By Dayan Jayatilleka –
Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka
In the run-up to Independence Day 2015, we must thank God for Mr. Sumanthiran. He is indubitably a moderate and an intellectual. Let us give thanks also for the Sunday Observer, which is a state-run newspaper not given to running stories or distorting them in a manner inimical or embarrassing to the government of the day. Therefore, when Mr. Sumanthiran says something to the Sunday Observer, I take it seriously because I know I am on safe ground. Mr. Sumanthiran tells the newspaper that the TNA doesn’t expect much movement on addressing the Tamil political question during the Hundred Day program. That is realistic –and anyway, who’d want to affect the UNP’s chances at the General election by pressing home Tamil political demands? He also says that the full implementation of the 13th amendment would be a good first step. Then comes the bottom-line: “The PM said that devolution will now be given under the 13th Amendment which the previous government was blocking. But we have clearly said that the full implementation of the 13th Amendment is no lasting solution.” (‘Current political trend signals harmony among communities’ – M.A.Sumanthiran MP, by P.Krishnaswamy, Sunday Observer, January 25th 2015)
There’s always that ‘but’ isn’t there? There’s always that ‘but’ even for a moderate Tamil nationalist intellectual. The truth as disclosed or rather, reiterated by the cosmopolitan, Colombo based Mr. Sumanthiran is that the proposed removal of the roadblocks to the full implementation of the 13th amendment just isn’t enough. This is because “full implementation of the 13th amendment is no lasting solution”.
Some readers may think I am making something of a mountain out of a molehill, but interestingly and appropriately the caption of the interview when reproduced on the website of veteran (expatriate) journalist DBS Jeyaraj reflected what was most newsworthy about the story: “Full Implementation of the 13th Amendment is No Lasting Solution- MA Sumanthiran, MP”.
Now this also goes some way in explaining why the 13th amendment was never fully implemented. That’s because successive Southern leaders understood that if it was fully implemented, matters would not stop there. That would not put a cap on it. The full implementation of the 13th amendment would be but a stepping stone for more. Why? Because “we have clearly said that the full implementation of the 13th amendment is no lasting solution” and therefore “we” would strive to push beyond it. Worse still, that “we” would not try our very best to make the 13th amendment work because if it did, “we” would not be able to prove “our” dogmatic, politically fundamentalist point that “the full implementation of the 13th amendment is no lasting solution”.
This shows that even on the morning after a democratic renovation, the most moderate of Tamil nationalists isn’t willing to settle for what the most moderate Sinhalese political leader is willing to implement. The deficit or gap still exists as far as the desirable goal; the final status agreement goes. Why so? What is at the root of this? To answer this we have to ask ourselves what Sri Lanka would be if the 13th amendment were fully implemented under the existing system. To my mind it would be a unitary system with full devolution or, to put it slightly differently, it would amount to the maximum devolution possible within a unitary system at full stretch. Why then does the moderate Mr. Sumanthiran reiterate the consistent stand of democratic Tamil nationalism, namely that even “the full implementation of the 13th amendment is no lasting solution?”
This is simply because Tamil nationalism has never accepted that a lasting solution could be arrived at through full devolution within a unitary state. It has always held that a lasting solution is not possible within a state that remains basically unitary. Even moderate Tamil nationalism holds the view that a lasting solution lies somewhere beyond the unitary state; even one endowed with the most generous devolution.
Mr. Sumanthiran’s answer may be that Mahinda Rajapaksa agreed to consider going beyond the 13th amendment. He did, but the distance he was willing to go even in theory was a quantitative, not a qualitative one; it was for a Second Chamber and another look at the concurrent list for the purpose of redistribution of powers between center and periphery. It would not have entailed a referendum. In any event, going quantitatively and incrementally beyond the 13th amendment within a strong Presidential system and explicitly unitary framework is drastically different from going qualitatively beyond the 13th amendment within a system divested of a strong executive Presidency.
Quite apart from the debate on desirability, there is one of feasibility. Any such “lasting solution”, indeed anything beyond the 13th amendment, would require an island-wide referendum. How does the TNA propose to win a referendum for a qualitative shift beyond the 13th amendment? Not even the help of its current political partners in the South would be able to secure such an outcome.
So far, so bad– but it is about to get worse. There is a brand new element in the mix. While the old element remains, namely that the TNA envisages the full implementation of the 13th amendment only as a first step which it intends to push beyond in its striving for a lasting settlement, the new element that arises is the proposed downsizing and downshifting of the executive Presidency. So, while the Tamil nationalists hope to stretch the relationship between center and periphery by means of a settlement beyond the full implementation of 13A, the center itself is about to diminish.
The TNA is not unaware of this. Indeed the TNA presented this as the main reason for its support for the common candidate of the Opposition. Now we have the hitherto un-contradicted Tamilnet report that the abolition of the executive Presidency and its replacement by a parliamentary system of government was agreed upon in 2013 at a meeting in Singapore, organized by a South African peace NGO and attended by, among others, Messrs. Mangala Samaraweera and MA Sumanthiran. The abolition of the executive Presidency was, according to the report, point 4 of the agreement. (‘Singapore Principles of 2013’, TamilNet, January 22, 2015).
The story is prefaced in DBS Jeyaraj.com in the following manner:
‘The “Tamilnet” website long regarded as the mouthpiece of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) organization has in a news report revealed details of an alleged “understanding” involving among others the current Foreign Affairs minister Mangala Samaraweera and Tamil National Alliance (TNA) national list parliamentarian MA Sumanthiran that was arrived at in Singapore in the year 2013. The “Tamilnet” website claims that the understanding reached in 2013 formulated a conceptual framework on abolishing the executive presidency based on ten basic principles described as the “Singapore principles”. The news report further states that current Presidential adviser Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne, Colombo University Law professor VT Thamilmaran and unnamed representatives of the Global Tamil Forum (GTF) along with a lawyer from the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress also participated in the conclave. The conference was organized by South Africa and funded by two European countries alleges the “Tamilnet”. Quoting an unnamed participant in the meeting the “TamilNet” says “Mangala Samaraweera came as a ‘beggar’ urging Tamil support for regime change and abolition of the executive presidency. It was 2013. The Tamilnet report also outlines the ten ‘Singapore principles’ described as “hitherto unrevealed Singapore Principles of 2013” ’. (“Tamilnet Reveals Ten Point Accord for Regime Change and Executive Presidency abolition reached in 2013 at Meeting in Singapore Involving Mangala Samaraweera”, http://dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/37635)
Mr. Sumanthiran is fully conscious of the relationship between the Executive Presidency and the issue of devolution. In his Sunday Observer interview he states as follows:
“…the Governor is a chief executive officer possessing executive powers. This means that there is no power devolution. The governor is appointed by the President and holds powers during his tenure. The President in the centre nominates him and gives powers and says I have devolved powers. That is no devolution. Practically it is the President who is exercising power through the governor. We want that radically changed so that power is actually given to a body or people who have been elected by the people. So that is the arrangement that we will seek to go beyond the 13 th Amendment and make it meaningful.” (Ibid.)
This brings us to the question–what is the TNA’s real problem with the 13th amendment? Is it the less than full implementation? No, because if that were the case, it would not take the view that full implementation is not a lasting solution. Is it perhaps that the concurrent list is too thick and that the provincial unit should have some of the powers listed therein? Not really because that is not mentioned. The real problem the TNA has is elsewhere—with the role and powers of the Governor, and inter alia, those of the executive president.
What does the existing arrangement as critically described by TNA moderate Sumanthiran mean? It means that the executive Presidency, as that office which rests on the elected consent of a majority of voters on the island taken as a single unit, is the repository of the sovereign power of the citizenry and is the fount from which from which power is devolved to the periphery. Thus the TNA’s objection is to the fundamental principle that power is devolved to the periphery from a strong center resting upon the broadest possible basis; a presidency that represents the nation as a whole. The TNA’s problem is with the mediatory role of the Governor, who acts as the elevator between the devolved peripheral unit and the presidential apex of the system. The TNA objects to a strong presidency representing the totality of the nation, which is raised above the peripheral unit. The Tamil moderate, Mr. Sumanthiran’s underlying objection is to the very principle that the institution that represents the totality, the whole, should be raised above the part; that the center should be above the periphery and that power should be devolved, i.e. flow downward.
In the TNA’s vision, power should flow from a center outward to the periphery, but not from an apex, downward to the unit. No wonder then that the TNA wants the Executive Presidency abolished. This means that the system is transformed—I would say debauched—from a pyramid to a flat circle, with the parliament at its center. This means the minority parties are able to influence government formation at the center, through coalitions in parliament, as well as push beyond the unitary framework which would have been weakened by the decapitation of the executive presidency and the severance of the “neck” that links the executive head with the devolved peripheral unit, i.e. the Governor.
Who will appoint the Governor under the arrangement the TNA seeks: the Parliament, the Cabinet, the PM, or the enfeebled essentially non-executive President? Or will there be no Governor at all? Or will there only be a ceremonial Governor, representing a largely nominal presidency?
With the TNA intent on moving beyond the full implementation of the 13th amendment, and pushing together with its Southern allies (now in power) for the abolition or radical weakening of the Executive Presidency, what will be the future power relations within Sri Lanka be like, especially between the weaker center and a stronger periphery historically and currently subject to the ideological and politico-strategic pulls and emotional-psychological osmosis from their 70 million co-ethnics across a narrow strip of water, in neighboring Tamil Nadu?
The TNA is strategically very lucid about what it is about. It is pushing for something beyond even the full implementation of the 13th amendment while it has simultaneously advocated and agreed upon the abolition of the Executive Presidency and thereby the radical diminution of the strong center. The division of labor is clear: the governing Sinhala elite (fronted by a non-elite political leader) weakens the center by dismantling or eroding the centripetal executive Presidency, thereby loosening the systemic ties between center and periphery, while the Tamil elite for its part, presses on far beyond the parameters of the unitary state.
Amarasiri / January 28, 2015
Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka
RE: Pre-Independence Day Thoughts 2015: The Future State Of The Nation
Dayan, would you like to go to Mars? Are you Physically Fit/ Very good challenge, instead of being a Shill and Whitewasher for Medamulana MaRa.
Human mission to Mars
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_mission_to_Mars
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Percy Jilmart / January 28, 2015
“There’s always that ‘but’ isn’t there?
Yes The Yarn, your the butt.
An idiotic intellectual butthead. :D
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Thiru / January 28, 2015
Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka
is a typical Sinhalese chauvinist wanting to dominate Tamils, Muslims and others – an educated one at that!
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Suresh / January 29, 2015
Are people still reading the RUBBISH that this man (a bogus political scientist) keeps dumping every week? I hope the new government will keep this man at a distance and dump all his advices/messages straight into the cess pit where it rightly belong.
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Deva / January 29, 2015
I have never seen a shameless, selfish, opportunist like Dayan Jayathilake changing colours so often like a chameleon. Even after being a lapdog to MR who used him well to do all his dirty work in Paris and Geneva and then threw him into the garbage bin like a used condom, during the last days of election he suddenly started playing the MR tune. l am sure MR must have promised him another diplomatic post if he had won the election. I am sure MR must have lost some votes by engaging this fellow to support him.
This self-proclaimed know-it-all political scientist/analyst or rather a bogus/pseudo scholar popularly known as the spin doctor who thinks no end of himself has completely lost his respect and credibility among the educated Sri Lankans, nobody likes to listen to this [Edited out] personality.
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Robert.R / January 28, 2015
Can I propose that all the readers PLEASE DO NOT COMMENT. Ignore this disgraced individual who is engaged in the same profession as those of the red light district in Amsterdam.
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Saroja / January 28, 2015
Fully Agree with Robert R. I was looking for this comment. Stop commenting and we will see the exit of DJ pranks.
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Native Vedda / January 29, 2015
Saroja
“Stop commenting and we will see the exit of DJ pranks.”
It applies only to those intellectually honest ones and not to a shameless discredited opportunists.
After he sojourned in MR’s bosom he was discarded by the boss himself, something similar to a used condom.
He was supporter of Nation Liberation of Tamils in the 1980s.
He had close relationship with EPRLF
He was appointed a minister in the now defunct North East Provincial Council.
He never condemned IPKF’s atrocities.
He never condemned EPRLF’s atrocities.
He is a self confessed war monger, the boy who asked for more.
He is unprofessional war crime denier.
He is a majoritarian statist.
He is hired gunslinger.
He only serves the most vile men in this island.
He believes he saved this island from UNHRC.
He continue’s to think he has something to contribute to discussion.
He is happy to deny democratic rights to the ordinary people.
He believes he has a large number of followers.
He can take 64 positions, all at the same time.
He used to be a Rottweiler in the service of two presidents.
He drops names frequently to amuse himself.
He lives in his own world completely isolated from this earth.
He has become another Silva just following Nalin’s footpath.
He believes that “he exists therefore he thinks” as opposed to “I think therefore I am”
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Navin / January 28, 2015
Dayan Jayatilleke, you are senile but sinister. This is why CT readers, most of them, detest you.
It is abundantly clear that you are almost praying that the New Government should collapse. For what purpose you so wish is a mystery.
Are you sexually impotent?
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Ajith / January 28, 2015
Again and again this bloody rascist is now engaged fully with creating fear among Sinhalese that Tamils are moving towards seperation. It is very true that 13th amendment cannot be a viable solution under unitary system because the South (Sinhalese) can throw away 13th amendment with another amendment whenever they want without the approval of Tamils. In otherwords this racist wants that Sinhalese should decide what Tamils can eat and drink in this soil.he wants the blood of Tamils. He thinks mahinda & Gota are the only people who will eliminate Tamils from this island.
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nike / January 28, 2015
ajith fool, you are a naive coward and [Edited out]
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alex / January 28, 2015
Only a week ago this man promised not to write in English for a while. Clearly a man who cannot keep to his word. This diatribe against a workable political solution is exactly the type of sinhala, majoritarian, nationalist nonsense that has kept Sri Lankans at each others throats for 70 years. This man does not allow progress and simply spews vile, controlling, mob based vitriol. Time to move aside and let Sri Lanka join the 21st century of liberal politics, where people run their own affairs, and democracies do not mean mob rule and power can be devolved if thats what people want. The best thing this man can do is slink off with the Rajapakse’s other acolytes.
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Krish / January 28, 2015
Mr.Dayan
Why do you engage in such cyniIcal ” verbal diarreah”. It is beneath you. “Independence!,” are you smiling within yourself about your cleverness. Pretending to be an intellectual , you are in fact a racist.
Please desist !
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K.Chevvez / January 28, 2015
Dayan Jayatilleka is pretending not to understand what is democracy or his hard line Sinhala nationalism is blinding him.
Democracy is not only majority voting, it also equally defines democratic values such as equal treatment of minorities, ensuring minority rights, let alone amalgamated two nations.
To say it boldly, Dayan sounds like a racist bent on beating the minorities.
Why can’t he consider federal setup as a standard respectable solution, that can lift the currently uncivilized Sri Lanka into a modern civilized democracy in the world.
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K.Chevvez / January 28, 2015
Dayan Jayatilleka is pretending not to understand what is democracy or his hard line Sinhala nationalism is blinding him.
Democracy is not only majority voting, it also equally defines democratic values such as equal treatment of minorities, ensuring minority rights, let alone amalgamated two nations.
To say it boldly, Dayan sounds like a racist bent on beating the minorities.
Why can’t he consider federal setup as a standard respectable solution, that can lift Sri Lanka into a modern civilized democracy in the world.
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BBS Rep / January 28, 2015
Dayan,
If the Sinhala politicians never started playing to the gallery, if they had pressed for a true egalitarian society, we will not be in the mess that we are in today. There would be no 1956 riots and hartals, there would have been no 1983 pogrom, there would have been no LTTE, and there would have been no war crimes of 2009 and certainly no 13th amendment. If Mahanda Rajapaksa, the leader you so much admire had half a brain he would have realised that he had the best opportunity to undo the trend of playing to the gullible and reversing communal politics. And you wouldn’t have had to prevaricate that Tamils are hoping to achieve something more than what the 13th amendment is willing to give.
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Park / January 28, 2015
“This is simply because Tamil nationalism has never accepted that a lasting solution could be arrived at through full devolution within a unitary state. It has always held that a lasting solution is not possible within a state that remains basically unitary. Even moderate Tamil nationalism holds the view that a lasting solution lies somewhere beyond the unitary state; even one endowed with the most generous devolution,” says Dayan. What a racist statement of Dayan.
First of all Dayan says that Mahinda agreed to go beyond 13 to 13 plus. He also says that the offer was not qualitative but quantitative. I would like to ask this “Puss-Pundit” Dayan, were you not the one who was helping Mahinda at this time, were you not the one who claimed that you defeated the UNHCR inquiry when Mahinda made this statement. So did you plan that 13 plus was a bogus offer by Mahinda. Was this part of the conspiracy that you unleashed at the UN by telling untruth to the world body?
Is Dayan part of Tiger remnants or a Tiger supporter or is he now being paid by the Tigers? He is quoting Tamil Net. As we all know who controls Tamil Net. Tamil Net controllers wanted the Tamils in the NOrth and East not to vote but the Tamils and Muslims voted at the Presidential election and thereby kicking the butt of the Tamil Net organizers. Didn’t this “Puss-Pundit” Dyan notice this change?
This “Puss-Pudit” has nothing else to write now as his God Father Rajapakse is in big trouble and now he is trying to create another communal disharmony. He knows he is not going to get any international postings which he was expecting from Rajapakse after the elections. Unfortunately Rajapakse lost, so are the predictions of this “Puss-Pundit” Dayan which were proved wrong after the Uva and Presidential elections.
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T.A.KUMAR / January 28, 2015
This man is an anti Ranil So he will criticise the U.N.P. at the fall of he hat.. He is an eel. So beware.
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DIL / January 28, 2015
Dyan it’s great to see you expressing your views without fear or fervour. SL needs moderates like you to keep on making your point reflecting on your beliefs and there are many who feel the same way.You have an amazing ability to put things in perspective and do it so well. Keep up the good work, there’s a long way to go to bring SL on track again,
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Sengodan. M / January 28, 2015
Well, well, Dr. Jayan, did or did not your mentor, the ex-President of Sri Lanka promise India and the international community more than once that he will go well beyond the 13th amendment to solve the National Question? So, what is wrong in Sumanthiran reminding the present government of same? Any devolution has to be effective and meaningful and not something for its name sake! As an intellectual you will agree that devolution is not synonymous with division of a country.
So why are you trying to rabble rouse?
Sengodan. M
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Sengodan. M / January 28, 2015
Dayan,
You are trying to unnecessarily create a fear psychosis among the Sinhalese by referring to 70 million co-ethnics across the straits. Tamilnadu is only one of 29 states in India and in terms of size it is the seventh largest. We are not living in dynastic days of yore. There is no way Tamilnadu on its own could March across the straits to invade Sri Lanka. That sort of thing would never ever happen! You seem to be worse than the worst Sinhala chauvinists in the country, pretending to be an intellectual and an ex-Marxist!
Sengodan. M
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Don Quixote / January 28, 2015
I thought the state of the nation is decreed by the PRESIDENT of the nation ?
Is your gargantuan ego driving you to contest in the future ?
I doubt that you would even get your wife’s vote !
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Pakis Pettiya / January 28, 2015
Dayan, we buddhists DO NOT have a God or Gods to rely on. We are a predominantly Buddhist nation. Which God are you talking about? Hindu? Christian? Muslim?
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Native Vedda / January 28, 2015
Pakis Pettiya
“We are a predominantly Buddhist nation.”
Oh please.
What you have is Sinhala/Buddhism, a perverted Sinhala/Buddhists political ideology.
Buddha’s teaching should be liberated from Sinhala/Buddhists.
Sinhala/Buddhism champions
Kill the Veddah, Rob the Buddha, Blame the Sudda
Sunday sil Monday kill
Buddha’s teaching does not refer to the idea of “nation” which is relatively a new concept, and manufactured by West.
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Sengodan. M / January 28, 2015
For God’s sake Dayan, please do not try to create unnecessary fears in the minds of the Sinhalese. India, the giant neighbour of Sri Lanka and the architect of 13 A will always want to maintain good relations with the whole of Sri Lanka and never with just a part of it. It will never like to see a part of Sri Lanka enjoying a greater degree of autonomy than any of its states in India. It will also never ever permit a separate Tamil Eelam. So, there is absolutely nothing to worry for the Sinhalese.
Sengodan. M
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Sena / January 28, 2015
Why don’t you get lost you racist [Edited out] with your crappy theories quoting Sumitharan re the devolution question. The TNA has in no uncertain terms said that they would want to be working under a unitary state. So what is the problem? Your long winded Bullshit theories and forecasts are nothing but a figment of your imagination. You and your Hero MARA and his henchman are now in the Dog house. Don’t come trying to lick some Diplomatic appointment bones that you think Ranil, nor MS nor Mangala will offer you.You are a doomed pseudo intellectual man. You an unprincipled hypocrite that no self respecting Government would trust you nor your writings. You are just like MARA’s astrologer despised by his Master and the laughing stock of most intelligent people.
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sach / January 28, 2015
“The TNA has in no uncertain terms said that they would want to be working under a unitary state. “
NO TNA HAS NOT
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aratai / January 28, 2015
.
Dr. DJ PhD…… the man who said minority votes are not important, as long as majority of majority supports, MaRa will win.
Even most Tamils never visits Tamilnet site, but this PhD holder not only visits Tamilnet, believes that too.
:-)
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Palayang Yako / January 28, 2015
More baffle-gab from the ultimate in bullshit agents!
Dayan, why don’t you bugger off somewhere, preferably Singapore which contains your Siamese Twin, Rohan Gunaratne, where the two of you can compare notes on the lies, distortions and sycophancy you have practiced to much personal benefit under the murderous MR regime for so long.
Ideally, for the English-reading public, that will be accompanied by a complete silence on the part of you two jackasses on the journalistic front in SL!
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Navin / January 28, 2015
WhereTF is Rohan Gunaratne these days. High time that bugger was made to taste the terrorist wine he has been “expertly” concocting for a living.
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Solutions Please / January 28, 2015
Dear Dayan , you have identified the “problem”, but you must be aware that the Sri Lankan voting population has decided to take a chance on a new approach to the problem.
What are the possible solutions that you can put forward that can be acceptable to all parties, hardliners and all, that we can accept as human beings living in one country? Doesn’t our national anthem say we are ‘all children of one mother’ ?
Over to you please!
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MNZ / January 28, 2015
Yes, the position of Governor should be abolished as we have seen the Northern Provincial Council was constantly hampered by that incumbent on the instructions of the President (or the Defence Secretary).
The Provincial Councils should be able to handle their affairs independent of extraneous influence giving expression to the will of the people within the relative geographical area.
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dcn / January 28, 2015
Though DJ promised not to write in tbe english media but he continues to do so because he must be getting a kick out of the critical comments by the readers in his articles.His main theme in his articles are supporting MR/ Sajith, Ranil/chandrika bashing, followed by communal tones.
We all know he is jobless.
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Gemunu / January 28, 2015
Hay Dayan De Silva, I thought only a couple of weeks age you said that you were not going to write to English newspapers! You are a bigger liar and a hypocrite than the politicians in Rajapaksa gang.
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Mannar Tamilan / January 28, 2015
Dayan knows that Ranil bashing won’t sell any longer. So he’s picked up Sumanthiran. Get a life Dayan, you are repeating this for the umpteenth time.
We also know that your support for the 13A is a mere diplomatic game. Kalana Senaratne notes:
“Jayatilleka believes strongly in the continuing relevance of India’s goodwill, and the need to ensure that the Indian centre does not capitulate to the whims of Tamil-Nadu. He understands more clearly the dangers confronting the country, in the context of BJP’s threatening stance and the 2014 Indian elections. For Jayatilleka, this is a diplomatic game which needs to be played with the 13th Amendment; i.e. by implementing it, not simply by promising to do.”
Here is what you said of your support for the 13A:
“Our military victory has to be politically conserved and socially stabilised. That’s what my advocacy of the 13th amendment is about.”
So stop with the pretension.
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Daya / January 28, 2015
The great DJ can understand that TNA does not insist implementation of devolution immediately to satisfy the Sinhala people but cannot understand that TNA should maintain that they need devolution beyond 13th amendment to satisfy the Tamils and obtain their votes.
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MirakRajBanda / January 28, 2015
DJ- Do you know that you are a racist??
Please reply!
MRB
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Expatriate / January 28, 2015
Dayan, after resurrecting the Fifty Fifty slogan, continues to fan the communal flame. One does not know whether it is he or the Rajapakses who are smarting more at the results of the recent Presidential elections.
Dayan talks about the Thirteenth Amendment ( TA) as if it is a solid, established piece for the Tamils. But what is there to crow about? The TA:
–Will not share executive power with the Provincial Councils ( PCs) because that power is vested in the President;
— will not secure equitable allocation of financial resources to the PCs because this will be determined by the Central Government;
–Will not prevent state aided colonization of the Provinces ( especially the North and East) because disposition of land will be in the hands of the Central Government; Similarly, Police and Public Order as well as higher education are excluded from the PCs list.
One can go on.
Dayan’s implications seem to be akin to saying that a child should not be allowed to walk because if it learns to do so, it will want to run!
—
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nike / January 28, 2015
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
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Mallaiyuran / January 28, 2015
It is not downward, it is not outward. It is simple the master unleash us and let us go free. We not want the our masters bone, the Sinhala Intellectuals word magic power sharing. We know that is only bone, no meat. We do not want any damn donkey of Sinhala Intellectual in the name of governor in our land. We have nothing to do with Dayan’s outward or downward. He can have the both. Keep it with you.
We do not want to be with the Sinhala intellectual Master. After cheating and winning the election all the new government doing is to fool the EU and get back the GSP+ and the fish export. They are so actively working on the new constitution to solidify the victory over North.
It seems Dayan is too full to night. He has filled his stuff up to his nose. He has no clue of what he is writing. He can remember when was the last time TNA said it will be happy with the 13A. If he remember he would have attached it here as prove. From 1987 TULF’s position is 13A is not a real power sharing. It is not just TULF’s position it was the Dayan boss’s position too. His boss before he ran to India, he declared Independence because he felt that the 13A was a fraud structure. That is how Dayan boss rejected 13A. Dayan’s dope is too high him to recollect the past.
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