7 December, 2024

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A Comment On A Comment On The Campaign To Abolish The Presidential System

By Laksiri Fernando

Dr. Laksiri Fernando

Dr. Laksiri Fernando

In a recent article titled “A Comment on the Campaign to Abolish the Presidential System,” Professor G. H. Peiris has sought to challenge the arguments of the campaigners to abolish the presidential system and argues that the proponents of the campaign “often tend to overlook the circumstances that culminated in the promulgation of a new constitution in 1978.” As he has stated “the main innovative element of which was the introduction of a system of government headed by an executive president elected directly on the basis of an all-island poll.”

His arguments deserve careful attention for two main reasons. First, as he has stated, he is a “no supporter of any political party” and “never had a personal stake on the fortunes of any politician or party.” Second, he has not denied the existence of certain ills in the present situation, if not the system, which he has summarized into three as (1) lack of transparency in financial matters (2) ham-handed decision making,, and (3) vestiges in criminalization of politics.

His main conclusion seems to be the following: “I am convinced that it is not the executive presidential system that constitutes the root cause for the prevailing ills.” However, he has not himself expressed clearly his prognosis of the root causes.

Three Identified Ills

If R. Premadasa was living and contesting, Chandrika Kumaratunga would not have come to power in 1994. The UPFA came to power in 1994, and continues until today under the presidential system already for 20 years. This is hardly healthy for democracy. Presidential powers in Sri Lanka are like giving monkeys razor blades.

If R. Premadasa was living and contesting, Chandrika Kumaratunga would not have come to power in 1994. The UPFA came to power in 1994, and continues until today under the presidential system already for 20 years. This is hardly healthy for democracy. Presidential powers in Sri Lanka are like giving monkeys razor blades.

It appears that people greatly differ in identifying the ‘prevailing or recurrent ills’ in present day politics in Sri Lanka and their ‘roots causes.’ Undoubtedly, there cannot be one root cause for any ill or ills and therefore abolition of the presidential system undoubtedly is not a panacea. In respect of present ills, G. H. Peiris has identified three, as advocated by others, but all with certain qualifications as follows.

Ill 1: “Lack of transparency in financial affairs of the government.”

Qualification: “The irony is that this phenomenon is being highlighted by certain NGOs and segments of the media that are far more secretive of their own affairs than the government.”

Ill 2: “Ham-handed decision-making in certain prioritising investment.”

Qualification: “Illustrated by the lavish but under-utilised infrastructure at Mattala, Weerawila and Ranminitenna, ostensibly meant for developing an economically retarded area.”

Ill 3: “The vestiges of criminalisation of politics.”

Qualification: “A global phenomenon the exemplifications of which is far more pronounced among our neighbours.”

According to the above analysis, the ills are not that serious therefore in a way the author is logical and his position is understandable. However there are others, including myself, who see the situation more seriously and who believe that with the 18th Amendment the presidential system has become irreparable. On my part, I have never believed that a presidential system is a good system for Sri Lanka whatever the weaknesses of the parliamentary system or political regimes before.

21 Reasons

When I wrote about the “Danger of the Third Term and How to Prevent It” (15 October 2014), a well-meaning commenter asked me why the presidential system should be abolished as an institution. I happened to give 21 reasons quickly as follows in point form but not necessarily in a particular order. I still maintain them as reasons without any revision.

(1) The present family rule depends on the presidential system. There were symptoms even before.

(2) Presidential system has encouraged the militarization of the state even after the conclusion of the war. This is not recent, but has worsened in recent times.

(3) Beyond the military, a strong politically coercive and ad hoc mechanism has been created to suppress political opponents under President’s direct and indirect patronage.

(4) The power of the state has almost completely moved from Diyawanna Oya to the Temple Trees.

(5) All other Ministers including the PM are mere puppets in comparison to the President.

(6) Key decisions are not made in Parliament or in the Cabinet, but within an inner circle of family and faithful bureaucrats.

(7) Although the President may attend Parliament he/she is not answerable to Parliament in a practical sense.

(8) Presidential powers are enormous under the Constitution and he/she has virtual immunity from prosecution/legal accountability.

(9) With the above powers and resources at hand, a Presidents can manipulate the Members of Parliament quite easily. This has been the case in the recent past although crumbling at present.

(10) Under the presidential system, the functions and the level or quality of Parliament has degenerated although EP system is not the sole factor.

(11) The opposition has become weak under the presidential system as there is no visible government in Parliament. Take the example of DMJ as the PM.

(12) There is the possibility of conflict between the President and Parliament or even the President and the Cabinet like during 2002/2004 at any time in the future jeopardizing the stability of the government and the country. This instability can be greater than in a cabinet/parliamentary system.

(13) A President has powers to disregard, take powers away or dissolve such an oppositional government and/or Parliament.

(14) A presidential system is extremely expensive and leads to corruption.

(15) Crony capitalists and business manipulators can easily rally around a dubious president. This is not possible or easy in a Cabinet system.

(16) The reasons given to establish an EP system by JR were flawed or no longer valid.

(17) Cabinet or Parliamentary systems are proven to be better than a presidential system internationally.

(18) There is an inherent tendency within a presidential system to become authoritarian and dictatorial particularly in a developing and a conflict ridden society. This is the history of the presidential system in Sri Lanka and in many countries.

(19) People in Sri Lanka have voted for parties who have promised to abolish the presidential system in 1994, 2000 and 2005 although the elected governments failed to do so.

(20) There is a broad agreement among political parties in the opposition today and also some in the government to abolish the presidential system. This is based on experiential knowledge.

(21) Although the abolition of the presidential system is not a panacea it could be a springboard for greater democratic changes.

In stating the present ills of the country, Prof. Peiris has identified ‘criminalisation of politics’ as one but with certain qualifications. What he talks about precisely is ‘the vestiges of criminalisation’ to mean there have been improvements. He is correct if he is referring to terrorism or criminalisation of politics as a consequence of that. However, the criminalisation of politics in other forms has entrenched into the electoral system and day to day politics both in the South and in the North. He has also made a qualification as I have already noted to reduce the gravity of the criminalisation, ‘as a global phenomenon’ which is ‘far more pronounced among our neighbours.’ This is simply not prudent.

The curse of the presidential system, in my opinion, in contrast to a parliamentary system is its entrenchment in power and abuse of power with possible corruption. This is not merely an individual problem but a systemic and a structural one. Why people abuse power is a perennial question. If we take the old axiom that ‘power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely’ this is more relevant in the context of a presidential system than in a parliamentary system. One may argue that presidential powers are constrained with checks and balances. If that is the case it is well and good like in the United States to a great extent. But this is not the situation in many developing and conflict ridden countries, and particularly not in Sri Lanka.

Pre-1978 Circumstances

Prof. Peiris has identified many instances of abuse of power prior to 1978, particularly during 1970-77 and I don’t have any objection; no amnesia at all. However, that abusive government could be overturned within few years through democratic elections. Moreover, those abusive and erroneous policies were not an excuse to install a system or a structure which has proved to be more prone to abuse and political harm. He has said that “The most persuasive arguments in support of the reform converged on the theme of rampant abuses under the earlier ‘Prime Minister-Cabinet’ system constitutionally founded on a ‘first past the post’ system of elections to the legislature.” This is not completely correct if you go by the arguments put forward by J. R. Jayewardene in proposing a presidential system first in December 1966 and defending it thereafter. I might find occasion to come back to that question some other time.

The above does not mean that the parliamentary system that existed before was abuse free or fool-proof. At the same time people who advocate the abolition of the presidential system do not or should not consider the mere abolition is a solution to the present situation. Some of the other necessary conditions are as follows in my opinion.

  • Reinstatement of the Independence of the judiciary and Independent Commissions. This means the 17th Amendment in a more refined form. 
  • Reform of the electoral system, abolition of the preferential voting and the reinstatement of electorates with overall proportional representation is necessary to arrest the degeneration of political ethos of the Members of Parliament.

The above are minimum structural changes necessary with the abolition of the presidential system and there should be more political reforms necessary in terms of elections, political parties and the way they conduct elections and politics. There is no need to say that all human rights should be guaranteed and devolution should continue and enhanced. Two merits of the present system undoubtedly are the fundamental rights chapter and the 13th Amendment which the author has not talked about.

Other Arguments

The author has identified four different merits of the present system as (a), (b), (c) and (d). The first two are regarding the press freedom and economic liberalization nothing at all to do with the presidential system while both are questionable in their implementation in the past as well as at present. On the hindsight, I also have no question in agreeing with (d) where he says “Sri Lanka acquired sufficient strength to defeat one of the most powerful and ruthless terrorist groups, despite almost insurmountable obstacles that were placed in the way of its military and diplomatic efforts.”

However, I don’t see any reason ‘why we should carry the raft on our shoulders after we have crossed the river,’ as the Buddha used to say.

I also see a merit in what he says in point (c), although exaggerated, that “it is not possible for any person or party aspiring to gain control over the legislative and executive branches of government to depend solely or largely on the electoral support of the majority community.” In respect of parliamentary elections this is because of the proportional representation and not because of the presidential system. As I have pointed out before, the overall proportional representation should be retained while demarcating people based electorates and that would be beneficial for both democracy and reconciliation. In respect of the presidential stakes, it is already clear that electoral support from the minority communities can be manipulated. There are very clear signs of this manipulation today.

It is not one man or woman as President who could represent the multicultural configuration of the Sri Lankan society but a properly elected Parliament. To supplement to that, a Senate could be design to give representation to multi-ethnic, multi-religious and the diverse nature of professions and vocations in our society.

Conclusion

This leads to my main conclusion on the inadvisability of retaining the presidential system in Sri Lanka whether the country achieve that noble objective in the near future or not.

In comparison to a parliamentary system of government, a presidential government in Sri Lanka is difficult to change. The system hardly allows alternative governments; one of the main bedrocks in modern democracy. People’s sovereignty is curtailed. People don’t actually have the ‘power of government’ as per the Article 3 of the Constitution. When people elect a President, even if it is free and fair, they elect only one person. It is like an elected dictatorial system. The variations are only marginal and depend solely on the person. Under the presidential powers, particularly after the 18th Amendment, there are great possibilities of abusive elections, if the opposition is not strong and united.

To give past examples, the UNP came to power in 1977 and continued until 1994 for 17 years under the presidential system and powers. A change that year came only by chance in my opinion. If R. Premadasa was living and contesting, Chandrika Kumaratunga would not have come to power in 1994. The UPFA came to power in 1994, and continues until today under the presidential system already for 20 years. This is hardly healthy for democracy. Presidential powers in Sri Lanka are like giving monkeys razor blades.

Latest comments

  • 6
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    Great analysis Bravo :) Many thanks for you Dr. Fernando.
    Having listend to Satana program

    this week, I believe people of the country will finally grasph it soon.

    1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74uCyKyOEuU
    2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMQNGqknHrA
    3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YX0ZgAesxI8
    4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh0TwN2X_zg
    5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcajjInaTxc
    6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7e9Nioh0L8

    Keheliya or Kehelmal have no productive responses to the questions raised by Journalists.

    Srilankens, wake up… we are brutally abused by Rajapakshes as no other leaders did it sofar

    • 4
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      Laksiri Fernando, You say:

      “This is hardly healthy for democracy. Presidential powers in Sri Lanka are like giving monkeys razor blades.”

      I would rather say, democratic powers given to Ceylon at independence were like giving monkeys razor blades.

      From the word go, the leaders from D S Senanayake onwards started dismantling democracy, one by one at a time to Sinhala Buddhist majoritarian rule culminating in the grand finale now:

      They removed the upcountry Tamils from citizenship, they removed the protection to minorities in the constitution, and the list goes on until the Sinhala Buddhist majoritarianism morphed into Sinhala Buddhist fascism now.

      Sri Lanka still lacks a Sinhalese leader with integrity to lead it truly democratically getting all the communities into the fold.

      Now, Quo vadis?

      • 3
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        Now several commentators will pounce on me saying that I am a racist.

        By merely pointing out the undemocratic actions of leaders since independence, how do I become a racist?

    • 3
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      “The UPFA came to power in 1994, and continues until today under the presidential system already for 20 years. This is hardly healthy for democracy. Presidential powers in Sri Lanka are like giving monkeys razor blades”

      This is the consequence when the uneducated are empowered by own folks for no reason.
      Today the leader and the bunch of thieves in power are beyond all ethical and moral levels of corrupted mind sets. He cant be an example for a leader of over 90% literate nation – but he has no shame to express ” I have proved that I can 3 times” pointing at his 3 boys, while attacking the opposition leader has no children – that is why he cant…

      can you imagine guys ? If this was the expressions that a president droped on public stages, that alone proves us and or kids that he is RASCAL by all natures and we need an another decent leader who would give priority to respect and dignified life.
      Srilanka s current day situation is even worst than that of Ibola virus affected areas of Africa

      • 1
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        You have a point. What we need is a system to prevent rascals getting elected to the Presidency and the legislature.

    • 1
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      RE: A Comment On A Comment On The Campaign To Abolish The Presidential System

      Who is the Main Presidential Candidate?

      Rajapaksa. Just like All the Other Paras, He is also from India,,who came to Lanka the land of native Veddah Aethho. However, he wants to discriminate against the other Paras, Tamil-Paras and Muslim-Paras….

      Rajapakse Ancestry: Rajapaksa’s are born Catholics of Malaccan origin..!

      http://lankaenews.com/news/96

      Lanka-e-News -27.Oct.2014, 10.00PM) Rajapaksa is a ‘name’ that the British Raj gave to people that did a good job in Negombo/ Seeduwa area, close to Katunayake.

      The same way the British did, give fancy names to people in the Hill country and South, that did a good job!

      Rajapaksa’s are born Catholics of Malaccan origin (this explains the strong ‘gob looking’ Mongoloid phenotype features in all of them).

      His father’s name was Don Alwin Rajapaksa. His son (the President now) is Percy Mahinda. They ‘converted’ their Religious belief’s to gain Political mileage.

      This was no different to SWRD and JRJ, who were all from strict Christian backgrounds and converted to exhibit Sinhala Buddhist Extremism to gain Public Popularity. (Goes to show the basic insincerity and the manipulative methods used to gain power!)

      The Rajapaksa family is now one of Sri Lanka’s most powerful families in the land.

      Led by President Mahinda Percy Rajapaksa, all his ‘kith and kin’ now occupy senior positions in the Sri Lankan state.

      The family controls around 70% of the national budget.

      The Rajapaksa family, originally from Seeduwa/ Negombo later migrated with their Malaccan Catholic ancestors to the villages of Sippukulam and Giruwapattuwa in the southern district of Hampanthottam (now known as Hambantota).

      Their Malaccan relatives were banished by Islamic Rulers of Malacca for helping the Portuguese conquest of Malacca.

      They were feared, and known for their brutality and ruthlessness.((nothing seems to have changed!)

      The Malaccan family forcibly possessed fertile paddy fields and coconut lands belonging to natives, (nothing seems to have changed!) by enforcing their brutality through rape and murder.(nothing has changed!)

      Some of the residum of the Malaccan Catholic relatives remain in the Seeduwa/ Negombo area, such as the Lansa Family (no relation of Mario Lansa??!!) of Negombo who are cousins of the Rajapaksa’s.

      Members of one section the of the Southern migrant Malaccan family’s later converted to Islam to blend with the Muslims of Malay and Arab descent, in order to receive trade benefits and credit from Muslim traders who monopolized the southern trading ports of Galle and Hampanthottam (now known as Hambantota).
      (p.s. History repeats itself- this time, with the ‘Chinks’ as well??!!)

      The others entered into Village politics.

      One of its members- Don David Rajapaksa, held the feudal post of Vidanarachchi in Ihala Valikada Korale.

      The family entered the political scene by first feigning their Religious beliefs aligning more to the majority inhabitants beliefs of Theravada Buddhism!

      Thereafter, Don David Rajapaksa’s son Don Mathew Rajapaksa was elected in 1936 to represent Hambantota district in the State Council.

      Don Mathew died in 1945 and at the resulting by-election his brother, Don Alwin Rajapaksa was elected without a contest. At the 1947 parliamentary election two members of the family were elected to represent both of the constituencies in Hambantota district.

      Don Alwin Rajapaksa was elected MP for Beliatta and Lakshman Rajapaksa (Don Mathew’s son) was elected MP for Hambantota.They yet maintained the subtlety of their staunch Catholic beliefs but appearing to be Buddhists on the outside!

      The Rajapaksas continued to dominate politics in Hambantota district for next three decades with two other members of the family (George Rajapaksa and Mahinda Rajapaksa) also entering parliament.

      The Rajapaksas were represented in the country’s legislatures continuously from 1936 till 1977.

      The family wasn’t represented in parliament after the UNP landslide at the 1977 parliamentary election.

      The Indo-Lanka Accord shed light on the Rajapaksa family to adopt a more headlined” Sinhala Buddhist” policy.

      This helped the Rajapaksa family to re-emerge as the dominant political force, in Hambantota district, when Mahinda and his brother Chamal Rajapaksa were elected in 1989 to represent Hambantota Electoral District.

      They were later joined by Nirupama Rajapaksa, Basil Rajapaksa and Namal Rajapaksa.

      Although the Rajapaksas had dominated politics in the Hambantota district, Nationally, politics were dominated by other families (Senanayake’s, Wijewardena’s and Bandaranaike’s – also hypocrites of Christian origin).

      With the country having faced more than two decades of war (made even worse by the ‘Hoodlums of the JVP), the Presidential Candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa opted to take the more radical Sinhala Buddhist extremist path.

      He was opposed to Ranil Wickramasinghe, who had already created resentment from the Sinhala Buddhist majority and was considered to be ‘light veined’ and pro- Western.

      This paid off well in 2005, when Mahinda Rajapaksa was elected President.

      There are claims that in the 2005 and consecutive Presidential Elections his Victory was bequeathed by the sordid tales of manipulation, thuggery and corrupt malpractices.

      None of these allegation were proved, leaving them only as “tales of the disappointed”, although many still believe the contrary!

      Since then, members of his family have been appointed to senior political positions.

      Immediately after being elected President, Mahinda appointed his brother Gotabhaya Rajapaksa as Defence Secretary (the most senior civil service position in the Ministry of Defence).

      Another brother, Basil Rajapaksa, was appointed Senior Presidential Advisor and later Minister of Economic Development.

      Between them the three Rajapaksa brothers are in charge of five government ministries: Defence & Urban Development, Economic Development, Finance & Planning, Highways and Ports & Aviation.

      This means that they directly control 70% of the national budget.

      None of these relations had the decency, honour or self respect to decline accepting these ‘high offices’ if only to squash the obvious embarrassing ‘accusations’ that followed by the thousands.

      They went on to acquire colossal amounts of wealth.

      The Rajapaksa’s deny having control over such amounts!( Naturally!) Numerous other members of the ‘extended family’ have also been appointed to senior positions of the state.

      The entire family seems “set for life”!!

      After the successful ‘wiping out’ of the murderous Northern terrorists (also known for their brutality and ruthlessness), he empowered his Military brother to be in charge of Defence, and begin to infiltrate into the ‘Urban Development Authority’ (UDA), which has inexplicable ‘Land powers’, to override even the Judiciary of the country!

      The accumulation of so much power and wealth by just one family, has inevitably led to the belief of blatant nepotism.

      Incidentally, the UDA was formed initially, by the former President Premadasa when he was Prime Minister, and placed under his direct purview a notoriously corrupt civil servant named Paskaralingam! (pundi koottee)

      Since then, the UDA has always been a powerful ‘control weapon’ of the Head of state.

      Now the majority of the country, completely ignorant of facts and honest information, act like ‘lambs to slaughter’, under the command and discretion of the Rajapaksa family.

      To enhance their so called ‘power’ they have recruited former menials,ex-cattle thieves, illicit alcohol brewers and “father unknown” village thugs, to execute matters of ‘law’ summarily!

      All this whilst the country enjoys a reputation of having the” best Police Force in the world- that money can buy” !!!!

      Now, the UDA is alleged to be forcibly acquiring Private and State Property and transferring them on to questionable tri-pâté agreements to their own family members and their ‘foot and mouth’ soldiers!!

      Re-living their ancestral history of conquering the deep south, and now the whole nation!

      Let us all sincerely hope that the “wheels of Karma would turn slowly, but surely”!

      (First Published by Sri Lanka Guardian)

    • 1
      1

      Dr. Laksiri Fernando –

      Constitutional amendment : MaRa says ‘No’-Rathane Thera says will defeat MaRa somehow-discussion lasts 20 mins. only

      http://lankaenews.com/news/89

      (Lanka-e-News- 23.Oct.2014, 11.55PM) The discussions held by the JHU with Medamulana MaRa day before yesterday (21) evening regarding the proposal of the JHU that the constitution should be amended prior to the Presidential elections lasted only 20 minutes. ( though one Sinhalese newspaper stated it lasted 3 hours and another English newspaper reported it lasted one hour which are absolutely false. Of course no better reporting can be expected from these sordid media coolies)

      MaRa who opened the discussion with a grumpy face had said , this is not the time to amend the constitution, and if the need be , it can be incorporated in the election manifesto. Saying this, MaRa had immediately walked out. MaRa had only spent a mere 20 minutes towards the discussion.

      Subsequently , it is only the representatives of MaRa who continued with the discussion .Basil Rajapakse, Dallas Alahaperuma and UPFA gen. secretary Susil Premachandra who were the representatives have also not gone beyond the decision of MaRa , and stated a committee can be appointed to have discussions.

      Dr. Omalpe Sobhitha the leader of the JHU, Athureliya Rathane Thera, Minister Champika Ranawake , Provincial council member Udaya Gammanpila and Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe were the JHU representatives who partook in the discussion. Interestingly , Rathane Thera recently stated , if the Presidentail election is held without giving effect to this amendment to the constitution , the JHU will do everything possible to defeat Medamulana MaRa.

      The pompous talks of bumptious JHU notwithstanding, it is not sure whether this great hue and cry made by JHU against MaRa is similar to that of Wimal Weerawansa alias Modawansa earlier which was full of flatulence but without substance , and finally ended in smoke after worshipping MaRa in his backyard secretly among MaRa’s stinking spittoons . Inside sources of the JHU say this JHU din will also finally end in the garbage bin of MaRa most silently and secretly . This is just another of the hypocritical histrionics of the JHU , the same sources pointed out. In the end the JHU will join with Medamulana Rajapakse , they added.

      The reason for this is ,Gotabaya Rajapakse has all the evidence and details of the credit card frauds perpetrated by Champika Ranawake. In the circumstances the JHU has no alternative but to silently release their gas , and hold back tightly the substance in their stinking alimentary canals .

    • 0
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      Today s situation of the nation is like caught by DEVIL. They have made entvironment so that nobody would quickly notice that the current adminsitration is against own people. Peole whose income levels are that low as they have to struggle for their 3 meals. These are the days that people also stare still when they have to search for justice, because they know their cases would not be subject to indepent court hearings. Anything and everything is abused in favour of them. Just nearly 1000 rps is added to new increments but that is louded as done much for the public. Now with bribing muslims allowing them to easy travel to Makka and BBS is on one side to paint the clean picture supportively to Rajapakskehs. Since rural poor are the majority of the voters being abused – they are given more rations abusing state funds for their campaign sakes. All in all, the man in power is acting as if his is gone to mad. Rabid dogs would do the same. Nonis case is not yet addressed. Herone loads confiscated were not addressed properly. The public is not aware of where they kept the injurious quarter a tone of heronine which the journalistst reported they had smuggled to the country with the direct approval of the president and thugs. Rajapakshe oligarchs deserve to be punished to the very same manner the drug loads need to be discarded. [Edited out] will get reelected again, we will be caught by thugs as no life will be given… all gods should see this before long if people cant make it, the gods should do so so that thepast proved any criminal minded were not allowed to go beyond.

  • 1
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    The root cause of all Sri Lankan ills is Sinha-le.

    Majority rule gave some the chance to appeal to the embedded sense of being Sinhala of the majority. The simple race and religion card always proves an ace when the majority are simple minded. The result now is a quasi fascist rule.

    However, I for one do not expect any better from the changing of the guard. UNP under RW is nothing but a moribund ineffective organisation that has up to now failed to tell the people what they really stand for and what policy platform they will adopt. Presidential system or for that matter any other system, the end result will be the same. Corrupt, nepotistic, criminally inclined fools running the country of fools.

    • 0
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      BBS Rep

      “The root cause of all Sri Lankan ills is Sinha-le. ”

      The reason for that is the low I.Q, of the Sinhal-le and Tamil-le, around 79.

      Do we have to wait for evolution to catch up to increase the I.Q?

      National IQ Scores – Country Rankings

      http://www.photius.com/rankings/national_iq_scores_country_ranks.html

      Rank
      ——– Country
      ———————– %
      ————-
      1 Singapore 108
      2 South Korea 106
      3 Japan 105

      7 Kenya 80
      28 Guatemala 79
      28 Sri Lanka 79
      28 Zambia 79
      29 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 78
      29 Nepal 78
      29 Qatar 78

  • 0
    0

    Laksiri is correct.
    But, who cares?

    Power has corrupted absolutely.
    Those in power will never surrender it as they will become like the common citizens.
    They are well entrenched with military enforcement.

    Will humane, just Buddhist leaders – followers of the Buddha, come forward and advise those in power.

  • 0
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    Reason No.22 – Shiranthi in this case cannot file divorce papers against H.E.!!

    The raft could not be left on the banks on reaching the shore as during
    Lord Buddhas times – now it will re-used by the Opposition, so it is
    carried on the shoulders of the Regime till they depart!!

  • 0
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    This is Joke. Not one out of the 21 is explaining why the EP is bad. He failed to establish how much authority is good for a prime minister. When a bunch of thieves get together, he did not propose a system, how to keep the parliament to steer clear. Now, he is talking about the 18A and the original constitution, both was created by the parliaments’ sittings with both parties corporation and separately on both Parties leaderships too; not by EPs. He has not mentioned anything about the 3A, 6A, they are unconstitutional and draconian too.

    Professor Laksiri did not have the experience we had during the Satyagraha time. He does not know, how a Sinhala woman from an ordinary family, just with a little bit of wealth can start to dream her as the Queen Viharamahadevi and brutalize the Tamils to establish her Royal authority.(One problem with these modern days’ uneducated Sinhala Kings and Queens is they rarely understand the names they use to proclaim for them.)

    As in Thiru’s example, how sharp a knife should be? As sharp as can it is, isn’t it? Then, when it falls on the Monkey’s hand it is going to be that much dangerous too. Just because one day it can fall on the hand of a monkey, the country’s ruler should not be toothless snake. That argument is really faulty. Even Naren has repeated here many times, that in the American constitution, 200 years ago, this has been balanced. If the EP is doing well for the country, other two supports him and magnify his EP authority, others wise they will make him go paralyzed. Isn’t it the Parliament last year approved unlimited financial authority to the King? Why?

    In prime Minister based government too there is a certain quantity of power vested with him/her. If a man like kudu vase gets dunked with a glass of beer, it is his capacity’s fault. If you want to go party, after a or two drinks, you need to maintain your sanity. DS, on his first chance disfranchised the Tamils. What is the capacity of the Sinhala Leaders to deal with power, without getting drunken feeling? He challenged “Tell me if there is a Tamil, I will buy him with a cup of coffee”. What kind of an arrogant talk is that for a man in the power?

    Will Prof.Laksiri argue, if there is a gentlemen’s party, and if the gentlemen in party get drunk, then they usually fight for women, so that the parties should be banned even in foreign land where the Sinhala Gentlemen may visit?

    So, EP seems to be a brutal idea for Dr.Laksiri. Just because the mustache is growing on the man’s face is it possible for a woman to dismiss all of them? Power is not something to see and fear. It is to harness and use. If there is a criminal, he is the one has to go to prison. Instead of that, you can argue every man has to have the mustache plugged to the root, or otherwise it is scary to women.

    When I was small boy I heard a story. In the south east of the Peninsula, there were monkeys problem, those days. The harvested farm products were difficulty to protect from them. What farmers wives do is, they grind the fresh-sharp red chilly fruits, mix them with the food and leave it with the harvest that are spread to dry. With food, these women would leave sticks, thick like clubs, too. The Monkeys accept the invitation of the farmers’ wives, come and eat the hot food, right away get angry with each other and hit one another with the sticks and die. The Suthu Minisu watched the nuisance of the Lankan freedom fighters like Tharmapala and gave the food and sticks to DS, SWRD, Kothalawela… Now it is the death for all.

    They say in Tamil when the Daughter-in Law gets angry, she cannot show it to her Mother-in-Law. When the Mother – in -Law puts her to work hard on the grinding stone, she shows her anger on that. Professor Laksiri is little bit shy and nervous to accept that the EP system is bad only for “Sinhala Buddhist” in the terminology of Sinhala Intellectuals or Mahawamsa Modayas’, the common man’s word. So he is blaming the EP system. Well done! Well done!

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