The Government of Sri Lanka is struggling to find three persons of integrity and general fitness with respect to the requirements of representing civil society (non-politician members) in the Constitutional Council. Already one of the nominees, Dr Radhika Coomaraswamy, has come under flak for dubious positions taken on Sri Lanka. The ‘Daily Mirror’ in an editorial outlining the qualities that CC members ought to have has also urged that people with certain track records shouldn’t be entertained. Some of the traits flagged are reminiscent of Coomaraswamy’s track record.
Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne
Meanwhile the credentials of another nominee, 84 years old, Sarvodaya leader Dr A.T. Ariyaratne, are as suspect given overwhelming evidence of family bandyism within the movement. This is at odds with the zero tolerance of corruption and favoritism promised by President Maithripala Sirisena in his election campaign which unleashed scathing attacks on his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa for favors granted to family members.
Colombo Telegraph reveals the following pertinent information on Dr Ariyaratne.
1. President Premadasa filed charges against A.T. Ariyaratne and established a Commission that found he had siphoned donor funds to his family bank accounts.
2. A.T.Ariyaratne is the life President of Sarvodaya.
3. His son Dr Vinya Ariyaratne is the Gen. Secretary of Sarvodaya and was its former CEO.
4. His wife Neetha Ariyaratne is the General Secretary of Sarvodaya Suwasetha Sewa Society Ltd. and the Secretary of Siva Setha.
5. Dr Vinya Ariyaratne is also a Director of D.D.F.C Finance (Deshodaya Development Finance Company Limited ) as well as Sarvodaya Economic Enterprise Development Services (Gte) Ltd (SEEDS).
The third nominee Justice A.W.A Salam is not tainted in this manner. While he has a reputation for being a fair and competent judge without any known political affiliations or biases, neither is he known for any extraordinary skills or capacities.
The question being asked in political circles is, if this was the best the Government could come up with, if they had to nominate seven persons they would be in a severe crisis!
Related posts;
‘I Can’t Remember’ Radhika To Be In Constitutional Council?
W.Milton / June 8, 2015
Constitutional Council is waste of Tax payers money. Nothing else that will happen except wasting public funds.
These are politically oriented that nonsense projects by Lawyers, who are rule and ruin law of land. Parliamentary democracy currently run by Minority Govt. led UNP-Ranil W…RULE of Democracy!
Where is majority democracy accepted by values of Westerns civilization of so-called majority ….’democracy’.
Current ruling Junta of UNP-Ranil.W.. . MS and CBK devalued principal values of sovereignty of People’s democracy.
How is that JVP Terrorist become family members of Union of democracy!
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Lanka watch / June 10, 2015
The need of the hour is religious tolerance in the country and there is a need for religious leaders to function as civil society members
in the constitutional council in order to avoid incidents like what took place in Aluthgama, burning of churches in other places and uprooting of Hindu temples in the North & East by the Army,also opening
Buddhist temples overnight all over the land without permission like
what recently happened in the East on confiscated land and even forceful conversion from one religion to another could be stopped.If they are given direct access to the President and the police, incidents
like above could be nipped in the bud and religious affairs could be done in an orderly manner in the country.
Having intellectuals and educationists in the CC will not help as level of understanding between the parliamentarians and the CC civil
society members will be limited and there are chances that ideas of
Civil Society could be ruled out and they could become non entity,in
time to come Also there could be political pressure to tow the line with the parliamentary members in the CC.
It is better to do away with the CC or have parliamentarians from all
parties, proportionately in the CC. This will all lead to confusion in
the end.
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Ms. Aniza / June 14, 2015
Like Colombo University Econ Dept. Family and henchmen tree
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Umesh / September 10, 2015
Can you elaborate on it please ? I do not see family and henchmen in the Econ dep
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kp / September 10, 2015
Aisey this is a hell of a joke. Nepotism? At Sarvodaya? Dr. Ariyaratne founded the company- it is, in essence, his organization, and his family’s. Sarvodaya is not public/government-owned property that they’re somehow abusing-it’s their own organization. How can you have nepotism in a family-run enterprise, when such an organization by definition is run by a family?
This is like complaining that animals are being killed at a slaughterhouse, when the whole point of a slaughterhouse is to kill animals for meat.
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EDWIN RODRIGO / September 10, 2015
Family first – Country Second is the sensible approach.
Why should you scarifice your family for these rice eating cows and grass eating humans? every single one of them would behave the same way if the position is reversed.
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Mahesh / September 10, 2015
The three people nominated are eminent personalities in the country with the highest respect. I think we should stop critisizing and let them do their job.
Dont forgot that Dr Ariyaratne started Sarvodaya from ground up and scrifised his and his families entire life to the betterment of people in Sri Lanka irrespective of their race.
Deep respect for the three of you and please help Sri Lanka in the process of moving forward. Do not listen to shallow minded people.
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