Ranil unveils Third Republican Constitution proposal

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

The country’s main opposition and single largest political party the United National Party (UNP) yesterday unveiled its plans for a third republican constitution that envisages the abolition of the presidency, the establishment of a new constitutional court, power devolution, anti-crossover legislation and stringent anti-corruption laws and fiscal oversight mechanisms.

The UNP and a majority of opposition political parties initiated a public proclamation to develop a new Constitution, which will replace the second republican Constitution adopted in 1978 and would be aimed at ‘ending the tyranny of the Rajapaksa regime.’Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinge, launched the framework for the UNP’s new constitution that he pledged would be put before the public for opinion and suggestions at Committee Room 02 of the Parliamentary Complex last morning.

Wickremesinghe said that public inputs on the features proposed by the UNP would frame Sri Lanka’s Third Republican constitution over the next three months.

“The new constitution will address the urgent need to restore the dignity and sovereign rights of the people that have been forcibly taken away by the present regime,” Wickremesinghe said addressing the event.

He said the adoption of a new Constitution would establish a just and equitable society, creating an environment for all people to live in peace and harmony while enjoying their fundamental rights, irrespective of any difference of creed, religion, language or political opinion. “The new constitution would seek the establishment of a vibrant and prosperous economy, (which has been completely destroyed in the recent past), including the creation of opportunities to generate income for the people, the restoration of the independence of the judiciary, law and order, which has been critically and unprecedentedly debilitated during the recent past, and the restoration of the pristine glory previously enjoyed by Sri Lankans in the international arena,” he said.

Opposition Leader Wickremesinghe who was involved in the drafting of the 1978 Constitution that established the executive presidential system, suggests three separate options in his draft constitutional proposals to fill the vacuum created by the abolition of the presidency. The options include the election of a Prime Minister and a Government run by the Premier and a Cabinet of Ministers; the establishment of a Westminster system of governance or a third more unorthodox system comprising an elected head of state and a decision-making governance council the UNP calls the “Council of State” comprising the Head of State, Prime Minister, leader of the opposition, leaders of all political parties in parliament and all chief ministers of the provinces to direct governance priorities.

The UNP hopes to put the new constitution before the people within six months of forming a Government, the party said, adding that theirs would be the first ‘peoples’ constitution’.

“During the last several years under Mahinda Rajapaksa’s regime, the office of Executive President has been completely desecrated, by destroying all the checks and balances that were built into the system. The dignity and the integrity of that office has been reduced to a despicable state as a result of the blatant abuse of power and the creation of an authoritarian regime marked with extreme nepotism and corruption, with gross disregard for democratic values and fundamental human rights,” Wickremesinghe charged.

Wijedasa Rajapakse (Member of Parliament – United National Party) identifies the UNP’s proposals for constitutional change as “the much needed solution” to prevent the country from falling into the hands of a “dictator and a return to the feudal system.”