Over 100 artists, intellectuals and social activists have made a public appeal calling upon the government as well as opposition political parties to make a change in the prevalent governance system.
Dharmasiri Bandaranayake
Among those who have signed the appeal includes Dr. Dharmasena Pathiraja, Dharmasiri Bandaranayake, Professor Kumar David, Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri, Gamini Viyangoda and Prasanna Vithanage. Pointing out the dangers of the direction in which the country is presently heading, they have called for a change in the prevalent system.
The petition has listed out the following points to elaborate on the worrisome state of the country:
- Despite the rapid development, the high interest loans that fund such projects have heavily burdened the public and has incurred detrimental impacts to the economic progress of the country
- Problematic state of the inter-racial and inter-religious relations
- Although five years have passed since the end of the war, residents of the North and East are still deprived of their fundamental rights and are instead pushed into a heavily militarised society
- Rising anti-Muslim sentiments in the country resulting in the tragedy of Aluthgama
- Deteriorating state of the public health and education systems
- Sorry state of the rule of law in Sri Lanka that has resulted in the country transforming into a state rampant with crimes
- Human rights situation falling to new lows
- Contortion of the constitution and the governance system of the country
The concerned artistes and intellectuals have pointed out the present situation is a result of the irregularities in the governance system and the societal structure.
“As a group keen to see a better tomorrow for this country, we request the government, its ally parties as well as the opposition parties to oust the corrupt, irregular and complicated societal structure and governance system and ensure it is transformed into a system that is accepted by the public where the Executive Presidency is replaced by a new democratic governance system that would reinstate the public confidence in the governance structure,” the appeal statement reads.
The statement furthermore stresses that the new governance system should:
- Provide equal rights and opportunities to all communities and religions
- Guarantee people’s right to information
- Reject corruption, inefficiency,oppression and dictatorship
- Reprimand exploitation of power
- Ensure an equal distribution of centric political power between the central government and its peripheral entities
- Uphold the rule of law
- Constructive return of the power of the people’s mandate
Read the full statement here
Namal Perera / August 22, 2014
Stop nominating CRIMINALS to contest Elections and introduce legislation that no criminal could hold public office. Once the criminals are rooted out, the lawless corrupt Banana Republic should be turned back to Democratic Sri Lanka.
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Ahmed / August 22, 2014
If the criminals are bared from contesting elections, they will put puppet politicians to manipulate governance.
I think, the best way to solve the present internal issues and external pressures is that Sri Lanka should become nine independent countries, giving every province a freedom. This way we can have eight more votes in UN, even if the North and East oppose, still we can have six votes in our side. Also imagine, having nine PMs and Presidents! To avoid border disputes, the nine countries can form a Sri Lankan Union to accept common currency, no Passport/visa etc.
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Sumith / August 22, 2014
be aware.
Until the dissent voice against the Jarapasse juntas gain critical mass, those voice against Jarapasse’s are in great danger.
I salute those who stand up for the betterment of the country. !
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Amarasiri / August 22, 2014
Dharmasiri Bandaranayake
“Over 100 artists, intellectuals and social activists have made a public appeal calling upon the government as well as opposition political parties to make a change in the prevalent governance system.”
Thank you for your efforts. Both Non-Paras and Paras appreciate your efforts except those crones, stooges and shills of MaRa or Raja-pakas.
Well Articulated below by you all. Work to get rid of the current set of Criminals.
“The statement furthermore stresses that the new governance system should:
Provide equal rights and opportunities to all communities and religions
Guarantee people’s right to information
Reject corruption, inefficiency,oppression and dictatorship
Reprimand exploitation of power
Ensure an equal distribution of centric political power between the central government and its peripheral entities
Uphold the rule of law
Constructive return of the power of the people’s mandate “
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Peaceloving / August 22, 2014
No one knows these people!
None of them is really famous.
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Selwyn / August 22, 2014
Your psedonymn does not indicate the true meaning. Change it to ‘Rabble Rouser’.
Is it fake ignorance that you comment not knowing at least some of the ‘not famous’ Artistes and Intellectuals?
Maybe MR, GR & BBS are in your list of ‘famous people’.
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Bastian / August 22, 2014
Woke up to the discovery that Kumar David has suddenly become an “artist”!
We have all known that he has been a “con artist” for decades, claiming to be a leftist.
[Edited out]
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saliya / August 22, 2014
“Over 100 artists, intellectuals and social activists” -read man!Who said all 100 were artists. You are like your master- MR, who also does not read.
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Native Vedda / August 23, 2014
Bastian
“We have all known that he has been a “con artist” for decades, claiming to be a leftist.”
Good pun, could you tell us how did he con people? How many of them do you know personally?
He does enjoy Durian, does it exclude him from being a red shirt lefty?
He may not be a hard left however you can count him as a cuddly left.
Please let me know the difference between Kumar David and Weerawansa in their respective approach to their personal leftism and their track record.
I am grateful.
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Rohan / August 22, 2014
Obviously unknown to you. You don’t watch Sri Lankan films; you don’t see Sinhala and Tamil dramas; don’t read local newspapers. You are blinded by MR, GR, BR, CR and NR. Keep it up, buddy.
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Chamara Perera / August 23, 2014
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression. Can you please try and keep it for yourself……..
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justice / August 22, 2014
Invite members of the Election Commission of India to supervise elections – polling and counting – alongside the commissioner of elections and his officers.
Enforce Election Laws fully commencing the days of nomination.
Appoint we known human rights cum law and order activists to monitor elections, and maintain flying squads to arrest law violaters and produce them before courts and remand them till after elections are over.
Ensure that all eligible voters are registered, and for voters to receive polling cards on time.
Postal votes should be filled in,in the presence of magistrates in courts.
If all this is done,people will elect their choices unlike as happens now.
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radish.S / August 22, 2014
Thank YOU Artistes and Intellectuals. The government though late in doing anything to bring about peace and reconciliation was very quick to
wreck it and many of you were also sleeping in the meantime not having the guts to open your mouths.One could understand the morons in the government doing it but even the Professor who wrote ‘Towards Equity’ aiding and abetting them is really a shame.If the government, be it under any of the past Presidents or the present one had implemented what is already in the Constitution we would not have been in this sorry state today.
‘Peaceloving’ don’t you know even Dharmasri Bandaranayake or Prasanna Vithanage if not the Professors?You must be really from another planet!
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Peace Lover / August 22, 2014
Artists are mad to ask this which is totally opposite to the K A Sumanasekera doctrine which clearly says ‘post nanthikadal all things are permissible by the rulers to protect the way of life of the majority inhabitants!:- )haahaahaahah
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Robert.R / August 22, 2014
What poppycock, many artists I remember came on TV 2009/2010 to ask people to vote for a “suba anagathayak”
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Jim softy / August 22, 2014
“Provide equal rights and opportunities to all communities and religions”
Why it is only Sri Lanka. Why don’t they ask it from western Christian Countries and Middle eastern muslim countries and muslim majority countries.
Why do they want to push 300 million Buddhist to the brink of extinction ?
Guarantee people’s right to information
The FIRST BEST THING is self introduce their interests by each individual of this group.
Other wise, they are like tamils asking 2/3rd of the sea and 1/3 of the country for the 3% of people.
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Amarasiri / August 24, 2014
Jim softy, Lorenzo, Leela, Fatima, and avtars,
“Other wise, they are like tamils asking 2/3rd of the sea and 1/3 of the country for the 3% of people.”
The Land belongs to Native Veddah Aethho. All others are Paras, Pardershis. The Praras, Paradeshis should get back to South India and live in harmony in fatherland of Buddha and Krishna etc.
Please Leave Lanka, the land of Native Veddah Aethho.
The Vedda Tribe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f89NuukY32U
Tamil-speaking Veddas of Vaharai await war recovery support
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeFCuZwexRw
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Javi / August 22, 2014
Legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between temple and State.
Priest/politician/police/social worker has been hostile to liberty.
He is always in alliance with the despot, abetting his abuses in return for protection to his own.
100 Artist-[favete linguis]Oblige/champion the meek with your tongues!!
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punchinilame / August 22, 2014
One wonders if Jackson and a 100 from the Universities will ever be able to
issue a counter Statement?
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siri / August 22, 2014
What is the purpose of our elections if – within a few days – those who are in the losing party cross over to the Government for various perks? Why do these parties nominate such unprincipled rascals in the first place? What choice do we voters have?
What use, therefore, are these elections?
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douglas / August 24, 2014
In the past how many numbers of artists and eminent persons have supported the Governments to put in place. All those Governments, including the present have deceived them and still I do not see these people learning anything from the past. The main reason, as I see, is they were concerned and concentrated one or two issues most affecting them and their benefits rather than the country at large. Even the points they are raising at the moment are mostly political, but had completely forgot the economic, social and establishment of “No Nonsense” Good Governance and a comprehensive deterrent punishments system for violators of legislative and executive powers. So this type of “ad hoc” suggestions are not going to over haul the whole system that has been used and abused by the authorities.
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ela kolla / August 25, 2014
bunch of pathetic jobless beggars trying to be popular…
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