{"id":194789,"date":"2018-10-27T20:17:52","date_gmt":"2018-10-27T14:47:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=194789"},"modified":"2018-10-30T01:53:05","modified_gmt":"2018-10-29T20:23:05","slug":"sirisenas-triple-betrayal-nation-in-danger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/sirisenas-triple-betrayal-nation-in-danger\/","title":{"rendered":"Sirisena’s Triple Betrayal – Nation In Danger"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Shyamon Jayasinghe<\/a> –<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Shyamon Jayasinghe<\/p><\/div>\n

Three Betrayals<\/b><\/p>\n

Gamaralalage Maitripala Sirisena, it seems, is a specialist in betrayal. He first betrayed his former leader and former President, Mahinda Rajapaksa. He had a hopper feed with Mahinda the very morning of that act of deception and was, soon after, seen at Sirikotha announcing his \u201csacrifice\u2026 for the sake of the nation.\u201d Over 6.2 million people didn\u2019t mind that because the beneficial outcome could not have\u00a0 <\/span>been achieved without that<\/p>\n

Next, he betrayed his principal coalition partner and its leader-the UNP and Ranil Wickremsinghe. During the local government elections, Sirisena went round after doing a U-turn and attacking the UNP and Prime Minister. He waved a metaphorical sword against what he pretended was corruption. \u201cI want a government free of corruption,\u201d Sirisena cried,\u201d and \u201cI will not hesitate to use my sword against anybody, including those in the UNP.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>After all the effort campaigning heavily throughout the island, Sirisena managed to get a measly 4% of the electoral vote-although, by his acts of vilification he reduced the UNP votes, too. Since that experience he is called \u201cthe 4% man.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The third betrayal is what is now going on in dastardly and shameless manner with the help of his former enemy, Mahinda Rajapakse. He has \u201csacked\u201d the sitting Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremsinghe, and \u201cappointed\u201d Mahinda Rajapakse\u00a0 <\/span>to replace the former.<\/p>\n

Serious Repercussions of the Third Betrayal<\/b><\/p>\n

This betrayal has serious repercussions for the country and its people because it clearly constitutes the undermining of the constitution. A constitution in any country is the basic and fundamental law of the land. Citizens treat that with sanctity.<\/b> This is why one needs a special and rigorous procedure to make changes to a constitution unlike in the case of ordinary legislation.<\/p>\n

A constitution embodies the fundamental democratic right of citizens. It is the ultimate bulwark of freedom. The fair rules of the\u00a0 <\/span>broad political game\u00a0 <\/span>is set out in a constitution. It must never be touched unless it needs be and even then an ironclad procedure has to be followed-ofetn requiring a referendum.<\/p>\n

One can imagine how serious it is\u00a0 <\/span>when the highest in the land takes it upon himself to violate the constitution. It is never done. However, Gamaralalage Sirisena has been brazen enough to do that. National confusion follows. International censure is passed. This is what is happening now. Not a single foreign country leader has conveyed the routine\u00a0 <\/span>congrats to Mahinda.\u00a0<\/span>I am informed the deposed Male leader has. Well, not even Swaziland. Normal civil order is seriously disrupted. Sri Lanka becomes a pariah nation in the face of foreign countries. This can have a negative impact on foreign aid.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Furthermore, lesser men take the law unto their hands. We have already seen how the Rupavahini Corporation was attacked allegedly by some Minsters of the former regime. Rupavahini went off the air. Lake House was taken over. Public fears of further contravention spreads. The stable environment is rendered unstable. Foreign investors and travellers get cold feet. The economy cracks and the burden of living of ordinary persons is threatened, as uncertainty expands.<\/p>\n

Unconstitutional<\/b><\/p>\n

With regard to the legality of what has occurred, I quote an authority: \u201cThe 19th Amendment to the Constitution took away the discretionary powers of the President to remove a residing Prime Minister. (For those who\u2019s justifying it saying the 19th Amendment\u00a0 <\/span>gives the President the right to appoint a PM as he wants, my god, learn to read.) This is found in article 46 (2).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Prime Minister can only be dismissed if:<\/p>\n

1. Cabinet is dismissed (also the cabinet cannot be dismissed by the President FYI)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2. She\/He resigns\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3. She\/He stops being a member of the parliament.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(Again, 46 (2))\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The President can appoint a PM under Section 42 (4), only if the above has happened.\u201d That hasn\u2019t happened in this instance. Hence the President cannot appoint a Prime Minister at all.<\/p>\n

The above means that President\u2019s sacking of the standing Prime Minister and his appointing a new individual are both prohibited under the constitution. President Sirisena has pathetically violated the constitution which he has upholded at swearing in to keep. Mahinda Rajapakse, too, by collaborating has violated the constitution. There is a strong case to impeach both individuals in one blow.<\/b><\/p>\n

In doing so, the President and Mahinda cannot plead ignorance because there was precedence a year ago when Sirisena tried to sack Ranil Wickremasinghe and install someone else. At that time, Mahinda wasn\u2019t willing because he felt he was strong enough to recover power on his own merits at a campaign. Those days, Mahinda Rajapakse was perceived as a lion who could walk with head held high in stately confidence.<\/p>\n

Mahinda\u2019s Self-confidence Shaken<\/b><\/p>\n

By now, Mahinda\u2019s self-confidence has shaken. Why? Because, with the setting up of the new Special Courts the fate of his family members and his ruffian cronies are imminently in the balance. Mahinda\u2019s private secretary, Senerath, will be taken up in a few days over charges of embezzling 500 million. Mahinda\u2019s former powerful brother, Gotabhaya, will be next taken up. Others are on line including Mahinda\u2019s wife, Basil, Namal, Yoshitha, his several cronies like Prasanna and so on. Mahinda himself is saved because of the legalimmunity that the constitution gave the President. The <\/b>charges are serious- embezzlement of public funds, money laundering, bribery, murder. The sceptres of Lasantha Wickrematunge, Ekneligoda, Raviraj and the many journalists who met with death at the hands of\u00a0 <\/span>hit squads. A sordid story was Mahinda Rajapakse\u2019s ten year old regime.<\/p>\n

President Sirisena had announced he wanted a government that is not corrupt. He has, indeed, got it!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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