The third in the series of discussions organized by the Liberal Party on Ideas for Constitutional Reform
The need for Electoral Reform
Wednesday February 20th at 5.30 pm
Venue: International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES),
2, Kynsey Terrace, Colombo 8.
All are welcome
Opening presentation: Prof Rajiva Wijesinha
Invited Discussants:
- M A Sumanthiran
- Dayasiri Jayasekara
- Hassen Ali
- Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka
- Dr. Pradeep Jeganathan
Attention will be paid to
- The changing role of Parliamentarians, given the demands of functioning in both a legislative and an executive role.
- Mechanisms to ensure that the problems of constituents are addressed without compromise of the wider interests of the nation
The fourth discussion in the series will be on March 6th on ‘Freedom of Information’.
M J / February 15, 2013
Wear is Dr.Marvin Silva. going to sit? Best places is next to Dayan.
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Lanka Liar / February 16, 2013
He will come last for the tree tying ceremony. Unless you want to have it first.
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Ben Hurling / February 16, 2013
We live in a country where the decent, the educated and the honest have given up politics. Running our country is taken over by the barbarians, the power hungry and corrupt political families, their henchmen and cronies.
I am glad the educated in Sri Lanka are slowly attempting to contribute again.
Will see how the barbarians at the gates will respond.
Sri Lanka Rising? I hope so.
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Wuliangguobinjiu / February 15, 2013
The 3 blind mice see how run! Run man run. :)
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Lanka Liar / February 16, 2013
But the country is in darkness, is it really matter you can see or not. But one thing I can say is the last too are simply brilliant when it comes to lying. Looks like there is some more darkness at the end of the tunnel
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Wuliangguobinjiu / February 16, 2013
Darkness! Look at the moon what do you see? You see with your mind.
All three speak the truth to entice the public and ultimately sandwich it with lies so they are called politicians who fill their pockets for the next few generations and fly around the world as VVIP’s.While the nation cries of hunger.
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Ben Hurling / February 17, 2013
They are atleast holding a conference.
What have you done so far? Apart from picking on everybody else?
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justice / February 15, 2013
The very first requirement is a strong Election Commission like in India.
Every election held so far has been flawed.
Election results are thus not a verdict of the voters.
It is absurd talking about “electoral reform” without ensuring FREE and FAIR elections
With the abolition of the 17th amendment,all hopes of a really free and powerful Election Commission have been dashed.
Also, like in USA and a few other counries,Election Expenses by candidates must be limited by law – as bribery,corruption,treating etc decide votes.
More than anthing else,ALL candidtes must declare their ASSETS publicly, before any election they wish to contest.
This proposed Blah Blah will fool noone – only the participants will fool themselves.
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gamini / February 15, 2013
In this day and age, Ballot boxes should be made out of transparent plastic instead of the opaque wooden boxes, so the public can see the turn out of voters. Enclosures for marking the ballot should be removed as it is not required as there is enough privacy to mark one’s ballot without publicity. Removal of enclosures will minimise fraud. CCTV cameras should be installed in all counting centres for the candidates to see nothing untowed happens with the staff of the Election Com Dept favouring one over the other.
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Wuliangguobinjiu / February 16, 2013
CCTV is more expensive than webcam. Here we run our home security via web cam and cell phone where ever we are. Think about it.
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Wuliangguobinjiu / February 16, 2013
Gamini the UNP die hard. BTW on Amazon there is HD audio video pen with micro USB drive for $15 that can cover the whole show for 2 hours before being refreshed and used.
Does it all really matter when you have a dictator who owns the defence forces of the nation?
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Lanka Liar / February 16, 2013
You can install anything like any thing. But you should remember nothing works in Sri Lanka. Saw how the chief judge was treated. Look at Pakistan when similar incident occurred. Sri Lanka is not Pakistan it is RajaPakistan
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Senguttuvan / February 16, 2013
It ia also the Liberal Party behind which the more educated Sri Lankans must unite and express their views in the present context. Chanaka Amaratunga started out well but the UNP and SLFP coalitions overwhelmed the LP during that time. It can be argued the LP did not have much of a role then. Since then there is the accumulation of mass dissatisfaction against he performance of both major parties/their coalitions. This need is largely within the
middle and upper middle classes, not necessarily English-speaking.
This section needs a medium through which they can get their voices heard. If the LP can get some known names from the minority parties too their chances to send 1-2 MPs to Parliament, initially, from the Colombo District cannot be entirely ruled out. It is not impossible
to get 100-150,000 votes from the professionals and the middle class for the purpose. After all the JVP too started with 1 MP.
Senguttuvan
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Wuliangguobinjiu / February 16, 2013
The trio are buffalo hide like meeharak Rajaporkistan. Profs in this don’t be naïve.
It’s already proved like nick clegg the interest in Rolls Royce’s and The Nick Clegg Apology Song: I’m Sorry (The Autotune Remix) but still hanging on.
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monkey / February 16, 2013
There certainly will not be any more ‘political solutions’. There is already a provincial council system in place to resolve this issue since 1987.
Besides Sri Lanka cannot afford to give over 28% of its land area and over 66% of its coastline to less that 12% of northern tamils at the expense of over 88% of the rest of the population. The coastline and the EEZ is critical for the existence and security of any island nation. Sri Lanka cannot afford to handover over 66% of its coastline and EEZ to less than 12% of its population and not gravely compromise its existence. Sri Lankans are stupid but we are not unbelievably stupid. It cannot happen under any circumstances, not under any circumstances.
Will India hand over 28% of its land and over 66% of its conastline to less than 12% of its population at the expense of over 88%? I think not. India is stupid but not that stupid.
Will the northern sri lanka tamils if they were the majority, hand over 28% of the land area and over 66% of its coastline to less than 12% sinhalese if the boot was in the other foot? I think not. They will laugh at us. It would be a joke.
So there will not be any more ‘political solutions’. There is already a provincial council system in place to resolve this issue since 1987.
About eelam or separate state why not grant a separate state in Canada, after all Canada is a very large country. I think it is the best solution. The population of Canada is only 35 million (Sri Lanka 21 million) but it is a huge country, huge.
What about Australia perhaps population only 22 million (same as Sri Lanka) but a huge country. Surely eelam could be granted here.
How about Norway (population 5 million) but a huge country. Or how about Sweden (population only 9.5 million) but a huge country.
I think the TNA should demand that eelam be given in Canada, Australia, Norway or Sweden since these are huge countries with very little people. I think this is the best solution.
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monkey / February 16, 2013
No more ‘political solutions’ as the western countries want! We already have a political solution in terms of the provincial council system since 1987. Take it or leave it.
Those who don’t like it can go live in any western country of their choosing. The west do not have any solutions. The only solution they know is to go bomb any country of their choosing and grab that countries resources. That is their political solution for the world. If anyone wants to follow the west they are welcome but please don’t try to impose west’s solutions on Sri Lanka. We are fed up with these western prescriptions.
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aj / February 18, 2013
folks,
why bother all elections held from now on will be declared WON by the Rajapaksha Oligarchy.
So these Liberal Idealism will not help this country at this point.!
PEOPLE WAKE UP!
The situation is much worse than you folks imagine.
If the governemnt calls smoething whait ?then it is very safe to assume it is going to be BLACK, really! So get it.
Then get over all these democratic means of agitation, what we essentially need is FIRE to fight FIRE( Not necessarily GUns and real FIRE POWER) but the FIRE of the WILL and DETERMINATION to get rid of the Oligarchy and the blood suckers like WIMAL WEERAWANSA, who has a weakly slogan to clamour from rooftops acording to the whims and fancies of the King( Kekille of course).
Look how he released the students from jail in Jaffna? Why on earth then they were kept in custody.
where isthe due process? now those 2 students should file FR cases for illegal custody.
Now you can see how bad the situation is( ONLY if you think the CJ removal is not significant event. especially how fast and how RAW the whole episode, not forgetting the Parliamentary select committee members came immediately after the Vote to tase ‘kiribath’ in front of CJ’s offical residence!!!).
ONLY IN THIS WONDER oF ASIA.
Folks( especially , Dr. Dyayan since he needs a reality check after the soujourn in France ;-) ) but I mean others who lived( and keep living like blind sheep beiong hurled and cajolled and lambasted by Media with Cock and Bull stories of development and Million tourist arrival while the occupancy rates of Hotels don’t live up to that.
Man this is hilarious, I am living in the Animal Farm of Geroge OWell or what????
aj
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aj / February 18, 2013
folks,
why bother all elections held from now on will be declared WON by the Rajapaksha Oligarchy.
So these Liberal Idealism will not help this country at this point.!
PEOPLE WAKE UP!
The situation is much worse than you folks imagine.
If the governemnt calls smoething white ?then it is very safe to assume it is going to be BLACK, really! So get it.
Then get over all these democratic means of agitation, what we essentially need is FIRE to fight FIRE( Not necessarily Guns and real FIRE POWER) but the FIRE of the WILL and DETERMINATION to get rid of the Oligarchy and the blood suckers like WIMAL WEERAWANSA, who has a weakly slogan to clamour from rooftops acording to the whims and fancies of the King( Kekille of course).his lates ‘Pot calling kettle is black(the Finance Minsitry Top is his latest victims.!!!).
Patali Champika is licking his wounds after being a mouth piece for the king and thrown awayacording to the Karapincha theory.
Oh Patalee, if you went ot Canada like so many you could have made a living by Utility Meter reading to begin with, then get your P.Eng and start a Engineering post at a place like Sasketchuan power.!!!
Look how the King released the students from jail in Jaffna? Why on earth then they were kept in custody.
where is the due process? now those 2 students should file FR cases for illegal custody.
Now you can see how bad the situation is( ONLY if you think the CJ removal is not significant event. especially how fast and how RAW the whole episode, not forgetting the Parliamentary select committee members came immediately after the Vote to taste ‘kiribath’ in front of CJ’s offical residence!!!).
ONLY IN THIS WONDER OF ASIA.
(this reminds me the Filem ‘ABHA’the Court Jester, Jackson Anthony( his dad should be commended for the name given, man!!)
The Primodial festivities of victory of the ancesstor so primitive as depicted, I am sure the Pandukabhya could have come to life by more cultured and , really mature director like Dharmasena Pathiraja!!!( we are not so lucky nation , BTW, where is Parkrama Niriella? Oh Dhamma Jagod thank god he was luck not to witness this re-invention of History to fix a royal Lineage to Giruwapatthu to Giri Janapada).
Folks( especially , Dr. Dyayan since he needs a reality check after the soujourn in France ;-) ) but I mean others who lived( and keep living like blind sheep being hurled and cajolled and lambasted by Media with Cock and Bull stories of development and Million tourist arrival while the occupancy rates of Hotels don’t live up to that.
Man this is hilarious, I am living in the Animal Farm of Geroge Orwell or what????
aj
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