Archives for October 18, 2017

The new Constitution should abolish the executive presidency and if Mr. Maithripala Sirisena contests the next presidential election without abolishing the executive presidency he would be definitely defeated says the Information Secretary of the JVP Vijitha Herath. He added that the JVP would never allow appointing an executive prime minister in place of the executive president.
He said this at a press conference held at the head office of the JVP at Pelawatta today (18th) The Member of the Central Committee of the JVP Provincial Councilor and Attorney at Law Sunil Watagala also participated.
Speaking further Mr. Herath said, “The existing Constitution of ’78 is an old one. Our society has changed. The need for a new constitution for the new society has surfaced. Our stand is that the country needs a new constitution. Mr. Maithripala Sirisena, who was a minister and became a candidate to contest the presidential election held on 8th January 2015, did so with an agreement to abolish executive presidency. A new constitution is necessary to abolish executive presidency. It is necessary to have a 2/3rd majority in parliament for a new constitution and it should be approved in a referendum. The mandate received in 2015 was for a new constitution. It is the responsibility of the President and the government to fulfil this election promise.
The whole Parliament was made into a Constitutional Council with the intention of compiling a new constitution. Sub-committees were appointed for various sectors. The steering committee has compiled a report based on reports presented by sub-committees. The assignment of the steering committee was to prepare a report on three factors. The three factors are abolishing executive presidency, solving the national question in a manner to reach consensus to protect rights of all communities and setting up a new electoral system. The interim report that included the three main points and other matters had been prepared. The steering committee had discussed various matters since April, 2016. All political parties in parliament represent the steering committee. The matters presented by the reports of committees were discussed sentence by sentence and a concise report was prepared.
The interim report of the Constitutional Assembly is not the constitution or a draft of the constitution. Some interested parties call this a draft of the constitution. It is wrong. No draft of the constitution has been presented yet. What contains in this interim report is a summary of matters that were discussed and a collection of views from the public.
Various people come up with various views regarding this interim report. They have expressed various views regarding the state structure. Various political parties have different views regarding the executive presidency.
The stand of the SLFP is to continue with the executive presidency. Three systems have been proposed regarding choosing a prime minister. They are to elect from people’s vote, electing from the vote of Members of Parliament or by naming the prime ministerial candidate before the election. All these matters are still being discussed. Also, there are various views regarding precedence for Buddhism, unitary state, governors’ powers and powers for provincial councils. The politically bankrupt group that is vociferous makes a loud noise saying a federal constitution has been compiled to divide the country. The JVP from its inception has dedicated itself to the national unity of all Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, Malay and Burgher people in this country. Our is a party that has sacrificed hundreds of lives to protect the sovereignty of our Motherland. When India attempted to interfere in our territorial integrity more than 60,000 of our comrades sacrificed their lives. The Northern and Eastern provinces were merged and the first gazette notification of Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa issued on 23rd November 2005 was to continue the merge. Those who shout their heads off forget it intentionally. However, the JVP filed a case in the Supreme Court in July 2006 asking the two provinces to be separated. Accordingly, a historical judgment was given. It was the JVP that removed the merge. As such, the JVP would never allow the two provinces to be merged. The percentage of the Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslims in the East is equal. Already, SLMC holds the chief ministerial post. In such an environment the Muslims in the East would never allow their province to be merged with the North. As such, the North and the East would never merge despite some people make false predictions.
There are many contradictory views regarding the interim report. A constitution can never be compiled with contradictory views. A draft of a constitution would be compiled with view agreed by all. As such, we, of the JVP assure the people in this country we, who work for the national unity, would never allow the country to be divided.
As the JVP, we have forwarded 9 views and reforms for the interim report of the Constitutional Council. One of the main matters is the abolishment of the executive presidency. There is no possibility to compile a new constitution with the post of executive president. President Maithripala Sirisena has promised that there wouldn’t be a presidential election again. This was confirmed again at the last right to Ven. Sobhitha Thero. Whatever the opinion of the SLFP is Mr. Maithripala Sirisena has no moral right to contest a presidential election again. As such, the President must put his view before the country. He should fulfil the promise he made to the people at the presidential election. Also, we would vouch that Maithripala Sirisena too would be defeated just like Rajapaksa was defeated if he contests a presidential election again.
Among the proposals put forward by the JVP is one that states there should not be any provisions to merge two or more provinces into one unit. We wouldn’t allow an executive prime minister to replace the executive president. The JVP is against compiling the constitution to give executive powers to one individual. The JVP stand is that the prime minister should be elected by the Members of Parliament. We actively function in the steering committee. We would present more details at the Parliamentary debate regarding the constitution.
We accept the freedom various groups have to express their opinion regarding the interim report. We call upon the masses to understand the stand of the JVP correctly. Also, we would like to tell the Maha Sangha including the Mahanayakas the JVP would never allow the country to be divided. Those who are politically bankrupt attempt to deceive people to create a false alarm and we tell the people not to be deceived.
The JVP is a party that doesn’t do what anyone says. We wouldn’t do what the UNO or any others say. We have our own stands and we act according to them. Within one week of the end of the war, we presented a series of proposals to the government. We proposed to establish a task force to function for two years to develop the country. We also proposed to establish a consensus committee to heal the minds of all those who were affected by the war. It was on 2nd May 2009. However, the government that ruled the country then did not take the golden opportunity to develop the country and to build national unity. Even when the war was going on we took the correct stand. Our stand was that the armed separatist movement should be militarily defeated. Hence, the stands and policies of the JVP are very clear. We have perceived the future and a programme has been put forward. Eight years have gone by but not a commission has been appointed. This is why the likes of Navanetham Pillay got the opportunity to pressurize the country. At least now the minds of the affected should be healed. All Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim Malay and Burgher masses should unite to create national unity. The new constitution should protect rights of all and the religious rights should be protected. The JVP would take action to ideologically defeat all those forces that are against people’s wishes.

A case will be filed against the parliamentarian of the Mahinda faction of the UPFA Johnston Fernando for making insulting remarks at Tangalle on the 15th targeting the Leader of the JVP Anura Dissanayaka said the Information Secretary of the JVP at a press conference held at the head office of the party today (18th).
Attorney at Law Sunil Watagala speaking at the press conference said a case will be filed demanding Rs. 500 million from Johnston Fernando for the insulting remarks he made against Mr. Dissanayaka at Tangalle.

A cousin of Shalila Moonasinghe, who is remanded in connection with the alleged transferring of USD 2.104 million from the Far Eastern International Bank in Taiwan to his account in Sri Lanka has been arrested by a special team from the CID.
Chulapala De Silva, the relative of former Litro Gas Lanka Ltd Chairman, was arrested by CID yesterday (17th).
Shalila Moonasinghe was arrested earlier and has been remanded till 25th October.

The government has not been able to hand over deeds of ownership of houses and lands for the estate community states All Ceylon Estate Workers’ Union.
The President of the Union Kithnan Selvarj says despite the government taking steps to construct a few houses for the estate sector, the deeds of ownership of those houses too have not been made available.
He says the administration of estates have been handed over to multinational companies until 2048 and requests the government to take over the lands in the estate sector and make available deeds of ownership to the masses.

The National Audit Act was handed over to the Secretary General of Parliament by the JVP yesterday (17th) as a private member’s motion.
The draft of the Act will be presented to Parliament as a private member’s motion of JVP Parliamentarian Sunil Handunneththi.
The adaptation of the Act will strengthen the capacity of Parliament to safeguard public funds and ensure their proper utilization. It will also strengthen the hands of the Auditor General in relation to financial matters in the country as well as the capacity of the Auditor General’s Department to prevent frauds and corruption.