Following concerns that President Maithripala Sirisena was set to violate the 19th Amendment in letter and spirit with regard to the extent of the presidential term, his media unit issued a special statement today (January 11) pointing out that this was not the first time a chief executive had sought Supreme Court advice on such matters.
Maithripala Sirisena earlier asked the Supreme Court to determine when his presidential term expires.
Colombo Telegraph reported yesterday that there is no provision for Sirisena’s term to go beyond the five years specified in the 19th Amendment.
However, the Attorney General, has stated that since Sirisena took up presidential duties on January 9, 2015 for a six year term and prior to the 19th Amendment being passed, the five year limit imposed therein does not apply.
However, as Colombo Telegraph pointed out, the 19th Amendment clearly deals with the question in order to clear any possible confusion.
Singhalese pundit / January 11, 2018
Vote JVP to avoid all this mess and all these people looters of public money.
I have been telling my Sri Lanka’s that no party is honest except JVP..
Put the country first and vote for JVP.
Do not vote for thugs.
Free Sri Lanka from.coreupt politics.
Free Sri Lanka from these robbers .vote for JVP.
JVP is new party now
It is green politics
Not dirty politics of Ranil.and MR .
M&S like a ball he can be played into any corners .
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Abdul / January 11, 2018
I agree but JVP is no better … still not heard the wealth accumulation of the JVP leader? You will be blown away. SL is slipping away … its a vehicle without breaks and the worst part when it crashes there wont be airbags for protection.
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Jim softy / January 11, 2018
There was a letter showing that JVP-AKD has a house in IReland provided by UNP or the west. Other than JVP is the only party that has declared their assets. None from the 225 has declared assets which means they are waiting to steal more.
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Raj / January 11, 2018
First of all, The JVP should denounce their bloody past & prove they are no longer a rag tag party of Marxists anymore but committed socialists. Are they able to disclose their wealth since entering politics, just to prove they are a disciplined party without corruption?
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Native Vedda / January 11, 2018
Raj
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JVP hasn’t unreservedly apologised to the people for the what they did in 1971 and between 1987 and 1990.
JVP has to publicly account for it share of murders.
JVP needs to press the state for truth regarding war crimes being committed from 1971 to 2015.
JVP has to explain why war crimes, crimes against humanity and human rights violations are not in its priority list.
JVP also doesn’t want truth disclosed hence it has ignored three presidential commission report which identified perpetrators of 30,000 murders committed between 1987 – 1990.
It has also hasn’t apologised specifically to the upcountry hard working people for wrongly defining/accusing them of being 5th column.
JVP hasn’t publically surrendered its antic collection of arms.
JVP hasn’t stopped brain washing its young novices – they must stop parroting the Marxist/Maoist utopiah.
JVP has to unreservedly apologised for the honeymoon period with Dr Rajapaksa.
JVP is not serious about national question.
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No one knew what JVP’s position on War crimes and crime against humanity.
Is there anyone who is brave enough to tell Anura that he mustn’t speak more than 15 minutes. Rest can be dealt within question time. This is one of the negative thing that puts off people from voting him.
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Jim softy / January 11, 2018
There is no national Question. Ask Tamils to become sinhalized. Then there won’t be any caste related discrmination. They will be treated as anyone. Besides, political solutions are for politicians and not for lay people. Do not fool the voters.
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Native Vedda / January 12, 2018
Jim softy Dimwit
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” Then there won’t be any caste related discrmination.|”
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Of course the Tamils will have the privilege of advertising in news papers as follows:
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“A Tamil Govi converted Sinhala/Buddhist father is looking for a qualified beautiful bride in a wealthy Tamil Govi converted Sinhala/Buddhist family for his highly qualified son living and working in the USA. A large dowry is though not expected the bridegroom will not refuse it if offered.”
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Percy / January 12, 2018
War crimes against Prabakaran..? For killing innocent people by the thousand in villages while they slept, for maiming, blinding, and destroying people and their homes? War crimes have to be levied against RudrakumRan, Adele Balasingam, now living in the West, and other LtTE financiers including Tamil Vedda..THere are many crimes against humanity committed by those barbarous people and have to be brought to justice.
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Uthungan / January 12, 2018
Percy
While charges for ‘War Crimes’ are levelled against those whom you have mentioned, do not also forget to also hide under a bushel the causes for that too.
Will you promise to do that?
Why not conduct a nationwide referendum the burning of the Jaffna Library also.
AKD of the JVP will advise you on that matter.
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max / January 12, 2018
Native, first, let me wish a happy new year though its bit late. From the list you mentioned above, particularly the last two points have to be addressed.
JVP did practically try to slash MR from power at the height of the war by trying to defeat him at the annual budget. Had JVP’s requirement been fulfilled, VP would have been the winner and of course the Eelam lobby and its theoriticians like you, would have something to cheer. So, “honeymooning” is out of the question.
The last point, let me put it in the right way. JVP is not serious about Tamil chuvanism which is the ‘national’ question.
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Analyst / January 12, 2018
JVP Skeletons from their closets only will be exposed when they’re given power .
Until then they will lie low and play the ” INNOCENT GAME”
We all know Innocent?? Sleeping Hyenas???
Only when given power their dirt gets exposed.
That’s the way in our Srilanka. It will be toooo Late then.
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thrishu / January 11, 2018
JVP has yet to prove that they would not end up as rogues and thugs etc as of the other parties’ reps. However they do deserve an opportunity to show their mettle and capability to govern.
What concerns me is that the criminal non-patriotic, non-voter- caring activities and characteristics of SLK poly-tikkos is not a Party-Political matter; it is a national characteristic unique to our son-of- the-*what’s its in the parliament! It is the political system and the law enforcement organizations that needs changing, not just the personalities or the color.
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Percy / January 12, 2018
Vote JVP to see another killing spree. JVP philosophy is to kill all those who they do not agree with. They are a bunch of illiterate goons nothing else.
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Percy / January 12, 2018
JVP honest? Are you kidding me? Tell us how Wijeweera was living a life of luxury when absconding. From where did he get the money. .What happened to the proceeds of bank robberies?
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Singhalese pundit / January 12, 2018
Dear Percy.
You are just making blank accusation.
Yes; they did do some mistakes but it is history now ..
I’m sure most of them regretted for that now .
They should make public apology for killing..but what about government that killed thousands of innocent youths .
So both sides have done mistakes
Now ; they have changed and reformed .
So do not blames them now.
They made a great sacrifice for the country ..
Why they do politics..
They do it for the country.
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Native Vedda / January 12, 2018
Percy dated pathetic
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“What happened to the proceeds of bank robberies?”
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Ask the security team which arrested him. Finders, keepers. Maybe you should ask DIG Udugampola.
Isn’t that what Dr Gota and Gota’s boys did in Vanni?
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Jim softy / January 12, 2018
Percy You are dishonest and evading.
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Sunil / January 14, 2018
Wait! Shouldn’t the elections commissioner be the one the make inquiries of this nature!?
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Senarath / January 11, 2018
JRJ’s Constitution made a monster like position recognized as the post of President, and those who were elected to that post were just like the camel which entered the hut. Fortunately, the constitution itself has set an obstacle preventing capricious desire of persons who are elected to that position to cling into the post for their life time. JRJ created this position to help rulers to take firm decisions to develop the country economically without depending on the majority will of the Legislature. But he himself started violating the supreme objectives of the constitution in instances like extending the term of 1977 Parliament through Referendum, taking away Civil Rights of opposition leaders through Commissions, interfering popular vote during Development Council Elections and burning of the Jaffna library. If he let the political steam to take its own turn through democratic process present Sri Lanka would have become different. His successors later did the worst. This action clearly indicates the fact that, as others did, he is trying to get the benefit of verbal meaning of the Articles of the Constitution to prolong the term illegally. Even a small child would understand that the term of the President is five years and no more. Taking oath is personal to the person elected. It cannot take away the supreme power of the People to decide who should be the person who take care of their Executive power for the next five years.
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Sena / January 11, 2018
All knew well when the moments Sirisena take the helm of SLFP, he had hit the shit bucket. Under the new ruling of top court, now, MR and CBK too are claiming that they can contest again and go for two more terms. People had good hope on him but Sirisena has just proved himself that he too another typical dirty petty politician who gone back on his words owing to hid power greediness.
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upul / January 11, 2018
Mr. Sirisena appears to have learnt well from the puppet master himself (RW). All that has happened is an explanation was requested and done very transparently and the ghosts of the past came out as anticipated.
The 19th amendment is quite categorical that the PM and President at the time, are to be affected by the new time limits. I don’t think Mr. Sirisena is any doubt about this but his tactical advisors must have advised taking this step to see who comes out of the shadows!
RW advising his team not to over-react is the clearest indication that his recognises the strategy at play.
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RP / January 11, 2018
This is very simple. It was Prez Sirisena who said to curtail the duration of the presidency to five years because that period is more than enough to prove the people that any president was capable of handling the nation’s affairs.
When he asks for an extension now what does it mean? It means his original assessment of the Presidency’s duration is wrong.
During the past three years people have realized that majority of his decisions were wrong and failures. He appointed RW with clear knowledge that he was violating the basic democratic norms. Then, he signed the ex-Central Bank governor’s (Arjun Mahendran’s) appointment letter knowing that he was a rogue. Recently he said Moragahakanda project was stopped by the MR government in 2007-8 due to lack of funds; (he too a cheap shot at MR here)! but he knows (since he was a powerful cabinet minister in the MR cabinet) that the MR government had to divert funds from many other projects to defeat the LTTE terrorist war.
Why is Prez Sirisena doing this? Does he think we, the average Sri Lankans are gullible like him?
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Kalu Albert / January 11, 2018
Dr Ranil is already de valued currency. Sira will be stupid if he doesn’t milk it as long as he can..And even seeks another 6 years after 21….
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Nevermind / January 11, 2018
SINHALESE PUNDIT……….JVP? Do you want to jump from the frying pan to the fire?
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Jim softy / January 11, 2018
I think Perfectly OK what President was doing. IT is not like the Unpatriotic National
Party of which both the leader and the deputy leader are unofficial – convicts. Pohottuwa from the leader to almost every one is either fraudster, conmen or women or has some kind of baggage to hide. that doe snit say SLFP is clean like clear water. At least what president did was not wrong.
One problem that goes against Sri lanka is so many anti-sri lankan special groups who want their way.
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douglas / January 12, 2018
Native Vedda: Ref; your comment dated Jan 11, You have a ” WOUND” that never can be treated and healed. So better live with it. So sorry for you. But let the rest move forward for something better than nothing.
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Native Vedda / January 12, 2018
Comrade douglas
Secular greetings from a practicing liberal
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I agree the wound is still sore.
Immediately after the JVP had been founded my Elders who had the misfortune of listening to Rohana Wijeyweera (the psychopath who lead two failed terrorist attempts to take over the entire island ) told me that this failed terrorist had a poignant analogy. He pointed out the two party politics in this island was something similar to two sides of the same coin. Nobody seemed to have told him there was no three sided coin unless of course specially minted by JVP’s goldsmiths.
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You may have a soft corner for JVP or you maybe one of the founder member of the party or a secret member of its Politburo, however the fact remains JVP is another party with a horrible past and its leaders have been practicing hypocrites. Let them openly own up its past deeds, apologise, beg mercy and then move on. The party cannot pretend everything is hunky dory and expect people to vote for it. What is stopping it honestly owning up its past.
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Gema / January 12, 2018
Damage is already done! there is no control over it now!
Prez Sirisena’s cat is now out of his national dress: his first attempt is to get the extension and the second will be to go for a second term. (This cunning plan is obvious!)
The UNP will have to make a decision now! Even if it doesn’t, people will make it on Feb 10th referendum!
Then we can see what would happen to the 6.2 million mandate.
Will the 2 leaders of Yahapalana government accept it or they will start mumbling and grumbling?
Anyways, we will have to tolerate the duo’s jokes till the end of 2020.
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Jim softy / January 12, 2018
There is something very wrong in the Sri lankan system. Uva chief Minister chaamra Sampath dissanayake has got a school principal of a Tamil school, a Female, knelt in front of Him. That is disgusting. PResident should have powers and eyes at this timE. But he looks another sloth.
Sajin Vass gunawardane has been fined Rs 1000 for all he did. WHAT IS WRONG WITH SRI LANKA. 2015 WAS NOT THE COLOR REVOLUTION TIME. NOW THERE IS ONE NEEDED DESPERATELY.
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Jim softy / January 12, 2018
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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Native Vedda / January 12, 2018
Jim softy Dimwit
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Its alright the principal is only a Tamil.
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” WHAT IS WRONG WITH SRI LANKA.”
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Everything,
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DPJ / January 12, 2018
There are many JVPers at Pradesiya Saba and Gam Saba level who have been robbing and also engage in unlawful activities. I am personally aware of a woman who took us for such a ride and obtained monies from the District Secretary’s office with the help of another JVPer in that office..
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Diogenes / January 12, 2018
I hate all politicians. I hate all Buddhist monks dabbling in politics. I hate bloody Lion Brand patriots and the so called `proprietors and guardians` of Buddhism.
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Real Revolutionist / January 12, 2018
Argument seems logical but what was the reason for amendment?
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Champa / January 12, 2018
Damage controlling? If the President has earned at least some respect for taking few steps for the best interest of the country such as blocking the Federal Interim Committee Report vote, this one letter has made him lose everything he earned.
Attorney General, on one hand is the independent legal adviser of the government and on the other hand he is the protector of the rule of law. His opinion on President’s term to be 6 years is hilarious. OMG, this fellow, Attorney General must be a political appointee.
19th Amendment introduced several measures diluting a number of powers vested in the Executive President and that applied to President Sirisena instantly. It even transferred some powers previously enjoyed by the Executive President to a lame Constitutional Council. All those were applied to President Sirisena immediately – the moment the 19th Amendment was passed. How could only the change of his term doesn’t apply to him? If it doesn’t apply and if his term ends only in 2021, then he should still be the Executive President with all the powers, as he was elected as the Executive President!!!
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On the other hand, didn’t the President take pride in announcing the world that unlike any other President, he, himself transferred his powers unselfishly and reduced his own term?
What made him to send that shameful letter seeking clarification when he himself initiated limiting his term to 5 years? Hunger for power or did somebody give a dead rope?
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Champa / January 12, 2018
I saw a new item about President planning to pump river water which is flowing to the ocean in vein, to areas where there is water scarcity. It was my suggestion. I made this suggestion to him directly in LankaCNews on or around November 12, 2016, as I was angry with JO and Mahinda when I realized that they had a deal with Ranil.
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The same news says about a new strategy for Yala and Maha season. Although it doesn’t describe what it is, I made a suggestion to in January or February 2017 (to a news item of him opening the first phase of Moragahakanda or Wayamba Stream Project or something) appeared in LankaCNews, to have 4 harvests in Yala and Maha season instead of 2. I even described how to do it.
There were so many other suggestions which I made from time to time now taking place and some are already taken place. LCN didn’t publish many other suggestions. I fought with them at the time, but now I am glad.
Ok, do I repent about these suggestions? Yes, very much because now there is a change in my opinion about selfish power hungry Sri Lankan politicians and moreover, unlike in 2016 and early 2017, now I have a clear aspiration about my country and as to what type of people should govern the country.
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Champa / January 12, 2018
The news item says they were the ideas of Geologists. I dare say before I made these suggestions nobody else in Sri Lanka had made these suggestions. For the last so many decades, nobody had even thought of these suggestions before me. All these and many other ideas were my own ideas. I have seen many projects taking place, ONLY AFTER my comments were published. I fought with Wimal when he didn’t publish so many other ideas in LCN, but oh, I am so glad he didn’t.
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What I am trying to say is, if anybody thinks that these were ideas are of politicians, they are mistaken. I am someone from the general public. These were MY ORIGINAL IDEAS. Oh, how much I repent now about making them as they are now being used to glorify politicians.
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Good Sense / January 12, 2018
As per your report I am surprised that AG of the country singing such a song. He cow-towing to the bigwig is understandable but expressing such professional opinion dismays me. OK. If that is so then at the time he was elected he was not constrained on the number of terms he could get elected. Does the AG say that as well? What is the earthly purpose of the 19th Amendment? Will they say that since 19th amendment was passed after he was elected the provision regarding making Excellency a respondent in human rights case is also not applicable? Do they say then because of that the President could be the Minister of any ministry as he is not constrained at the time of election? The purpose of 19th amendment must be examined and the Constitution must be interpreted to serve the purpose. The AG must uphold the Constitution to the spirit and to the letter. Mr. Attorney are you a man?
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Mugalan / January 12, 2018
If A G says the people appointed MS as president according to the earlier terms of President his giving up some of the functions enjoyed by MR is also not legal and not valid. If we were to believe AG, Present president has all the powers executed by MR and he is also a all powerful Executive President.Present president cannot voluntarily give up any powers M R had because people voted for a all powerful President
Hence let him use his powers and curb all unwanted strikes by selfish Unions and keep GMOA under Control and recognize SAITEM Students.Let all public and private Channels should not say anything against M S. Although JR said he cannot make a man a Woman and Woman a Man , MR made all Male MPS women in his time as president
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K.Pillai / January 12, 2018
What damage did MS cause and what is he supposed to be controlling?
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