Government legislators participating in the debate on the Interim Report of the Steering Committee of the Constitutional Assembly stressed that an unprecedented opportunity had dawned, to find a lasting solution to the national question by way of constitutional reforms, and called upon all political leaders to shed petty political differences and commit themselves to make this ultimate goal a reality.
The Government lawmakers during their speeches urged that Sri Lanka must not miss this golden opportunity to create political stability and achieve prosperity and economic development.
It was a significant gesture that the TNA during their deliberations expressed willingness to accept the unitary character of the country and even Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan in his address to Parliament called on the people not to support anyone promoting separatism.
However, the Joint Opposition members who held divergent views expressed opposition to the Interim Report and queried how the proposed new Constitution could become a reality as there is no agreement even among the coalition parties in the Government with regard to the content of the new Constitution.
Executive Presidency
The political parties had different perspectives on the much debated issue on the Executive Presidency. The UNP expressed readiness to consider the demand to abolish the Executive Presidency while the SLFP was of the view that it is not prudent to do away with it. The JVP expressing a completely opposite view said, the main focus at this juncture should be the abolition of the Executive Presidency.
Citing an example, the JVP members said, it was due to the existence of the Executive Presidency that corrupt Ministers of former Rajapaksa Government have been able to join the present Cabinet. The Joint Opposition (JO) said they completely reject the Interim Report which is nothing but an attempt to hoodwink the people.
Participating in the debate, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said, for the first time in the history of the country, all political parties have come together with diverse opinions, and rallied round for a common task.
The Premier stressed the need to make use of this grand opportunity to move forward and said, it does not imply that we have to agree to each and every recommendation, and that differences can be ironed out through discussion.
Controversial issues
Clarifying the Government’s stance on certain controversial issues raised by JO members, the Premier debunked the misconceptions created among them. He pointed out, there is hardly any difference between the Government and the Joint Opposition on most contents of the Interim Report.
He said, the Government is fully agreeable to vest sovereignty with the people, give a prominent place to Buddhism and not to merge the Provinces. The Premier said the Provinces cannot be merged without the agreement of the entire nation.
The Government is also agreeable to the demand that the Opposition Leader be elected by the MPs in the Opposition. The Premier said, he maintains the same opinion that the Provincial Councils should not be a threat to national security.
The Government is of the view that the powers of Provincial Councils be kept under the purview of the Central Government. The Government would continue welfare programs and is in agreement with JO’s proposal for a new electoral system. The Premier told the House that all these issues can be discussed and a compromise reached.
Electoral system
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa participating in the debate said, there is a widespread suspicion that the Government may attempt to pass the new Constitution in Parliament through the same manner they adopted to change the electoral system in the Local Government institutions and the Provincial Councils, recently.
The former President told the House there are over 40 MPs who contested and won the last Parliamentary elections under his leadership and hold portfolios of this Government at present.
He said, if they wish they can defeat this Constitution in Parliament by not voting for it. He attempted to convince the House that the UNP, SLFP, JVP and TNA are engaged in a ‘constitutional conspiracy’.
Sudu Nelum’ Movement
UPFA MP Dullas Alahapperuma in his speech said, the idea of forming a new Constitution does not have legitimacy because there is no agreement even among the coalition parties in the Government regarding the content of the proposed Constitution. Finance and Media Minister Mangala Samarawera who then took the floor said, Alahapperuma, together with colleagues Nalanda Ellawala and Dilan Perera went from village to village campaigning for a new Constitution in 1995 under the ‘Sudu Nelum’ Movement.
The same MP today asks whether the country needs a new Constitution. Minister Samaraweera pointed out, the draft Constitution that MP Alahapperuma then campaigned for, was a far more progressive one than that proposed by the present Government, in terms of power sharing.
National Freedom Front leader Wimal Weerawansa’s call to bomb Parliament, if it passes the new Constitution also turned into a hot topic when JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his speech resorted to comment on it. However, MP Dissanayake said Weerawansa’s statement should not be taken seriously by others.
He said the person who threatens to bomb Parliament is not strong enough even to hurl a stone at a target with a catapult and that he is not physically capable of anything. MP Dissanayake said Weerawansa did not even have the courage to remain in remand prison. Before the lapse of even a month and a half behind bars he got his daughter to fall sick and his wife to cry out for his release.
Half-truths and lies
MP Dissanayake noted the protests outside Parliament against the draft constitutional proposals were driven by half-truths and lies. He said, the defeated political elements tried to seize power again by using the Interim Report as a football and added that the threat to bomb Parliament is the climax of that fanatical objection to the constitution-making exercise.
Opposition Leader R.Sampanthan told the House, there is a pressing need for a new Constitution to ensure unity in diversity in the country. The TNA Leader said, the inability of leaders to stand by what they had accepted and keep their commitments after they ceased to hold power has been a major setback.
The Opposition Leader also quoted sections of statements by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and former External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris that advocated for greater devolution of power.
He said it is unfortunate that the former President and his allies are now taking a diametrically different and contradictory stand to what they said earlier. The TNA is committed to the democratic verdict of the people and it is willing to work towards reasonable and acceptable consensus on all issues.
Crossing over
Yet another highlight was Posts, Postal Services and Muslim Religious Affairs Deputy Minister Duleep Wijesekera crossing over to the Joint Opposition when the Constitutional Assembly met to debate the Steering Committee Interim report. Wjesekera who was sacked from his Deputy Ministerial portfolio raised a point of order when the Constitutional Assembly commenced sittings.
He told the House, he didn’t want to be part of a Government which is attempting to bring about a new Constitution against the advice of the Maha Sangha.
He tore up the document of the Interim Report and walked over to the Opposition ranks. The Joint Opposition MPs thumped their desks to welcome MP Wijesekera.