BASL, private sector, YMBA present 13 crisis resolution proposals to Mahanayakas

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and the Young Men’s Buddhist Association (YMBA) yesterday presented several proposals to restore political and economic stability to Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Sumangala Mahanayake Thero of the Malwatte Chapter and Ven. Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Mahanayake Thero of the Asgiriya Chapter.

The proposals including the repeal of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, the abolition of the Executive Presidency, the formation of a Government of national unity with a Prime Minister able to create a consensus among the political parties, a 15-member Cabinet of Ministers, a 15-member advisory council and the adoption of a Common Minimum Program are among the 13-point proposals.

BASL President Saliya Pieris PC, Ceylon Chamber Chairman Vish Govindasamy as well as BASL Deputy President Anura Meddegoda PC, Ceylon Chamber Vice Chairman Duminda Hulangamuwa, former Chairman Suresh Shah, BASL Secretary Isuru Balapatabendi, and Treasurer Rajindh Perera, Prasantha Abeykoon and Danuka Samarasinghe from the Board of Management of the Colombo YMBA were present at the handover of proposals to the Mahanayakas.

Last week the BASL was invited by the Ceylon Chamber to present the proposals to representatives of the Joint Chambers of Commerce, the Organisation of Professional Associations (OPA), the Sri Lanka Medical Association and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka.

The BASL and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce have over the past several months separately expressed their strong concern about the dire state of the economy, the need for immediate action and the consequences of failing to do so. 

In the light of apparent apathy to these concerns the BASL and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce commenced a dialogue to explore the role professionals and the business community could play in ensuring, at first, economic stability and subsequently political stability in the country.

The proposals drafted by a Sub-Committee of the Executive Committee of the BASL were unanimously approved at a Special Meeting of the Bar Council on 22 April where the Bar Council also decided to bring the proposals to the immediate attention of the political leadership and religious leaders of the country and to discuss the proposals with the Chambers and other professional organisations.

The objective of the proposals are to create a stable Government with the ability to implement reforms domestically and the ability/credibility to negotiate with the IMF, other multilateral agencies and friendly countries to help Sri Lanka get out of the economic crisis by: creating political, economic and social stability; creating an environment to address the fundamental problems that have led to the current crisis and imperil future reforms; restructuring Sri Lanka’s external debt; d) obtaining bridging finance to ensure the uninterrupted supply of essential goods; and creating an environment to combat corruption and ensure accountability by strengthening independent institutions.

There was a broad consensus among those present to continue discussions on the basis of the proposals presented by the BASL and to include more industry associations and professional bodies.

Representatives of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka (ICCSL), the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL), Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL), Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), Chamber of Construction Industry Sri Lanka (CCISL), Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce Sri Lanka, Exporters Association of Sri Lanka and the American Chamber of Commerce attended the discussion. 

In addition, representatives from the Organisation of Professional Associations (OPA), the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) and several Past Presidents of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce were invited to the discussion.