Month: September 2020

It is important to note that even in the 1940s the Tamil leadership had not taken the issue of Regional Councils and devolution of power to regions into their hands.  S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike offered a scheme of 60:40 as a basis of representation.  Bandaranaike-Chelvanayakam Pact, three decades prior to the 13th Amendment. The UNP, which took to the streets in opposing… Continue reading "Betrayal of Tamils by Sinhala governments continue…."

After the Rajapaksas’ win in the November 2019 presidential polls and the August 2020 general election, the spotlight has fallen on two key legislations in Sri Lanka’s Constitution. One, the 19th Amendment, that was passed in 2015 to curb powers of the Executive President, while strengthening Parliament and independent commissions. The Rajapaksa government has already drafted and gazetted the 20th… Continue reading "The 13th Amendment"

ECONOMYNEXT – The government is not in a position to fully accept the remarks made about Sri Lanka at the 45th sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) this week, co-cabinet spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said. Since the end of civil war in 2009 the UNHRC has been making false allegations about war crimes, he said, trying to… Continue reading "Sri Lanka not in a position to “fully accept” UNHRC remarks: Keheliya"

Rita French, the UK International Ambassador, speaking on behalf of the Core Group, which includes the UK, Canada, Germany, North Macedonia, and Montenegro on 15 September 2020, reiterated the group’s ‘profound disappointment’ over Sri Lanka’s withdrawal from UN Resolution 30/1 and expressed skepticism over the ‘new domestic process’ for addressing issues of reconciliation. The statement also raised concerns over the… Continue reading "Core Group pays tribute to the people of Sri Lanka"

The Human Rights Council opened its forty-fifth regular session on 14 September 2020, hearing a global human rights update from Michelle Bachelet, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as separate updates on the human rights situations in Nicaragua and Venezuela. The High Commissioner said that with COVID-19, a fast-moving and global health crisis had collided with… Continue reading "Accountability will be sought either at home or abroad."

By C.V. Wigneswaran – Justice C.V. Wigneswaran MP Someone asked me; You have made a sweeping statement that Tamil is the language of the original inhabitants of this Island. What benefit has it brought to you except that you have earned the wrath of the Sinhala People? My response was: Not a sweeping statement! It was a well studied statement. Any objective… Continue reading "Tamil Is The Language Of The Original Inhabitants Of This Island"

Modi’s Delhi would like to strengthen its economic ties with Sri Lanka rather than rocking the boat by insisting on the implementation of amendment 13. Similarly, USA’s MCC and SOFA would also become realities through negotiation with Rajapaksas much to the consternation of the regime’s opponents.   However, there is one important element that can create a headache and nightmare for… Continue reading "Constitutional Changes Create Rajapaksa Dynastic Rule"

The government is going to bring in a totally new Constitution after adopting the  20th Amendment Some oppose the decision by the drafters of the amendment to allow duel citizens to contest elections If the government is really going to enact a new Constitution, what is the need of the 20th Amendment before it interestingly, the committees that prepared and… Continue reading "Who is going to decide the contents of the new Constitution?"

Basil adopts wait-and-see attitude while MR says no retirement SLFP experts’ panel to make proposals to 20th Amendment SJB launches 19A+ campaign to safeguard democracy Ruwan gathers momentum; continues to lead UNP leadership race The draft 20th Amendment to the Constitution has stolen the spotlight from all other political discussions these days. Clauses of the proposed piece of legislation are… Continue reading "20A continues to dominate political arena"

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka The President’s gear-shift on 20A, which showed flexibility, followed by his shift-back to the original hawkish position and a posture of rigidity, made nonsense of some basic assumptions of the Opposition, and pointed to the imperative of correcting these dangerously flawed notions. What are the lessons of the recent dramatic turnaround? It disproved the nonsensical assumption that… Continue reading "Who or what is the real driver of the Gotabaya Rajapaksa regime? Is it the Deep State or the “Junta” and their civilian ideologues and professionals in the Viyathmaga-Eliya?"

By P. K. Balachandran The ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna’s (SLPP) decision to revisit the draft 20th Amendment (20A) to the Constitution follows multiple dissensions over it both within the party and its alliance. Although the draft 20A was cleared by the Cabinet without objections and was even published in the gazette, the moment it came to the public domain,… Continue reading "Dissent Within SLPP Led Ruling Alliance and Opposition From Sinhala BuddhistUltra-Nationalist Lobby Compels Govt To Withdraw Gazetted Draft 20th Amendment Bill and Pledge Submission of Altered Alternative Draft"

By Chandani Kirinde Today marks the 20th death anniversary of M.H.M. Ashraff, the Founder Leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC). He died on 16 September 2000, when the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) helicopter he was travelling in crashed in the Aranayaka area in Kegalle District, leaving a void in the political sphere of the country, in which… Continue reading "” You do not win an argument by saying ‘this is a Sinhala Buddhist country, so it has to be this way’.That is intimidation.” Says Aman Ashraff the Only Son of MHM and Ferial Ashraff in an Interview"

By Dr.Dayan Jayatilleka Any collective, especially a minority community, is in the most serious kind of political trouble when its smartest representatives say things that are the exact opposite of smart—and that’s a polite euphemism—at exactly the wrong time. Take MP M.A. Sumanthiran, quoted by Meera Srinivasan of The Hindu as follows: ‘… “While it is true that the draft… Continue reading "The 13th Amendment, the Indo-Lanka Accord and the very principle of provincial devolution stand in jeopardy While the Tamils are cornered in a political dead-end."

By Dayan Jayatilleka –  Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka If all power and decision-making are vested in one person, even if that person has originally been elected, then that political order is defined in classical (Aristotelian) terms as “the rule of one man”, a “tyranny”. In modern times this is defined as a dictatorship, especially if the ubiquity of the military is an aspect… Continue reading "MR’s Role, 13A & The Constitutional Changes"

A Sri Lankan politician sentenced to death for murder has been escorted from prison to parliament to become the first convict to be sworn in as an MP, amid heckles from the opposition. Premalal Jayasekara, 45, from the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party (SLPP), was convicted in August of murdering an opposition activist after opening fire at a 2015… Continue reading "Report in the UK “Guardian” About Murder Convict Premalal Jayasekera Being Allowed To Be Sworn in as MP by the Speaker in Sri Lanka."

By Sandun Jayawardana Less than a month into its five-year term, the Ninth Parliament of Sri Lanka achieved world-wide notoriety this week when a murder convict on death row was sworn in as a member of the august assembly, amid jeers and a walkout from Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MPs. The swearing-in of Ratnapura district Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna… Continue reading "Row over murder convict-MP: Speaker takes cover behind court ruling as SJB fires salvo after salvo"

By Kishali Pinto Jayewardena As public concern over Sri Lanka’s draft 20th Amendment to the Constitution increases exponentially since this amendment was gazetted on 2nd September 2020, so do the sheer absurdity of the justifications thereto. Cunning and deplorably simplistic explanations are put forward by some in Government ranks. The President as a ‘super-constitutional’ creature It is bad enough that… Continue reading "There are clear and present dangers in allowing such ‘unfettered’ powers to be wielded by the President who is being elevated as a ‘super-constitutional creature’ by the 20th Amendment"

By W.K. Prasad Manju Ten Opposition Parliamentarians have expressed willingness to support the proposed draft of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, a top Cabinet Minister said. The group had affirmed that they were ready to back the Government in two ways, the Minister added.  He averred that some of the Opposition MPs would cross over to Government ranks when… Continue reading "Ten Opposition MPs to Support 20th Amendment?"

The 20th Amendment will have the effect of restoring the presidency to its pre-19A eminence, and diminishing the prime minister’s position to its previous nameboard status. No one knows what will happen if and when a whole new constitution comes into being. We are supposed to believe that unlike 19A, which was allegedly intended to elevate Ranil Wickremesinghe and undercut… Continue reading "The 20th Amendment: Mahinda’s Golden Handshake & Maithri’s Moment Of Reckoning"

By P.K.Balachandran When the Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa got the unanimous approval of his parliamentary group for legislation to ban cow slaughter, it was not the first attempt to have the practice banned. Despite toying with the idea of banning cow slaughter from time to time, no government has thought it fit to legislate on it. This is… Continue reading "”Stoping Cow Slaughter in Sri Lanka” which will not happen."

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera Military occupied lands in the North and East, which have tactical importance will not be given back to the people in view of national security as it is directly related to national economy, State Minister Sarath Weerasekara said today. He told Parliament that 90 per cent of the military occupied lands have already been… Continue reading "State Minister Sarath Weerasekara Tells Parliament that military occupied lands in the North and East that are of tactical importance would never be given back to the People owning them"

ECONOMYNEXT – The main Opposition Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) will launch a protest movement against the proposed 20th Amendment to the Constitution tomorrow September 8 at the statue of the late Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thero, the party announced. A statement from the party issued last night said the launch will take place at 4 pm at the Japan Friendship Road near the… Continue reading "Opposition SJB to launch anti-20th Amendment movement tomorrow"

ECONOMYNEXT- Opposition activist, Attorney at Law Harshana Nanayakkara is saying that the 20th Amendment to the Constitution if enacted, will take Sri Lanka back to the Stone Age. Nanayakkara, who represents the Lawyers of the opposition National Peoples’ Power alliance, told reporters that the 20A has given the power to the President to kick away the mandate given by the people… Continue reading "Proposed New 20th Amendment will take Sri Lanka back to the Stone Age – NPP"

The National Peace Council (NPC) yesterday urged the government to reconsider the need to proceed with the 20th Amendment in its present formulation as it is excessively centralizing and does not reflective of the plural nature of the Sri Lankan society. “The proposed 20th Amendment to the constitution has been approved by the cabinet of ministers and put before the… Continue reading "NPC tells got not to proceed with 20A in its present form"

By Jayampathy Wickramaratne – Dr Jayampathy Wickramaratne PC The Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution Bill (20A) is in the public domain. If I were to describe it in one sentence – 20A seeks to take the country backwards to the 2010-2015 period. The only features introduced by 19th Amendment that would survive if 20A is passed in its present form would be the five-year term of the President… Continue reading "20A Erodes People’s Sovereignty – Requires Approval At A Referendum"

The President can claim back the powers vested with the Prime Minister through the 20th Amendment to Constitution, revealed SJB MP Chaminda Wijesiri. He made this comment in a statement to media yesterday (05) In his statement, he mocked Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa by quoting his famous words before public den sepada (is he comfy now?), as the powers vested in his… Continue reading "20th Amendment to Constitution claims back powers vested with Prime Minister"

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya the runner up to the Ruling Party has unanimously agreed to stand against the 20th Amendment to Constitution, in a move to strengthen democracy of the country.  The decision has been made during a meeting held under the patronage of Party Leader and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa at Hall No 02 of the Parliamentary premises today… Continue reading "SJB unanimously stands against 20th Amendment to Constitution"

Tamil National Alliance Spokesperson Parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran has observed that any attempt to remove the 13 th Amendment would be grave error. He made this observation speaking to the Sunday Times. Sumanthiran said:  “It would be the biggest mistake if the Government abolishes 13A. It is based on a bilateral agreement signed with India. This was signed to provide solutions… Continue reading "Any attempt to remove 13A will be grave error … Sumanthiran"

A number of active Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora organisations around the world have urged the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to declare Brigadier Sawrna Bothota a ‘persona non grata’ and curtail his diplomatic visa in order to allow the Met Police to arrest him and investigate him for war crimes. “The first was Major General Prasanna Silva, named in three… Continue reading "Arrest Sri Lanka’s Defence Attaché To UK: British Tamil Conservatives & Tamils for Labour"

By Ayathuray Rajasingam – Ayathuray Rajasingam Sri Lanka is a country practicing pluralism. The 13th Amendment was a bi-product of the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord which provided room for a political system where the Provincial Councils also could enjoy power with the view to comply with aspirations of the aggrieved community. But Sri Lanka deliberately refused to allocate the required funds and power for the North-East… Continue reading "Will The Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord ”13th Amendment” Be Wiped Out?"

On a visit to India earlier this year, Mahinda, who had already become the Prime Minister after his predecessor Ranil Wickremesinghe stepped down in the wake of Gotabya’s election as President, promised India that his government was committed to strengthening the 13th Amendment. When he was President, Mahinda Rajapakse expansively spoke of a 13 Plus solution for Tamil demands for… Continue reading "Explained: Sri Lanka’s coming constitutional changes and why its Tamil polity is worried"

By Manjula Fernando/Sunday Observer Courtesy NewsIn.Asia “The genuine grievance of our people is the non-settlement of their political issues. Not the denial of economic sops!” the former Northern Province Chief Minister said. Colombo, September 6: Maintaining his penchant for making controversial statements, the former Northern Province Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran told the Sunday Observer in an interview that if the Tamils of… Continue reading "“If the Tamils of Sri Lanka do not the right to self-determination they will become Sinhalese within 15 to 20 years,” says Wigneswaran."