By
Prasad Gunewardene
Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, last Friday, unfolded the debut Budget of the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe Government which was people-friendly and development-oriented in nature. While introducing relief to the consumers on several essential food commodities, priority was focused on health and education while taxes were imposed on several sectors and items.
Overall the Budget did not place many burdens on the working class. So, the new Government has drawn up economic plans for the coming year. Though the Government of Unity successfully introduced the Budget aimed at developing the country, while providing concessions to the people, the political front of the Unity Government looks to be in turmoil with infighting raging by the day in both the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the United National Party (UNP).
In the SLFP, the group loyal to Mahinda Rajapaksa is planning the formation of a common front to contest the next Local Government elections due in March 2016. In the UNP, the Avant Garde controversy has caused disunity in the rank and file. Though it was reported that President Sirisena and Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe had advised the ministers in question not to clash in the open over the controversy, the battle continued much to the embarrassment of the two leaders.
President Maithripala Sirisena presented a Cabinet Paper, to abolish the Executive Presidency and to introduce a new electoral system, to the Cabinet last Wednesday (18). He told a special meeting of his ministers the previous day that the Cabinet memorandum was aimed to abolish the Executive Presidency and transfer its powers to the Parliament. He said the new move will also propose the establishment of a new electoral system in the country to be worked out by a committee. The President as the common candidate, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Opposition political parties including the United National to abolish the Executive Presidency, change the electoral system and amend the 18th Amendment to the Constitution.
In keeping with that pledge, the 18th Amendment was replaced by the 19th Amendment. He told the ministers that he would abolish the remaining powers of the Executive Presidency, which he described as a threat and challenge to democracy and freedom of the people. Delivering his funeral oration of the late Venerable Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera at the Parliament grounds he once again pledged to uphold the pledge of abolishing the Executive Presidency as promised to the late Thera.
Meanwhile, former President and MP for Kurunegala District Mahinda Rajapaksa commenting on the plan to abolish the Executive Presidency which he enjoyed for nine years opined at a meet in Kandy, that the executive presidential system would not be changed by this Government. He said, “My feeling is that the Executive Presidency will not be changed by this government.” The former President addressed the media after paying homage to the Tooth Relic at the Dalada Maligawa on the occasion of his birthday.
Thereafter, he had a discussion with the Diyawadana Nilame of the Dalada Maligawa, Pradeep Nilanga Dela. Later, he called on the Anunayake of the Malwatte Chapter, the Ven Niyangoda Vijithasiri Thera and held a private discussion. Expressing his opinion on the Avant Garde case, Rajapaksa said, “The Attorney General has already ruled that no action could be taken on the Avant Garde case. I regret that a large number of employees of Avant Garde would lose their jobs”. Rajapaksa at every turn seems to respond to the current issues that concern the government as there are many investigations proceeding with regard to the alleged fraud and corruption of his regime.
SLFP Central Committee
In the midst of many issues, President Sirisena summoned a meet of the SLFP Central Committee last week to discuss outstanding issues. Much focus was laid on the next Local Government polls as the President is keen to lead the party to victory. It was revealed at this meet that a group of SLFPers supporting Mahinda Rajapaksa had held a meeting in Kurunegala, last week, and had been critical of Maithri’s leadership. At the outset Maithri said, “I have told you all about my plan to lead the Local Government election campaign to ensure a victory to the SLFP.
I got the UNP support at earlier elections to set up the National Government, a pledge I made to the people. I have never said that I would go with the UNP in the future. The UNP will go separately and we must try to win the next elections. I will not break the Alliance (Sandhanaya). Instead I would strengthen it. I have had discussions with nine major parties. Wimal Weerawansa has said he would ensure a crack in the SLFP to form a new alliance to topple me and this administration. I will not let that happen”.
Dayasiri Jayasekere chipped into say that he was aware that pro-Mahinda loyalists held a meet at an SLFP MP’s house in Kurunegala, at which Kumara Welgama and Dulles Alahpperuma had been present. All Local Government heads and members of the United People’s Freedom Alliance had been summoned to that meet, Dayasiri claimed. He charged that Wimal Weerawansa was behind that exercise and cautioned the Government that if the SLFP stood divided, the UNP would score at the next poll.
Meet in secrecy
Kumara Welgama intervened to dismiss reports that anti-SLFP plans were discussed at that meeting. He said the meet was held to discuss arrangements regarding Mahinda Rajapaksa’s 70th Birthday. Dayasiri interjected to ask; “Why didn’t you tell us? Why did you hold such a meet in secrecy? “We only discussed matters regarding Mahinda’s 70th birthday, said Dulles Alahapperuma. An angry Welgama screamed at Dayasiri saying the latter changed parties and pointed out that he (Welgama) was in the SLFP from the time of Sirimavo Bandaranaike.
Shot back Dayasiri, “Remember I am a born SLFPer. I never tried to divide the party by secretly planning to set up alliances while being in it. When the SLFP ill-treated me, I left and joined the UNP. Later, I returned to the fold. What you are trying to do is to divide the party and defeat the President”. Reginold Cooray intervened to state, “Don’t do things like hiding one thing and trying to do with the other.
A section of our MPs are setting up an alliance and that is the truth. That is very much clear”. Mahinda Samarasinghe stated that it was incumbent upon all members to abide by the party leadership and uphold party discipline. “If not it would be difficult for the party to conduct its affairs. In the past no one dared to criticize the party leadership. Those who violate party discipline must be taken to task”, Samarasinghe charged.
He was supported by Peshala Jayaratne. A three member committee was set up immediately to look into issues where members had violated or acted against the interests of the party. At this point Maithri recalled that he was born to a farmer family and his journey to the presidency was viewed by some with jealousy. “Remember, if I came from the affluent class I would not meet these challenges.
I am not the only man who left the SLFP. Earlier, Chandrika defected and set up the Sri Lanka Mahajana Party. Our party was not defeated due to J.R. Jayewardene’s Constitution. We lost due to infighting within the party. We lost nearly 50 electorates at the last general election by a slender margin. That is our fault. Chandrika returned to the party, you made her the Prime Minister and President. If I too hailed from an aristocratic family, you would have treated me in that style. The party is not cracking because of my leadership. If I had deprived Mahinda from contesting the last general election this party would have been divided. I never allowed that to happen. Civil organizations and Sobhitha Thera scolded me. They said I was bringing in rogues. After I allowed Mahinda to contest what happened? Mahinda’s supporters said they would undress me and oust me as Mahinda will become Prime Minister. I remained silent because I loved my party. I get to know everything that happens in these factions”.
European Union
The issue of LTTE prisoners heightened in the North last week with continued protests and ‘hartals’ calling for the release of all held in detention. The government moved in swiftly and Court granted bail to several of those prisoners under strict conditions. In a bid to support the Colombo Government towards moving in the right direction to resolve the crisis, The Council of the European Union (EU) encouraged the government to take early steps to build the confidence of communities, including releasing the identity of the detainees and accelerating their prosecution or release, repealing the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
National reconciliation
In a statement the CEU said, “The EU welcomes the significant advances made by the Government of Sri Lanka since the presidential elections held in January 2015 to restore democratic governance, initiate a process of national reconciliation and re-engage with the international community and the United Nations (UN). Following the invitation by the Government of Sri Lanka, the European Union deployed an Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to observe the parliamentary elections in August, which were assessed positively by the EU EOM. The elections saw a strong endorsement of the change in policies initiated since January.
In line with the Government’s commitment for electoral reform, it will be key to implement the recommendations provided by the EU EOM.
There are now new opportunities for the EU to engage with the Government of Sri Lanka in making further progress on reconciliation, strengthening good governance and tackling corruption, promoting respect for Human Rights and the Rule of Law, and fostering inclusive economic growth and sustainable development, while continuing work to reduce poverty and addressing global issues such as climate change and sustainable development. The EU and its Member States actively support the new reform-oriented dynamism in Sri Lanka in order to overcome underlying causes of the past conflict. In this spirit, they will review their respective assistance programmes to support these objectives, including ensuring coordination with other donors.
Credible transitional justice
The Council welcomes the resolution “Promoting reconciliation, accountability and Human Rights in Sri Lanka” adopted at the 30th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva as a crucial step towards a credible transitional justice process in the country. The Council commends the Government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil National Alliance for respectively sponsoring and supporting the resolution.
Continued political leadership will be needed from all sides to ensure the implementation of a comprehensive approach to deal with the past and at the same time establish a lasting foundation for a peaceful future. In this regard, the Council takes positive note of Sri Lanka’s proposal to establish a Commission for Truth, Justice, Reconciliation and Non-Recurrence, and to set up with the expertise from the International Committee of the Red Cross, an Office on Missing Persons. Accountability is essential to uphold the rule of law and build confidence in the people of all communities of Sri Lanka in the justice system.
The EU welcomes Government of Sri Lanka’s proposal for the establishment of a judicial mechanism to investigate allegations of violations and abuses of Human Rights, including allegations of sexual violence.
The participation of foreign judges, defence lawyers, prosecutors and investigators will be important in ensuring that the process is both credible and perceived as such by all sides. The Council underlines the importance of continued cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights”.
The international community appears to be closely monitoring the developments in Sri Lanka with United States Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power landing in Colombo last morning to hold talks with government and other leaders. She arrives in Colombo a few days after a UN Working Group inspected a torture chamber within the precincts of a Navy detachment in Trincomalee.
Courtesy:Ceylon Today