The common Opposition movement has pledged to abolish the preferential voting system and to introduce a new electoral system instead that would be an amalgamation of the previous first-past-the-vote system and proportional representation. In the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that was signed by all parties that pledged their support to the common Opposition movement and for Maithripala Sirisena‘s candidacy in the run for Presidency yesterday, it has been noted that the new system would provide a fair representation for all communities and political opinions within an electorate and would also ensure that every electorate has its own MP.
Apart from the pledge to abolish the Executive Presidential system within 10 days, the MoU also states that the common Opposition seeks to repeal the 18th amendment and reinstate the independence of the judiciary, police and state service, elections commissioners and other institutions that ensure democracy and good governance in the country. Among its immediate tasks it has also listed salary reforms in order to meet the challenging needs of the rising cost of living and a program to encourage domestic industries, agriculture and fisheries.
Moreover, the MoU has also listed several other tasks which the common Opposition seeks to implemented within the period of the first 100 days, through a well laid out plan to which includes:
– Introduce a strict accountability system through grater transparency that would ensure the prevention of large scale fraud, corruption, bribery and earning of commissions as well as the wastage of public funds and to take legal action against financial misappropriations that have already been committed.
– Guaranteeing primacy to the Rule of Law and the restoration of democracy and good governance as well as securing the fundamental rights and freedoms, media freedom and right to Information in order to assure the right for Sri Lankans to live in dignity.
-Re-establishment of a stronger welfare state that would expand its beneficiaries to include women, children, disabled persons, elderly persons and pensioners.
– Empowerment of youth to meet the challenges of continuously changing world by providing knowledge in terms of education, technical and other skills and training.
– Ensure dignity and equal opportunities for all citizens in social, cultural, economic and political spheres – Creation of a civilized and moral society and in particular, reform the political culture of the country that has sunk to unprecedented depths.
Vibhushana / December 2, 2014
Transparency with a Freedom Of Information (FOI) is a must. India has one. I cannot imagine why Ceylon cannot.
Every civilised country has Independent commissions as well as a FOI policy. A caveat may exclude items that are considered in the interest of National Security. There is no possible excuse not to have one.
Secondly, MP who represent one party should not be allowed to switch over to another party while holding onto their position. They will have to re-contest under the new banner with the new policies.
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Amarasiri / December 2, 2014
Medamulana MaRa should be made to retire.
Rajapaksa stores should be closed down – Anura\\
http://www.lankatruth.com/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7899:rajapaksa-stores-should-be-closed-down–anura&catid=36:top-stories&Itemid=124
TUESDAY, 02 DECEMBER 2014 18:32
“Buying from Rajapaksa’s shop should be stopped. Not only that – it should be made to close down,” said the Leader of the JVP Anura Dissanayaka at the rally held at Nugegoda yesterday (1st) under the theme ‘‘Defeat despotic regime! Rally for Democracy!!’, the first of the series of rallies the JVP has planned to hold in principal towns in the island as part of its election campaign.
Speaking further Mr. Dissanayaka said, “Two camps exist before us at present. One is the camp led by Mahinda Rajapaksa. The other camp is led by Miathripala Sirisena. What is in Rajapaksa stores? The owners of the shop are brothers. There are expired goods in it. The prices are high. The toffees that are sold there have poison inside with a sugar covering. As such, buying goods from Rajapaksa stores should be stopped. Also, this store should be made to close down.
On the other side is Maithri’s stores. It has a new board. It states the executive presidency would be abolished,17th amendment would be restored and the 18th amendment annulled. This is good. The board is new and the owner of the store is also new. However, we’re not sure about the goods in the stores. We are definite when we say Rajapaksa stores should be closed down. The people have to decide which stores to visit.
Those who worked in Rajapaksa stores too have come out. They say they regret putting their hands up for what Rajapaska did. They say Rajapaksa stores stinks. The JVP has been telling this throughout the past. As such, Rajapaksa stores should be closed down.”
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Thiru / December 3, 2014
Unless and until the Mahavamsa mind set of the Sinhalese Buddhists are changed, civilized and just society with the Sinhala Buddhist leaders at the helm is impossible.
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Amarasiri / December 4, 2014
Thiru
“Unless and until the Mahavamsa mind set of the Sinhalese Buddhists are changed, civilized and just society with the Sinhala Buddhist leaders at the helm is impossible.”
A lot of Truth to it.
The Sinhala “Buddhists” are living in the past, just like the ‘Wahhabis’, instead of moving to the 21st Century. The Europeans did that in the 16th Century with the Age of Reason and Enlightenment.
What did the Sinhala “Buddhists” get for Enlightenment?
More Mahawansa, more Sinhabahu and all the lies and imaginations that along with it. Even the “Professor”., Prof. Sarathchandra exploited that or believed in that.
Yes that is the core problem.
Read Amarasiri’s Comments comments on Prof Sarathchandra on this link below.
Ceylon, Sri Lanka And India: The Ediriweera Sarachchandra Encounter
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/ceylon-sri-lanka-and-india-the-ediriweera-sarachchandra-encounter/
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Vanda / December 3, 2014
Come on, produce your Common Cents leaflet.
Dont waste your time with crap like this. No one reads them
Do yourelf a favour. Curl up and die.
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Amarasiri / December 2, 2014
Maithri Movement
RE: We Are For Creation Of A Civilized And Moral Society: Maithri Movement
Great, if you can implement it.
Then we all can put an end yo the Medamulana MaRa Dynasty.
We all look forward to it.
Let’s add these to the Common Sense Pamphlet.
Common Sense Pamphlet Sri Lanka 2014 Rata Peraliya – Family Dictatorship Vs. Democracy.
By Anonymous Author(s)
Chapter 1:
Introduction Common Sense Sri Lanka 2014 – Author 1
As long and violent abuse of power , and as the President of Sri Lanka has undertaken in his own right , to support the parliament in what he calls theirs, and as the good people of this country are grievously oppressed by the combination, they have undoubted privilege to suppress and abuse the citizens rights given by the constitution. The cause of Sri Lanka is in a great measure the cause of all Sri Lankans.
Who the Authors of this Production is, is wholly unnecessary to the public, as the object of Attention is the Mahinda Rajapaksa Family Dictatorship Doctrine and Proposed dynasty Itself. This Pamphlet has 8 Chapters by different authors. Use Common sense and make the choice between Family Dictatorship and democracy in the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
Chapter 2: Of the origin and Design of the The Democratic Socialist Republic o of Sri Lanka in general, with remarks on the Constitution. Author 2
Chapter 3: Of Monarchy, Dictatorship and Hereditary Succession. Author 3
Chapter 4: Thoughts on the Present state of Sri Lanka Affairs 2014. Author 4
Chapter 5: Of the present ability of Sri Lanka 2014 with some miscellaneous Reflections since Independence . Author 5
Chapter 6: Rights of the Citizens of Sri Lanka. Author 6
Chapter 7: Dangers of Dictatorship Sri Lank 2014. Author 7
Chapter 8: Bribery, Corruption, Nepotism and Crime Sri Lanka 2010-2014. Author 8
-Amarasiri
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Vanda / December 3, 2014
Come on, produce your Common Cents leaflet.
Dont waste your time with crap like this. No one reads them
Do yourelf a favour. Curl up and die.
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Mimi / December 2, 2014
Sounds great on paper. At least the intentions are there, but only time will tell.
We should put our country back to decency, equal rights, no corruption, and accountability for all.
No more dictatorships.
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aratai / December 2, 2014
.
First, he needs to win,
Secondly, he has to survive,
Then he can talk.
:-)
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Native Vedda / December 3, 2014
Aratai
“We Are For Creation Of A Civilized And Moral Society: Maithri Movement”
And Maithri Movement wants us to trust them.
JR committed himself and UNP to build a Dharmista Society in 1977. Well my Elders know exactly what happened.
Maithri Movement should not kid themselves with those ideals.
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avb / December 3, 2014
MS should know that converting masses to a civilized and moral society is thousands times difficult than defeating Rajapakse family….. How is he going to do that ?
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Dom / December 3, 2014
By increasing the country’s GDP and foreign investments, This will help to reduce Sri Lanka’s poverty and increase more job and the stability of the economy. As well less corruption, I bet Ranil will help Maithri to cover this hard task because he has good connections with Foreign Government than MR.
Also Ranil will inject funds into Bank of Ceylon to give loans for the citizens that will make them kickstart their new companies. This only the way that helps to reduce crime.
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truth / December 3, 2014
Already the indications from his utterances on stage is that he is going to give the “same old stuff in new bottle” The only hope for is that the new content will be less poisonous!!
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Leon / December 2, 2014
As suggested by Kusal Perera, the Election Commissioner should implement the Declaration of Assets and Liabilities Act No 01 of 1975 and amended in 1988 as Act No 74 when the candidates present their nomination papers on Dec 8th 2014. This will weed out the crooks, racketeers and corrupt politicians. The members that cross over are the main culprits who believe that the new regime will not investigate how they amassed all the ill gotten wealth.
This should have been incorporated in the Memorandum of Understanding.
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kalinga / December 3, 2014
How can anyone govern Sri Lanka properly when chandrika is to your left and Ranil to your right ? MR is so much better than those two. Why should any one vote for Mithreepala if Ranil wants to be the executive prime minister? Who will run SL ? Chandrika & Ranil? Remember how Ranil gave north & East of SL on a platter to pragbakaran without even asking the cabinet ?
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K.A Sumanasekera / December 3, 2014
This dude is giving up after 100 days… Right.
But would he be drawing the full pension from our Tax Payments for just 3 months Employment?
Wonder what the plans for his two brothers are?.
May be they are going to be ordained by Ven Rathna to live in Rathna Temple.
Hopefully that will be a start..
But what about the rest of the Opposition ?.. I mean the Govt under the EXec PM !!.
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Dom / December 3, 2014
First 100 days after winning his elections, He will appoint Ranil as PM for the Head of Government, Therefore during 100 days Ranil will restore the laws that was changed by Mahinda also he will include lots of independence of judiciary, police, public service and so on…
The rest of the oppositions who are currently under Maithri’s side will receive ministerial powers and administrative powers within the parliament but they’ll not able to move the powers alone, they need major support from other Ministers within the parliament, However there will not be Executive Prime Minister after 100 days, Maithri will dissolve the parliament after 100 days and then again they’ll open general election for the parliament that they need to choose new Prime Minister after Ranil or they can even choose Ranil to remain as Prime Minister.
So this means it’s the start of a “National Government” with multi-parties included that means all oppositions who supported Maithri will able to have their own powers, But under Mahinda’s Government these ministers will not able to use their powers without the knowledge of Mahinda or his brother Gotabhaya. This power will also be returned to Parliament under Maithri’s govt.
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Native Vedda / December 3, 2014
K.A Sumanasekera
“But would he be drawing the full pension from our Tax Payments for just 3 months Employment?”
When did you ever pay tax?
If you don’t earn you don’t pay.
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K.A Sumanasekera / December 4, 2014
Dear Native,
What… Do you think I am on the Dole like you & your mates….
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Sadith / December 3, 2014
Are you going to do all that with people like Ranil, Mangala, Chandrika !!! these people are the worst crooks in Sri Lanka’s political game. In the past, they had the opportunity to do all what MS is saying now, but everybody knows what happened. To create a civilized and moral society, you need to work with civilized and moral people. In Sri Lanka you won’t able to find such a politician, but at least MS should not associate with people who has proven track record of being uncivilized and immoral.
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justice / December 3, 2014
Inequality – some groups of citizens only have special privileges, and, immorality – some citizens can get away with plundering state wealth, and, injustice – some citizens only can be arrested without being informed of the reason for it and be incarcerated without trial for many months, are all written into the constitution.
There needs to be much more than abolishing of the 18th and empowering of the 17th amendments.
In any case, I await hopefully.
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dcn / December 3, 2014
“RIGHT TO INFORMATION” should be established as a priority. The ordinary public has a right to information which the state must enable where any person can obtain details of any deal etc without any fear or favour.
The next point is to ensure that power is not concentrated on any individual and all persons answerable to the parliament, where applicable, and the judicial sysytem which has to be 100% independent.
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Taraki / December 3, 2014
‘We Are For Creation Of A Civilized And Moral Society: Maithri Movement’
Yes we have been hearing that kind of crap for decades. I hope the rats can swim backwards when the tide turns. But of course they can, and will be welcomed with new portfolios. All our politicos sob on the election platform. ‘Omnes hi filii sunt canes’ as Cicero didn’t say, All are sobs.
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Native Vedda / December 3, 2014
Taraki
“But of course they can, and will be welcomed with new portfolios.”
Will Maithri offer MR, GR, BR, CR and other clan members suitable portfolios if they swim backward and cross over to UNP?
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K.A Sumanasekera / December 4, 2014
Dear Native,
UNP Ranil will welcome his old mate Mervyn with a bear hug.
Because Mervyn is the only dude who can get rid of Sand Sira’s Bro and the Ven Rathna as well.
UNP can’t get involved in that sort of activities directly .. Can they ?.
Sira has already offered full protection for his ex Boss against Ms Pillai , Cameron and Harper.
He will be a brave man to go after Gotabaya even during his limited tenure of 100 days.
Once Sira calls general elections to be held soon after the Holy see’s visit, Gota may even become the MP from Colombo with the highest number of votes.
That is assuming that the inhabitants are going to swallow Sira & Rathna’s Guli..
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Native Vedda / December 4, 2014
K.A Sumanasekera
“That is assuming that the inhabitants are going to swallow Sira & Rathna’s Guli..”
The inhabitants are so gullible they are willing to swallow anything, including free rice from moon.
By the way clan has resorted to old tricks, I am told they have already started distributing free rice to farmers.
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Horikadey / December 4, 2014
A great number of things in governance must change if the Rajapakses are booted out. To begin with Commissions of Inquiry should be left to eminent lawyers forming the team. Unlike the one in which Kudu Mervin was caught – several times. One Commission that freed the Kudda of all charges was Chaired by Maitripala Sirisena himself. I found it refreshingly ironic when Kudda berates MS in a video going around now – in customary raw filth, which will shame the worse drunk in any slum.
That is the quality of Ministers the Rajapakses imposed on the country.
That is the mother tongue of our modern Dutugemunu – now reincarnated in the Sacred City of Kelaniya.
Horikadey
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nantha / December 4, 2014
How can you claim to restore civil society when the national question is not resolved?
Marina clings on to power because he defeated the Tamil Tigers. Tigers emerged as a force because of the treatment of Tamil as a second class citizens. Was a civil society existed earlier? If so, is it for the majority community only?
Have some guts and try your best to find a just and equitable solution to the Tamil issue. Your society will be a true civilized and civic society
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