Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ajith P Perera says the conditions presented by the SLFP and certain other parties to vote for the passage of the 19th amendment are no longer valid, since the clauses of the 19A draft that contained major curtailing of Executive powers of the President will be omitted and presented when it’s taken up for debate in the parliament.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
“The SLFP said they would only vote for 19A if it is presented concurrently with electoral reforms. However, that argument is no longer valid since the country will not be destabilized in any way as the upcoming constitutional amendment does not contain any major curtailing of powers of the President,” he said adding the original clause which declares the President as the Head of the government, state, the executive and the tri-forces still remain unchanged due to the Supreme Court verdict.
He said since the Supreme Court determination on the constitutionality of the 19A states certain sections of the draft, if need to be implement should be done so only upon holding a referendum such sections would be omitted since the manifesto of President Maithripala Sirisena pledged that constitutional amendments that call for referendums would not be carried out.
The Minister said that presently, the only curtailing of the powers of the Executive powers of the President is through the clause that calls for the President to consult with the PM prior to taking important decisions such as the appointment of Ministers of dissolving the parliament.
“If the President and the PM are unable to reach an agreement, the matter will then be referred to the parliament,” he said while adding, “This however does not mean that the omissions have in any way hindered our aim of establishing and strengthening democracy and good governance in the country.”
He went on to state therefore, now neither the SLFP nor any other party has any grounds legally or ethically to oppose to the 19th amendment.
Jagath Fernando / April 10, 2015
Ranil lost out on a back door controversy !!!
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Vibhushana / April 10, 2015
I think the meaning of “National Govt” has been lost in these proceedings.
A national govt is formed in times of crisis to unite major parties and form a common front. Its only for a short period until the country goes over the hump.
During this short period there is no adversarial politics and no opposition. To have an opposition would defeat the purpose of the whole thing.
The passing of the 19th would be a major achievement of this national govt. Make it law before crap hits the fan and the moment is lost.
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Malcolm / April 10, 2015
Bringing a new Constitution without any executive powers concentrating on a single person called the President must be done to strengthen democracy and good governance. At this moment, though, accepting the 19A has to be done to curtail dictatorial powers of the President and establish independent commissions. This should only be considered as an intermediate stage on the journey to true freedom.
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Snowden Edward Asange / April 10, 2015
Ranil, though not ELECTED as the President tried to clip the wings of the one who the VOTERS voted for..who is MS.. He (Ranil)is a cunning fox,SO HE THINKS… MS should stand his ground in regard to the power he weilds and not curtail his powers until and after a PM is elected.. if NOT MR may come from behind and pip the post, where by He would have ALL the powers… MS also need to send ALL the wrong doers to jail before we can think of a general elections… ALL culprits from not just the 2 sides BUT ALL sides need to be locked up for raping the country and public funds…
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Malcolm / April 10, 2015
Voters voted for clipping the wings. Ranil, à cunning fox`or not, together with the ring bearer-Maithree, asked the voters for their vote for that. But I agree that Maithree should safeguard the victory of the masses from the thieves of the rajapakse clan and cronies. By strengthening democratic institutions only such as the Police Commission, the culprits should be punished, not by hasty despotic methods as happened in the rajapakse era.
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Gamarala / April 10, 2015
The SLFP should accept Mr Perera’s suggestion and support the 19th amendment for following reasons:-
The 19th amendment, as per the Supreme Court determination, will probably preempt the efforts by Mahinda Rajapakasa backers to make him the PM as he will have much less powers and will now have to work on the directions of President Sirisena. Probably MR’s inflated ego will not permit that and thereby SLFP can avoid a serious split and strengthen as a single party.
Ranil Wickramasinghe (probably with the backing of Chandrika) burned a large number of bridges during the last 90 days – With JHU, TNA, and some appointed SLFP State Ministers etc etc. He was, by his actions, also exposed to the people of Sri Lanka as a deceitful and an untrustworthy politician. The only leader to maintain his stature and build new bridges during this period was President Sirisena.
It is a fact that the entire opposition including UNP, Muslim Congress, TNA JHU etc received only 400,000 votes more than Rajapaksa. Under these circumstances it will be highly doubtful for the UNP could obtain a majority or even the highest number of seats in an election as most of these parties will contest independently.
Even if the faction supporting MR at present, is marginalized by the SLFP, it will be very difficult for them to join or support the UNP.
Thus SLFP should thus grab this opportunity to support 19A and face a subsequent election.
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vishvajith / April 10, 2015
Aren’t we back to square one. Nothing has changed.
We just experienced a Pres Rajapaksa doing as he pleases having his own PM in place. A future Rajapaksa can have a another Rajapaksa as his PM or anyone else and enjoy the bounty of the Nation.
Folks, nothing has changed. Just Hoopla.
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Malcolm / April 10, 2015
We have to accept the Supreme Court verdict. Sometimes you need to take small steps towards your goal rather than one big jump.
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gamini / April 10, 2015
The irony is that Ranil Wickremasinghe has no personal interest or an agenda of his own other than having the country at heart. He is genuinely interested to save this country from the Corrupt Despots who rob the people of their wealth under the guise of serving the Nation. He is keen to have decent educated in Politics, to place the country in their hands before he departs from the Political scene. But the corrupt are trying to mislead the masses, as if RW is trying to usurp power for his own gain. It has never been the case as done by MR who has been revealed today the depth of corruption he, his family and the cronies have indulged in. The general public owes their gratitude to RW for getting rid of the megalomaniac MR without hazzle. Before long RW will install an Independent Police. An Independent Justice System. A disciplined Armed Forces and a Law abiding Society. This is his vision and mission.
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Robert.R / April 10, 2015
Wow wow wow. ROFL
Then why did he hang on to the leadership of the UNP kicking out Sajith out of the WC and filling it with his “yes ” men? Also change the UNP constitution to stay on?
Of course, he has noooooooooooo interest in power, such a thotha baba he is.
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Gamarala / April 11, 2015
Well said Robert.
Sri Lanka will be governed by a SLFP President from 1994 at least till 2020, OVER TWENTY FIVE YEARS. Who was the leader of the main opposition party UNP during that time not capable of being elected as President. But he still REMAINS LEADER OF UNP.
Not power hungry and no personal agenda ???????????????
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gamini / April 11, 2015
For both Gamarala and Robert who suffer from myopia and an IQ less than 1%, if RW did not hold on to the leadership of the UNP obviously would have resulted in the likes of Sajith type succeeding. Such leadership is no different to MR rule, that the people are discovering today of the abuses kept concealed all this while. So naturally RW keeping the leadership and disciplining the Party first before the country to introduce reform is not understood by the likes of Robert and Gamarala not because they are naive but to hoodwink the masses, like their Master MR. Bloody Goons to think others are also fools.
These Goons tried to show that Ranil cannot, by staging victory over 29 elections to prove their point, to convince the masses but failed miserably at the last Presidential Election. Now that the Election machinery and the Government resources are out of their reach, the public can now witness the true pulse of the people at the next General Election, as to who will form a government and who becomes the PM. One thing is certain, that is the door to Politics for MR/Sajith type is closing for good and also for the henchaiyas like Robert and Gamarala.
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Gamarala / April 11, 2015
We will wait till the next election to see the validity of ‘genious’ Gamini’s comments.
FYI Sri Lanka is probably one of the very few countries to retain leader of a major party who cannot win an election for 25 years. In Australia they change even the Prime Minister if the party realise that they are unpopular and cannot win. Kevin Rudd & Julia Gillard were changed and it almost happened to Tony Abott last month.
It is the younger generation leaders such as Sajith Gayantha Sujeewa etc who would be able to get the UNP out of this mess.
There are enough similar examples in the rest of the world. Young Tony Blair defeating all powerful Conservatives in the UK and Kevin Rudd defeating undefeatable John Howard are two.
Sticking to unwinnable leaders and thinking like frogs in the wells imagining they have an IQ of 100 would not get you anywhere
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gamini / April 11, 2015
Gamarala,
Yes you will see at the next General Election the real scenario, but from the day of nomination you can see the trend. So have patience.
You say, ‘FYI Sri Lanka is probably one of the very few countries to retain leader of a major party who cannot win an election for 25 years. In Australia they change even the Prime Minister if the party realise that they are unpopular and cannot win’.
To add to the above Sri Lanka is the only country where the President abuse all State resources and win elections with set margins not allowing the Opposition to have a free and fair election. Again Sri Lanka is the only country where the Mug of the President was hanging from every lamp post and the State funds have been abused by the incumbent, only to lose badly because the public hated him so much.
Although your ilk try to project that RW is not popular anymore, wait and see the results at the next General Election.
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Gamarala / April 11, 2015
Amazed at your comparison. Just because a President abused resources, misused his authority and hung his portrit from every lamp post the leader of opposition is entitled to remain as the leader of the main oposition without being elected for 25 years.
You sure have an IQ of 100. I have nothing more to add.
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gamini / April 11, 2015
Gamarala,
Please let us know in the absence of Ranil Wickremasinghe in the UNP, who could have unseated MR. Is it Sajith? or is it Karu?
If not for Ranil Wickremasinghe, the UNP would have been dissolved long time ago by MR and would have been a one horse race.
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Gamarala / April 12, 2015
RW could NOT unseat Rajapakse. That is why he had to back Sarath Fonseka in 2010 and Maitreepala Sirisena in 2015. That is the whole problem.
If he had handed over the leadership to a CHARISMATIC & TRUSTWORTHY person WHO COULD GET THE BACKING OF ALL OPPOSITION FORCES there was a much better chance for the election of a UNP President in 2015 like the election of Tony Blair & Kevin Rudd against odds.
It his his greed for leadership as an unelectable leader that disheartened the UNPers not to even visit the voting booths and virtually dissolved UNP which was once the strongest party.
If he remains the party leader UNP will probably not have a head of state as President even in 2020.
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Medalankara de Choppe / April 13, 2015
RW would have won the election in 2005. He was cheated of the victory, on the Tamils being forced not to vote. It was said that VP had been bribed to prevent the tamils from voting.Before the parliament ios dissolved those responsible should be prosecuted.
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dcn / April 12, 2015
Gamini
Ranil W is the most capable leader who can take this country forward.
He had to hang on to the leadership of the UNP to protect same from vultures. These guys had contract to destroy UNP and Ranil and therefore was promoting Sajith against Ranil – you could have seen Sirasa/mtv carrying out this campaign. Unfortunately, Ranil is not a street fighter.
He did not lose the 2005 presidential election but was robbed by thieves paying money to Prabakran who dreaded Ranil coming back to power. Subsequent elections were manipulated with state power money and abuse which Ranil could not withstand because he was fighting only in a democratic way. One can see the abuse, corruption, etc during MR’s regime being unravelled everyday.
The next election would show Ranil’s capability in capturing power and a strong UNP rule.
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Ebahtog / April 10, 2015
A famous quote is at work. “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit”
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Snowden Edward Asange / April 11, 2015
I would credit MS and debit MR… yahapalanaya.. the 100 days is approaching FAST… do something at the last minute so people who BELIEVED in and voted for a change gets what they wanted…which includes sending the crooks to jail…
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Thondamannar / April 11, 2015
“WAIT A MINUTE” – LIARS EVERYWHERE – 19A A LIE ??
It is now becoming apparent that the ‘3Rs’, Ranil, Ravi and Rajitha are competing for the Title of The Most Brazen Liar in Parliament.
Examples:1) SLCB Rs 500 million says Ranil. SLCB ddeclres this untrue.
2) Chinese government agrees to reduce the cost of circular road by Rs 300
Million says Rajitha. This was what Ranil told him Rajitha explains. Ranil has
not denied this.
3) Port City project will deftly be stopped in its track said Ranil before election.
It is now only suspended for a few weeks says Ravi. The cabinet has
agreed that the port city project should go ahead unhindered says Rajitha.
4) New government has completed 67% of development programmes with
within 75 days says Ravi. Plans for economic development are afoot
says the Minister for economic development, Ranil
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dcn / April 11, 2015
Absolute power corrupts. The one who sits in that chair however he/she may be honest and sincere do want to lose some of these powers vested in the Position of President. Therefore MS also cannot be an exception.
UNP has to go through whatever they could do in this session, dissolve the parliament and try to win the election with the majority and their own government. Then must start the process to make all necessary amendments to the constitution with referendum, or formulate a new constitution.
This is the best they can do for the country as the oldest political party.
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gamini / April 11, 2015
dcn,
The UNP is the only political party to retain it’s symbol the elephant and the stature to date.
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dcn / April 12, 2015
Dear Gamini,
UNP has to regain power with majority in parliament. This is the only way the country can go forward with some ethics, decency and international recognition. The country has been disgraced by the MR regime.
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Malcolm / April 12, 2015
This is absolutely correct. The exact quote is:
“Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” – Lord Acton.
No matter how sincere the intentions of MS were at the beginning or those are currently; if he is left with the absolute powers for sufficiently long time he will abuse the powers. MS and others who pledged to change the system should now reduce the powers as much as allowed by the Constitution, with no further delay; hence the 19A needs to be approved. At the same time they should enact the independent commissions. So the democratic institutions can function up to a certain extent. The abolition of the despotic system should come later with a referendum; the civil society has a role to play in it. It looks like a long road ahead. The most important thing is not to lose the present opportunity to curb the powers.
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