“Most parties represented in parliament, including several elements of the ruling coalition, have come out publicly or privately against the governing Sri Lankan Freedom Party draft devolution proposals. The Sinhalese nationalist JVP has also attacked the plan, saying it is contrary to the President’s anti-federalist 2005 election campaign manifesto, which the JVP accepted when it supported him. The opposition United National party (UNP) is awaiting the return of its leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe, currently traveling in Europe, before taking a definitive position. The prevailing sentiment in the party is that the UNP has little to gain by engaging on basis of the SLFP text, which they regard as incapable of addressing the country’s ethnic conflict. Most Tamils believe that district-level devolution has been tried at least twice before in previous decades and found to be inadequate for Sri Lanka.” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.
Silva and Rajapaksa
The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeaks database. The ‘Confidential’ cable discusses the governing SLFP’s devolution proposals. The cable was written on May 04, 2007 by the US embassy Charge d’Affaires James R. Moore.
Charge d’Affaires wrote; “A key member of the SLFP drafting committee (strictly protect) confided to Pol that the President had rejected the work of his committee, which had proposed provincial level devolution. The President then convened a second, smaller working group that excluded this contact and other prominent SLFP moderates. Nevertheless, this working group had also reported out a proposal to devolve power to the Provincial Councils. The third and final draft was the brainchild of Sri Lanka’s Chief Justice (known for his extreme and quirky views) and a lawyer close to the JVP. Our source told us the President pushed this third proposal through the party’s Central Committee. He believed that his plan for devolution to the provinces commanded much support within the SLFP, but in the end, Central Committee members were unwilling to cast votes against the President. His own draft went down to defeat, 33 to 3, although the President subsequently endorsed several amendments he suggested.”
Haramanis / July 23, 2013
This picture speaks a thousand words. These two are despicable individuals to put it mildly.
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Bedrock Barney / July 23, 2013
Now there a rare event. Sarath Silva having a bright idea.
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Lapatiya / July 23, 2013
Sarath Silva is the Father of many problems that we are facing today. This person allowed Tsunami Thief to walk free and that sin along enough for him to rot in the hell. This person has given the legal cover for party cross overs and that has created the worst dictator in the history.
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mike / July 23, 2013
This bugger Sarath Silva was also instrumental in arranging a match (beauty queen)for our mad dictator. Hail Hitlerpaksha!
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weerasena / July 23, 2013
The ‘key member’ of the SLFP committee referred to is Prof. Wiswa Warnapala who actively participated in the APRC and used his knowledge and experience to enrich the discussion. But MR thinks he is a CBK man and sidelined him. Any way, MR is more comfortable with the likes of Mervyn and Duminda than Warnapala. Of course, one can be like sold-his-soul GL who will answer “whatever Your Excellency says” if MR asks him what 2 plus 2 is!
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Sumith / July 23, 2013
40 years of political experience, and 10 years in power as the powerful executive president, yet cannot a get workable proposal out for provincial councils.
Also he could get 18th amendment done and passed in parliament in one week.
Is it sheer incompetence or fooling people and country ?
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Tsunami Hora / July 23, 2013
‘Mahinda’s Devolution Proposals Were Sarath Silva’s Brainchild’
Anything new? When did MR himself or his party (SLFP/UPFA)have a single idea on their own? It’s an ‘Aehinda’ party lead by ‘Hingannos’. Since Banda to date they were ‘anunge pahanin eliya balana’ beggars.
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Renu / July 23, 2013
Sarath Silva was never a valuable or a respected citizen of the country . He created most of the problems by giving judgementsin favour of the then Governments, One of the reasons is his associatoions with such people who are bent only on powers
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Jim softy / July 23, 2013
devolution si for whom ?, for politicians. Now, Sri Lanka has politicians what do they have done nothing except for themselves.
Sri Lanka needs decentralization. Devolution is a wastage of money resources and promoting corruption and crimes and thuggery. Because, in Sri Lanka some politicians are criminals too.
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Vichara / July 24, 2013
Sri Lanka needs decentralization’
Very correct. Devolution gives power to the politicians and not the people.
Sri Lanka achieved a lot with decentralized administration to the District and the Pradeshiya Sabhas wwhere professional administrators carried out the same functions that a horde of inefficient and corrupt politicians try to handle now.
We have never heard of Government Agents and other senior administrators in spates of killing or raping.
Politicians can advise on policy and monitor implementation but they should not get involved in administration.
In a District there is no need to have a set of new politicians for policy advise and monitoring. The present of MPs can do that.
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Thambili! / July 24, 2013
This dog and his brothers assasinated Lasantha W
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Thiru / July 25, 2013
The picture above is living testimony to the independence of judiciary in Sri Lanka.
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