Civil society calls for 19A approval in public interest

Tuesday, 28 April 2015 01:03 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Says same support should be extended for electoral reforms or MPs will be rejected by voters

Civil society organisations yesterday called on the 225 Parliamentarians to vote in favour of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, claiming if they fail to vote in favour the people of Sri Lanka will not accept them. National Movement for Social Justice Chairman Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero during a protest march held in Battaramulla said that Sri Lankans had suffered a great deal as a result of the extreme powers of the executive presidency for more than 35 years and that they were now eagerly waiting for the 19th Amendment to be enacted. “To the 225 Parliamentarians, all we have to say is that if they dare to vote against the 19th Amendment, do not go to their villages as the people will not accept them. Today everyone has gathered to enact the 19th Amendment without considering any religious or racial differences and our country also possesses a President who is willing to let go of the executive powers. However, this is not happening as it is a need of the President or the Prime Minister. This is happening because this is a need of the people. Therefore we kindly request the 225 Parliamentarians not to vote against the country and to vote in favour of the 19th Amendment,” Sobitha Thero said. Commenting further about this situation, Sobitha Thero added that Parliamentarian Dinesh Gunawardena in the past created the electoral system that he is now talking against and that MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara spoke against the executive presidency once upon a time, adding that their past actions were contradicting what they were stating and doing at present. Meanwhile, Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) Parliamentarian Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero addressing the gathering said that a new President was appointed to enact the 19th and 20th Amendments to the Constitution and that they hoped all political parties would support and help implement these changes. “The preferential voting system should be abolished completely and the proportional representation system should be implemented in the country. We hope that everyone in Parliament will support this step too,” Rathana Thero said. Mayor of Colombo A.J.M. Muzammil who also took part in the protest said that everybody who voted against the 19th Amendment would be considered and categorised as traitors of the nation, adding that this was the chance to correct the mistake many Parliamentarians committed by voting in favour of the 18th Amendment in the past. The satyagraha which was scheduled to be held yesterday by the National Movement for Social Justice at Independence Square was called off following an assurance given by President Maithripala Sirisena that the 19th Amendment to the Constitution would be enacted. However, though the satyagraha was called off, a protest march was held instead. Several organisations such as the Purawasi Balaya and Aluth Parapura also participated in the protest march and the satyagraha campaign. Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga also participated in yesterday’s protest march.

Artistes support reforms

The Collective of Independent Artistes yesterday charged that every Parliamentarian voting against the 19th Amendment had an ulterior motive. A group of prominent artistes including film directors, dramatists, actors, female actors and writers yesterday organised a press conference and requested all MPs to vote in favor of the 19th Amendment. Renowned filmmaker and dramatist Parakrama Niriella criticised the conduct of Parliamentarians Dinesh Gunawardena and Vasudeva Nanayakkara, stating that once upon a time they considered these

people as gods and idols but now these MPs had become politically bankrupt and had ulterior motives. “If former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is going to get involved with them, then it would be the stupidest decision he makes in his life. Instead Rajapaksa should stay in Medamulana while keeping his respect,” Niriella said. Meanwhile artiste Charles Dayananda who was also present at the press briefing said that if the 19th Amendment was defeated in Parliament, the country would get to know who the traitors were and that it was essential to implement the 19th Amendment to free the country from corruption and fraud and to establish good governance and independent commissions. Poet and writer Buddhadasa Galappaththi addressing the media explained that the people not only gave a mandate to President Maithripala Sirisena to become the Head of State through the 2015 presidential election, but that through that election Sri Lankans also voted to make Ranil Wickremesinghe the Prime Minister. However, Galappaththi referring to the conduct of politicians Wimal Weerawansa, Dinesh Gunawardena, Vasudeva Nanayakkara and Udaya Gammanpila stated he had never seen such a “circus performed by losers”. Artistes Deepani Silva, Roshan Pilapitiya, Anurudha Jayasinghe and Chandrasoma Binduhewa also participated.