(Lanka-e-News- 19.Jan.2015, 11.00PM) It has been decided to include Dr. Wickremebahu Karunaratne in the historic national executive council that was launched on the 15 th of this month for charting the course of the future of the country , according to reports. Dr. Wickremebahu who has a PhD degree from the University of Cambridge on a rare subject in Sri Lanka , is a staunch socialist and an intellectual. It is learnt that he will be participating in the next meeting of the council scheduled for 20 th of this month.
Meanwhile , JVP leader Anura Dissanayake is getting ready to bring forward two proposals before the apex committee of the council that takes decisions , Dissanayake has disclosed. The two proposals are : To withdraw the right of an individual who has dual citizenship to contest elections , and the other is , if any M.P. is switching allegiance that is, changing his party, his parliamentary representation be rendered null and void.
These two proposals though they reflect only the mentality of the people of the Island, are not compatible with Democratic tenets. His first proposal is based on the premise that a dual citizen can rob public funds , and flee to the other country. To prevent this ,effective methodologies have to be put in place to avert them , rather than attempt to deprive his democratic right to contest elections by enacting laws that contradict the fundamental human rights of the citizens of a civilized country.
Although depriving the parliamentary representation of an MP who switches allegiance will be in order , it is under the modern elections system , the voter casts his vote for the party , and marks his preferential vote in favor of the individual representative.
Under the proposed conventional representation voting system, this possibility is unavailable. No matter what ,an individual ought to have the democratic right to change his political party, and proposing that only through a by -election such a change should be made is reasonable.
At all events , Dinesh Gunawardena who is in charge of the elections system has already discussed this at the select committee , and a final decision has been reached .
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by (2015-01-19 22:17:02)
 makes two untenable proposals)
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12 discussion on this news
it is useless to send comments if they are not published.
-- by suri on 2015-01-20
Ane Honda naaki wenakam wiplawe gena kathaa karala anthimata nawathune ? Markstath M3 pihitai.
ANU KUMO ohela Diasporaawata karanna beri unade (unge athin bimata wetuna unge kodiya) ussala thiyanna KP ta wiruddhawa usaawi giya eka gena ARUMAI/PUDUMAI.
Wiplaweta Jayawewa.
-- by jaya on 2015-01-20
Ane Honda naaki wenakam wiplawe gena kathaa karala anthimata nawathune ? Markstath M3 pihitai.
ANU KUMO ohela Diasporaawata karanna beri unade (unge athin bimata wetuna unge kodiya) ussala thiyanna KP ta wiruddhawa usaawi giya eka gena ARUMAI/PUDUMAI.
Wiplaweta Jayawewa.
-- by jaya on 2015-01-20
Anura Disanayaka seems to be scared of Kumaran Gunarathnam's return to Sri Lanka.
-- by S.ATHURALIYAGE on 2015-01-20
Declaration of Assets of the contesting candidate and their family members should be mandatory for all candidates contesting in any type of election..
-- by Selwyn on 2015-01-20
WHY UNTENABLE????
-- by Panikkiya on 2015-01-20
I have great respect for Anura KD. But one has to be careful to rush into policy decisions involving dual citizenship as the birth right of a person comes usually through a long blood line and shold not be trampled over by a stroke of the pen by a handful of leaders. If a person of dual citizenship has robbed the nation and run away, there should me many other options to prevent this rather than depriving birthright to millions for the crimes of a few bad crooks. For example immediately after elections why was not airport restricted to known rogues who were expected to run away? Isn't it a fault on new leaders?
But depriving a seat in parliament for switching parties is a must and should be looked into. This provision in JERK constitution enables massive amount of money to be earned by politicians tobswitvh partied. It was a bonanza. It is commonly called unintended consequences of the law or the constitution. Thats why MP's should be educated and wise not to allow such stupid provisions to get into ourcstatute.
-- by asoka seneviratne on 2015-01-22
Well said Mr.Anura Dissanayake. Dual citizenship holders should not be allowed to contest as they have left motherland to obtain citizenship so as to protect them selves from all wrong doings. Then as for switching their loyalty from one party to another, how can this person be trusted to carry out his duties & commitments to the country. In my opinion all politician background should be checked before entering politics and while in it.
-- by Sri lankan on 2015-01-25
Dr.Wickremabahu Karunaratne is a product of a great Institution in this country-He has had a long and useful experience in the Political history of Sri Lanka-On many instances as a Radicalists he has contributed very constructively towards the progress of many useful legislative proposals and as a Socialist his main concern was with those working masses who went through so much toil to make ends meet.He should be heard and understood at this stage-When Good Governance is the goal-he could be very effective in his contributions.
-- by Neil Wijeratne on 2015-01-27
Having Dr Wickramabahu is good no one should be allowed to switch.If they want to do that then they must resign and seek his seat with a bi election.
-- by Nimal on 2015-04-03
The proposals are fair. A duel citizen is only a person that wants to eat the cake and have it!!! It should be this or that.
The next is equally fair, an elected MP is elected to represent the people, by the people for the party he/she represented. This is a fact of what happened in the previous administration. MP's were bought over to gain majority in parliament to pass laws to favor the administration. Now these MP's are afraid of what might become of them, people are not stupid, you can fool some of the people some of the time, but not all the people all the time.
-- by Ajit Abey on 2015-05-14
Not only Dual Citizenship should be barred. Those not having good morals should be barred from running for Office as well. Also non-Buddhist .. and people below 5 foot 6 inches.. At the same time, let us only allow fair people to contest elections - Then we will not have dark people representing us. Any other good ideas ?
-- by Kondaya on 2015-06-05
