Four parties give nod to JHU Constitutional Amendment EXECUTIVE RETAINED
By Ravi Ladduwahetty-August 31, 2014
Four political parties have agreed to a new Constitutional Amendment, which has been proposed by the Jathika Hela Urumaya's Parliamentary Group Leader Ven. Athureliye Rathana Thera. The Amendment revolves round the reducing of the powers of the Executive President and limiting the number of Cabinet Ministers to between 20 and 25. The proposals, which come under a banner titled: 'Way forward for the country for a better tomorrow,' has been agreed upon by four political parties -- the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, Democratic Party, Communist Party and Lanka Sama Samaja Party.
Former Chief Justice Sarath. N. Silva is spearheading a team of constitutional experts in the preparation of the Draft Bill, which would be placed before the public at the BMICH on 30 September 2014, the Thera added. 'There is a need for amendments to the Constitution as Sri Lanka has not accomplished its goals, despite the completion of five years, since the cessation of hostilities. There has been a breakdown of the law and order situation and rampant corruption, fraud, waste and decadence of moral values and a general breakdown of all the hopes, which people had with the completion of the war.
These solutions, which will be in the form of a Constitutional Amendment, will offer better prospects for the future development of the country, Athureliye Rathana Thera told Ceylon Today.
He said the highlights of these amendments would be announced at a news conference shortly.
The proposed Constitutional Amendment states;
• Executive Presidency will remain, but the President would be allowed to hold only the Defence portfolio in the Cabinet, while being the Commander- in- Chief of the Armed Forces.
• All elections – Presidential, Parliamentary, Provincial Council polls to be held and completed within two days.
• Removal of the preferential system of voting
• Evaluation of performances of ministers to be done. If any minister is deemed not up to the mark, he/she to be removed by a simple majority in Parliament. Vacancy to be filled by the President and according to his discretion.
• The Cabinet portfolios would be listed in the Constitution. Ministry Secretaries would be appointed by the President on the recommendations of the minister. Performance of ministry secretaries would also be evaluated.
• Establishment of the independent commissions for elections, police, judiciary and the public service.
• Abolition of the preferential system of voting, while retaining the PR system.
• Right to Information Act to be established.
• A Technical Auditor General to be appointed in addition to the current Auditor General, who is only a specialist in finance. The Technical Auditor General's office will engage in technical audits, which will prevent corruption.
• New foreign policy, which will reflect the independence of the nation without being servile to the dictates of certain parties.
• Religious co-habitation through the formation of a Board of Religious Leaders.
• Lands and facilities for sustainable agriculture.
• Local manufacture of both indigenous and western drugs.
• Expanding the university system and providing loans to undergraduates.
• Dependence on local power and energy sources.
• Efficient public transport service.
By Ravi Ladduwahetty-August 31, 2014
Four political parties have agreed to a new Constitutional Amendment, which has been proposed by the Jathika Hela Urumaya's Parliamentary Group Leader Ven. Athureliye Rathana Thera. The Amendment revolves round the reducing of the powers of the Executive President and limiting the number of Cabinet Ministers to between 20 and 25. The proposals, which come under a banner titled: 'Way forward for the country for a better tomorrow,' has been agreed upon by four political parties -- the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, Democratic Party, Communist Party and Lanka Sama Samaja Party.
Former Chief Justice Sarath. N. Silva is spearheading a team of constitutional experts in the preparation of the Draft Bill, which would be placed before the public at the BMICH on 30 September 2014, the Thera added. 'There is a need for amendments to the Constitution as Sri Lanka has not accomplished its goals, despite the completion of five years, since the cessation of hostilities. There has been a breakdown of the law and order situation and rampant corruption, fraud, waste and decadence of moral values and a general breakdown of all the hopes, which people had with the completion of the war.
These solutions, which will be in the form of a Constitutional Amendment, will offer better prospects for the future development of the country, Athureliye Rathana Thera told Ceylon Today.
He said the highlights of these amendments would be announced at a news conference shortly.
The proposed Constitutional Amendment states;
• Executive Presidency will remain, but the President would be allowed to hold only the Defence portfolio in the Cabinet, while being the Commander- in- Chief of the Armed Forces.
• All elections – Presidential, Parliamentary, Provincial Council polls to be held and completed within two days.
• Removal of the preferential system of voting
• Evaluation of performances of ministers to be done. If any minister is deemed not up to the mark, he/she to be removed by a simple majority in Parliament. Vacancy to be filled by the President and according to his discretion.
• The Cabinet portfolios would be listed in the Constitution. Ministry Secretaries would be appointed by the President on the recommendations of the minister. Performance of ministry secretaries would also be evaluated.
• Establishment of the independent commissions for elections, police, judiciary and the public service.
• Abolition of the preferential system of voting, while retaining the PR system.
• Right to Information Act to be established.
• A Technical Auditor General to be appointed in addition to the current Auditor General, who is only a specialist in finance. The Technical Auditor General's office will engage in technical audits, which will prevent corruption.
• New foreign policy, which will reflect the independence of the nation without being servile to the dictates of certain parties.
• Religious co-habitation through the formation of a Board of Religious Leaders.
• Lands and facilities for sustainable agriculture.
• Local manufacture of both indigenous and western drugs.
• Expanding the university system and providing loans to undergraduates.
• Dependence on local power and energy sources.
• Efficient public transport service.
