What Do We Need: Well-Structured Terms Or Good Individuals?

By Ranga Kalansooriya -April 17, 2015

Dr Ranga Kalansooriya

The most talked about keywords within the contemporary political circles are executive presidency and the premiership. Both these positions are the pinnacles of one’s political career but their constitutional definitions would design the destiny of a few politicians of our times in the coming weeks.

Pre-1977 political scenario never had a dispute between these two positions, historians would explain. But 1978 Jayewardene constitution created the all-powerful position of Executive Presidency  (EP) that became the hot topic at least for the past two decades. They said that the only thing which an Executive President would not able to do is to convert a man into a woman and vise-versa. But a simple incident last year added one more incompetency for the Executive President – could not appoint a chief incumbent of a temple. Following the demise of Kiriwehera Maha Nayaka Dr Aluthwewa Soratha Thera, the then President Rajapaksa tried his best to get a junior monk to be appointed to the post – but the strong stand by Malwatta Maha Nayaka Thera thwarted his attempts where the Sangha Sabha decided to appoint the most senior student monk Kobawaka Dhamminna Thera as the new Nayaka Thera of Kiriwehera. Powers of Executive Presidency was challenged and defeated.

Be that as it may, one interesting phenomenon between these two positions had been the emergence of individualism against the national necessities and interests. More than the interest of the country and its betterment the factor of individualism has always found its way. People or the leader would look at the individual who would immediately assume the position before making the final decision. Careful analysis of individuals and positions in the post – 1977 political history in the country would provide some classic case studies to tell this story
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