointly by the cabinet and the Prime Minister.\u00a0 If we have a smaller cabinet (less than 30), it is easy to maintain cabinet confidentiality.\u00a0 The cabinet will arrive at defence decisions upon receiving briefs from the heads of the military.<\/p>\n

    Ideally, the future non-Executive President should be akin to HE William Gopallawala who undertook Presidential duties between 1972 to 1977.\u00a0 If more powers are given, it will be creating a very complicated situation.<\/p>\n

    The Australian Governor General is also a good model to have a look at.<\/p>\n

    End<\/strong><\/p>\n

    It is the stance of most of the patriots that the current Executive Presidency should remain in tact. Of course, their points of view must be given due regard and respect.<\/p>\n

    They say this also owing to placing faith in a particular individual, who if elected, would no doubt act in the best interests of the country.\u00a0 But, laws cannot be enacted to suit any particular person, and about things that may or may not happen in the future. \u00a0A country\u2019s interests are far more important and greater than that of an individual.<\/p>\n

    The writer opposes the inclusion of granting Land and Police powers to the provinces in the proposed 20th<\/sup> Amendment.\u00a0 The 20th<\/sup> Amendment should be confined to abolishing the Executive Presidency only (and abolition of the 13th<\/sup> Amendment if the legislature and the people at a referendum so agree).<\/p>\n

    But, provisions could be included in the 20th<\/sup>\u00a0 Amendment to dismantle the appointment of MPs by way of the National List (chit MP system) and allowing political parties to suspend\/dismiss MPs who crossover to other parties. \u00a0These are important reforms that will strengthen our democracy.<\/p>\n

    Once a Constitution, is made (20th<\/sup> Amendment), it should not be subjected to further amendments.\u00a0 Constitutions are not like a \u2018Dogs Act\u2019 that can be subjected to repeated amendments.\u00a0 They should not be varied in accordance with the desires and fancies of individuals.\u00a0 The British, Australian, New Zealand, US and Singaporean Constitutions have never or rarely been amended.\u00a0 That is the main reason why those countries have no constitutional crisis.\u00a0 They run strong governments. \u00a0From 1948 to 1977, we had no constitutional crisis.\u00a0 Since 1978, we have amended our Constitution 19 times!<\/p>\n

    Once the 20th<\/sup> Amendment is enacted, it is possible that the legislatures would start discussing the 21st<\/sup> Amendment!<\/p>\n

    That way of governance is reckless and the consequences could be dangerous.<\/p>\n

    In this article, the writer has shown that abolishment of the Executive Presidency is a very good move. \u00a0It would allow us to achieve a stable, conflict less, one Sri Lanka.\u00a0 He has also shown the huge costs benefits that such an abolition would bring us.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Chanaka Bandarage JR Jayawardane stated that in the Constitution that he drafted in 1978 he could do anything except, \u2018change a man into a woman and vice versa\u2019. When the Executive Presidency was introduced, Dr NM Perera asked the question If an insane person becomes a president, what would be the state of the country?\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[88],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-84415","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chanaka-bandarage"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84415","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=84415"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84415\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=84415"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=84415"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=84415"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}