(Lanka-e-News -22.Aug.2015, 11.00PM) Lanka e news wishes to reveal with concern to the SriLankans who are pro ‘government of good governance’ that the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed yesterday(21) between the United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom party (SLFP) following the general elections victory on the 17 th , in 14 districts across the country which is reckoned as a continuation and confirmation of the victory on 8 th January to fulfill the aspirations of the people , after all is not aiming at accomplishing the aims , objectives or aspirations of the people who voted for a government of good governance.
The hopes and aspirations of the people are for the ‘abolition of the present executive presidency,’ no more , no less. However, sadly in the MOU signed yesterday, nothing in this regard has been mentioned anywhere.
Ven. Sobitha Thera on behalf of 161 civil and professional organizations signed a ‘people’s agreement’ with Ranil Wickremesinghe (who signed on behalf of the UNP). In that paramount importance and top priority are given to the abolition of executive presidency. That reads thus :
1 (a) The new parliament shall be made a legislative enactment council to abolish the executive presidency aimed at giving prime and paramount importance towards creating a system of government by a cabinet that is answerable to the parliament ; and that new system shall be operative after the conclusion of the term of the present president.
In the UNF five pronged manifesto at the recent general elections this is stated. ‘The president shall use the powers vested in him in accordance with the advice of the cabinet and the P.M. who are responsible to the parliament.’ Thereby , the supremacy of the parliament is ensured., but the present special powers of president Maithripala Sirisena will continue as it is. ( page 13, third phase of the five pronged manifesto for a new country within 60 months)
The first sentence also says, ‘the presidency shall be in accordance with the advice of the cabinet and the P.M. who are responsible to the parliament’ In other words , what it means is the present executive presidency shall be abolished.
It is the fervent hope and aspiration of the people that the current abominable executive presidency is abolished, and a new constitution is passed that is consonant with a ‘new country.’ It is absolutely clear therefore that the people on the 17 th endorsed such a policy , and a system. In the circumstances , it is the aspiration of the people that the abolition of the executive presidency shall be abolished, and none else.
However , in the agreement signed between the UNP and SLFP yesterday , nowhere is it stated anything pertaining to that. (The agreement is herein in Sinhala). If there is any reference to that , it is as follows :
‘To further strengthening the parliament ,the 19th amendment that whittles down the powers of the executive presidency stipulated in the constitution of 1978 shall be reviewed , and an agreement shall be reached ( MOU – page 2 ; chapter 6)
If this UNF-SLFP MOU is to be claimed as seeking to abolish the executive presidency ‘truly’ , it is at its best another agreement to mislead the people and to falsify the hopes of the victorious people.
The vital question at this crucial juncture is , who is behind this wicked conspiracy ? How did it come by?
Lanka e news deems it is its responsibility to expose this conspiracy and its conspirators to the country...
It is the SLFP that was the founder of this MOU draft made within a day. The group appointed by the central committee of the SLFP which met on the 20 th prepared this draft . Firstly they made the agreement signed between Ven. Sobitha Thera and Ranil Wickremesinghe the base . Secondly , they made use of the UNF manifesto.
It is noteworthy that it is none other than Nimal Siripala De Silva who bitterly opposed the abolition of the executive presidency. Nimala Siripala who is a perfect illustration of the inverse relation between brain power and brawn power , is also well noted as a cut -throat politician , and an expert at playing double games .
The cruel irony is, it is this same roly poly Nimal Siripala , who loudly announced at the last elections, the executive presidency shall be abolished which undertaking was even contained in the UPFA manifesto ‘certificate for the future’ distributed among the people . But now , it is this same Nimal Siripala who had acted like ‘Sillypala’ by objecting to the incoporation of this ‘abolition of executive presidency’ clause in the MOU.
Mind you , Chandrika Bandaranaike had given her full consent to the abolition of the executive presidency, while Maithripala Sirisena too publicly agreed to this. Nevertheless , his consent was subject to doubt because it is he who resorted to dilatory tactics earlier on in respect of the 19th amendment aimed at abolition of executive presidency. It was Maithripala who was playing the key role but from behind the scene at that time after pushing Champika and Rathane Thera to the front. Champika will testify to this .
Maithripala who said during the presidential elections that the executive presidency will be abolished, when it came to the 19 th amendment ,changed his stance and insisted that the controversial powers of the executive presidency alone shall be abolished.
Maithripala who used Champika then to shield his own deceitful face , is now using Nimal Siripala for the same purpose apparently. But let it be made clear to these political opportunists that people are not that gullible to fall prey to their deceptions however cleverly and craftily planned and meant by politicians to be practised on them. Whether the bloke hails from Medamulana or from Polonnaruwa , identifying any of them is no difficult task for the people ,even if he wears a mask to cover his policy-less faceless nature. Let him also be reminded that Sri Lankans who voted for the elephant are not ready to allow the same buffalo to devour the coconut saplings twice.
Hence Nimal Siripala’s obstructive opposition shall not be allowed. It is Ranil Wickremesinghe who introduced the paragraph, ‘the 19th amendment that whittles down the powers of the executive presidency stipulated in the constitution of 1978 shall be reviewed in order to further strengthening the parliament.’ And the MOU was signed on the undertaking that this issue shall be taken up for discussion again in the future . If Ranil Wickremesinghe had not taken this step and introduced this clause , like how the dissolution of earlier parliament was delayed taking refuge under the 20 th amendment ,the swearing in of the P.M. and the cabinet of ministers would have also been postponed citing the MOU, undoubtedly.
We at Lanka e news always championing the cause of Democracy, good governance and national interests wish to warn the Sri Lankans who are pro ‘government of good governance’ that no clear mention being made of the abolition of executive presidency in the MOU when the new constitution is being introduced , is to exploit this omission as a trump when the UNF is bringing forth a new constitution , and impede it.
The conduct of president Maithripala earlier on and the cunning he displayed in relation to the 19th amendment , were made use of by him again to delay the dissolution of parliament then after promising that will be done within 100 days ,by citing the 20 th amendment.
People who can understand the craftiness and deceitful nature of Maithripala when he delayed dissolution of parliament until the Mahinda Rajapakse clan built itself up; his letter sent to Mahinda , which exposed the fact that he had met Mahinda three times secretly and tried to work out a clandestine deal ; and how after granting nominations to the corrupt , he cleverly washed his hands off that wrongful action, are well known to the people , and it is the people who will therefore appreciate well and thoroughly this warning of ours.
Of course those for government of good governance had to remain patient and silent then because theirs was a minority government at that time. But today it is entirely different , for those who are pro ;government for good governance’ have by winning 14 out of 22 districts demonstrated their strength. It is not necessary for them any longer to kowtow , or thrust their heads between the legs before their adversaries and conspirators.
Hence , they should compel and insist that the amendment stipulating the abolition of executive presidency is included in the MOU signed yesterday , and signatures to the amended MOU obtained again. Since procrastination is as bad and destructive an enemy as a cunning politician, without waiting until the constitution is made ready, pressures shall be brought to bear on both parties to sign the agreement again inclusive of this amendment.
Maithripala accepting the UPFA president post notwithstanding , it is his obligation to act according to the mandate he received on 8 th January that installed him in power as president of the country, and not according to the 17 th August mandate of the UPFA . It is well for Maithripala and all others to bear in mind lest they have forgotten that the victory at this election is only an extension of the 8 th January victory , and a further confirmation thereof based on that mandate
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by (2015-08-22 19:56:01)
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WHAT IS RANIL DOING ABOUT THIS?THE VERY NATIONAL LIST OF THE UPFA APPROVED BY ....MS.....SHOWS THE GAME HE IS PLAYING....THIS IS NOT YAHAPALANAYA!....NO SIR!!7
-- by reggie on 2015-08-23