Joint Cabinet Memorandum of Ministers DEW Gunasekera, Tissa Vitarana and Vasudeva Nanayakkara of the Socialist Alliance.
We are opposed to both proposals on a matter of principle and in view of the serious adverse political consequences that will surely follow. However, we can agree to legislation to repeal section 37 of the Provincial Councils Act, No. 42 of 1987.
Vasu, DEW and Tissa
The reasons for our stand are outlined as follows:
1. The 13th Amendment to the 1978 Constitution was formulated with the intension of solving the national question and bringing back the Tamil militant groups into the democratic political stream. It achieved this objective with the sole exception of the LTTE. The latter has now been militarily defeated, so that the door is open to win over the Tamil people as a whole to democratic politics within the framework of a single united country. When extra power devolution, 13 plus, has been promised, any deletions and modifications of the 13th Amendment, without due consultation, prior to holding the election to the Northern Provincial Council, will be viewed as an attempt to deprive the Tamil speaking minority (Tamils and Muslims) of a right that has hitherto been enjoyed by the Sinhala majority.
2. The fact that the proposed amendment to paragraph 3 of the existing Article 154 G has the objective of removing the safeguard which requires a 2/3 majority of the total number of members of Parliament to be obtained if one provincial council does not agree to a Bill that is being passed by Parliament, with regard to powers that have been devolved to the Provincial Councils, would further strengthen the fear of majority views being imposed on the minorities.
3. Criticisms leveled against the Government on the grounds of acting in a majoritarian anti-democratic fashion would be strengthened. It would further alienate the Tamil speaking minority and help those with a separatist agenda, both in Sri Lanka and abroad, to manipulate them once again, and also win international support, thereby increasing the danger of separatism rather than reducing it. It is our view that any changes to the 13th Amendment should only be made after due consultation, preferably at a meeting of the proposed Select Committee of Parliament, at which representatives of the Tamil and Muslim parties are able to be present.
4. We have no objection to legislation being framed to repeal section 37 of the Provincial Councils Act No. 42 of 1987, as this was a transitional arrangement and there is a Supreme Court ruling against the purported merger by the former President J.R. Jayawardene. The best course would be to retain Article 154 A (3), and include provision for a mandatory poll of all the electors in each of the adjoining provinces that desire to be merged. This would ensure that the decision of Parliament is approved by the voters of the concerned provinces.
chandra / June 13, 2013
Who disturbed their sleep?
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JimSofty / June 14, 2013
Three Blind Mice.
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Amarasiri / June 13, 2013
DOUBLE STANDARDS
“When extra power devolution, 13 plus, has been promised, any deletions and modifications of the 13th Amendment, without due consultation, prior to holding the election to the Northern Provincial Council, will be viewed as an attempt to deprive the Tamil speaking minority (Tamils and Muslims) of a right that has hitherto been enjoyed by the Sinhala majority.”
1. Double Standards i the core problem. This is the basis of discrimination.
2. This is the core reason for the Sri Lanka conflict.
3. Myths and Racism of Monk Mahanama of Mahawamsa fame and Notoriety, is used by the monks, politicians and others to perpetuate the double standards.
4. These prevent the formation of a just and egalitarian society.
5. This is not what Buddha preached, and what many others preached and promoted.
6. Religion is the opium of the masses-Karl Marx.
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Amarasiri / June 13, 2013
DOUBLE STANDARDS
“When extra power devolution, 13 plus, has been promised, any deletions and modifications of the 13th Amendment, without due consultation, prior to holding the election to the Northern Provincial Council, will be viewed as an attempt to deprive the Tamil speaking minority (Tamils and Muslims) of a right that has hitherto been enjoyed by the Sinhala majority.”
1. Double Standards i the core problem. This is the basis of discrimination.
2. This is the core reason for the Sri Lanka conflict.
3. Myths and Racism of Monk Mahanama of Mahawamsa fame and Notoriety, is used by the monks, politicians and others to perpetuate the double standards.
4. These presevent the foration of a just and ehlutarian socity,
5. This is not what Buddha preached.
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Wickramasiri / June 13, 2013
This is a positive development from the old left. Now it remains to be seen whether they will have the courage to raise their hand against an amendment to the Act should it come to a vote in parliament.
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ilyasfazly / June 13, 2013
We disagree, but agree!
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Yohar / June 13, 2013
A PRE-PLANNED BUT ILLTIMED MOVE BY THE SRILANKA REGIME,TO DENY AS USUAL
THE DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS OF THE MINORITIES. THIS HAS BEEN THE BONE OF CONTENTION, EVER SINCE SO CALLED INDEPENDENCE,IN 1948, AND THE SUBSEQUENT SUPPRESSION OF THE RIGHTS, VIA THE MANY POGRAMS, SADLY WITNESSED IN 1958,1977 AND 1983, WHEN MANY TAMIL AND MUSLIM INSTITUTIONS, RECEIVED DEMOLITION ORDERS FROM THE GOVT; OF THE DAY.
YES, UNDOUBTEDLY A BUDDHIST COUNTRY, BUT WHY INCARCERATE,CO-HABITING MINORITIES, LIVING TOGETHER SINCE BC200.
THE COUNTRY NEEDS STATESMEN,NOT COCONUT PLUCKING POLITICIANS [NOT ALL]
TO RE-DEFINE AND PRACTICE TRUE DEMOCRACY. PERHAPS THE MING DYNASTY,
NEEDS TO COME IN,AND PROVIDE MORE THAN MONEY AND FUNDS,BUT A STABLE, REFINED,HUMAN CULTURE,OF DEMOCRACY SUITED FOR MULTI-ETHNIC,MULTI-RELIGIOUS,HUMANS.
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JimSofty / June 14, 2013
I am wondering whether they know how the stupid Communist theory developed in the philosophical text, and whether they know how useless it is.
Just some con men.
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Amarasiri / June 14, 2013
Jimmy Softy,
Yes, lot’s of con men, but at least they are Egalitarian, not racist Myth followers.
Your con Monk, Monk Mahanama of Mahavansa really conned a lot of people, with his Myths, and that is the current curse of Sri Lanka.
These Myths need to be expunged for a a just society.
DeJa Vu..
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DW / June 14, 2013
Well said Amarasiri…..
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Saman Wijesiri / June 14, 2013
These three spineless codgers don’t have the guts to oppose the proposed Amendment. Vasu will vote for it and the other two will either abstain or keep away at the time of voting. Remember these three left leaders voted for the 18th Amendment that turned the most progressive legislation enacted since national independence into a dead letter and produced a tin pot dictator!Does anyone think that they have scruples about committing a lesser crime?
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DW / June 14, 2013
Three left leaders together with SLMC today showed that they can stop the all-powerful “MR” Juggernaut and the racist forces within the UPFA. Had the SLMC stood its ground like it did with the 13 A when the 18A came they would have prevailed. After SLMC voted with the government old left had a hobson’s choice on that day. Glad they stood inside the government at that juncture if not this fight would not have been possible and the racist forces may have prevailed. Not sure if the majority of the CT fraternity saw the live 2 ½ hour debate between Champika Ranawaka and Vasudeva Nanayakkara on the 13 A which was on “Stana” program on May 30. If not I urge you to check it out (if you have the time ofcrouse)
http://sirasatv.lk/sirasatv/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=308&Itemid=206
http://sirasatv.lk/sirasatv/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=308&Itemid=206
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DW / June 14, 2013
“Satana” program and not “Stana”
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Saro / June 14, 2013
13th Amendment vests more power at the president who has always been a member of the majority community than to the provincially elected chief minister of the province. Any move to remove any provision of 13A will validate the claim of the ethnic minorities that the leaders of the majority imposes its will on the weaker communities and persuade the international community to seek a remedy via UN as is happening to Palestinians.
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kamal / June 14, 2013
I never see jokers like this…these are the real jokers in sri lanka….poor JVP…
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hasin / June 14, 2013
JVP always doing like these jokes,they are jokers now in news world and real world.peoples know that jokes and they are watch at that as watching drama.
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vajja / June 25, 2013
Watch ”satana” on below link.
http://sirasatv.lk/sirasatv/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=308&Itemid=206
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K.A Sumanasekera / June 14, 2013
These Left over Leftists have some sort of nostalgia about their former craft of revolutions, insurrections and uprisings.
Otherwise how on earth they can justify nine Police Chiefs and their race based police forces to rule a miniscule land mass of only twenty five thousand square miles.
Our inhabitants have thirty years of real time experience of the separatist Police.
The people whom, our Leftists want to have their race based own Police are the same people who not only encouraged , but acted as proxies to the Leaders who ran those separatist Police and other forces.
On top of that just imagine UNP Mervyns ( Wasn’t he at one time ) with their own Police running the show for our Colombo Elites and TNA supporters including their Leader and the potential replacement..
Then we have the Pradesha Saba heavies who have done or alleged of rapes, murders and extortions waiting to be endowed with their own Police.
Just imagine how many Police uniforms one has to recognise , when travelling from Matara to Jaffna, even if it is on the Freeway all the way.
However if ex Militant Prema becomes the CM, the Kandy Jaffna leg will still be on the good old A9, with or without Police Powers to Sambandan.
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Punchisingho / June 14, 2013
So far all the governments have failed to recruit an adequate number of Tamil speaking policemen to attend to the needs of the Tamil speaking people.So how can it be wrong if a provincial police force is established for the North in order to serve the Tamils there?Those who are against the 13th amendment are not patriots but Sinhala racists.It is they who help the Elam project.The LTTE never killed a single Sinhala racist because the LTTE knew that they were helping its course.The LTTE killed those who supported power devolution.
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Vichara / June 16, 2013
A few comments on the memorandum of the Three Wise Men of Sri Lanka.
1. “The 13th Amendment to the 1978 Constitution was formulated with the intension of solving the national question and bringing back the Tamil militant groups into the democratic political stream. It achieved this objective with the sole exception of the LTTE”
The 13th Amendment was a bi product of the Accord forced on a confused and spineless government of Sri Lanka by the crafty Indian political leaders. The wise men should read the Exchange of Letters to understand the ulterior motive for the Accord followed by 13A which was hatched by Indian politicians ably supported by the obnoxious Dixit. The intention was to establish a homeland (Eelam) for the Tamils which according to evidence recorded in the Jain Commission Report was a promise made to Prabhakaran by Rajiv Gandhi.
It did not result in bringing back the LTTE which was the predominant militant group and it only aggravated the national question. To treat LTTE as the only exception is misleading. LTTE was not only a military force, it controlled the Tamil civil society and the main Tamil political party the TNA which also rejected 13A.
2.” deprive the Tamil speaking minority (Tamils and Muslims) of a right that has hitherto been enjoyed by the Sinhala majority”.
The force of proposed legislation is not only on Tamils and Muslims but on all communities living in all the Provinces.
3. “safeguard which requires a 2/3 majority of the total number of members of Parliament to be obtained if one provincial council does not agree to a Bill that is being passed by Parliament.”
This is a veto power vested in any single Province and mot necessarily on Tamil majority Provinces. Such power is not enjoyed by the States of India with massive populations and territory. It is ridiculous that where a power available to a two third majority in the Parliament is equated with a simple majority of a single Province whether it is a Tamil majority or a Sinhala majority Province. This is a horrendous violation of a democratic principle.
The absurd situation is that the Parliament with a two third majority can do away with the whole of the 13th Amendment.
4.”The best course would be to retain Article 154 A (3), and include provision for a mandatory poll of all the electors in each of the adjoining provinces that desire to be merged.”
The narrow assumption here is that the joining of the Eastern and Northern Province and establishing the Eelam does not have national security implications
This proposal denies the right of the rest of the country to decide on an issue that affects the whole nation.
These wise men were instrumental in the destruction of the vibrant left movement in the country. They were not realistic in the past and continue to do so now.VERY SAD!
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