National Movement for Social Justice

Righteous Country, Law Abiding Rule, Just Society

 Friday, 13 September 2013

National Movement for Social Justice which was formed with the intention of creating a righteous country, law abiding rule and a just society, whilst protecting the rule of law which is declining daily in Sri Lanka, is turning into a powerful force of the people.  It is evident from the favourable reactions.

This movement is formed with the participation of Ven. Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thero who voices his opinion bravely on national, religious and social issues and intellectuals and jurists.  With the inclusion of Buddhist priests, other religious leaders, politicians, Trade Unions, Professionals and Civil Activists, is the key factor for this movement to become a powerful force in the near future.

Particular feature is obtaining blessings of all Maha Nayake’s of all the Nikayas and other Maha Nayakes, His Eminence the Cardinal and other religious dignitaries by offering the draft amendments to them.

They all unanimously agree that the present constitution should be repealed as it is detrimental to the country.

The movement is an apolitical entity as it embraces national issues.  However, it needs a political leadership and it is a good sign that gradually it is entering more and more with the political stream.

Series of seminars have been organized island-wide to discuss economic and social background with the decline of law and order as a result of the Executive Presidential System introduced by the 1978 Constitution. It is intended to rally round the people with the movement and to educate masses.

Main task is to abolish the executive presidential system immediately and to introduce a new constitution which will establish a Westminister System of government transferring the power to parliament.

The other theme of the movement is to reintroduce the 17th amendment immediately.

These seminars are being held in order to eradicate the preferential voting system which is very harmful to the country and to reduce the cabinet to 25 Ministers.

It is proposed to introduce a new constitution to include and strengthen the democratic features and economic structures which are beneficial to the country.

Accordingly a series of seminars were conducted during this month in Colombo, Anuradhapura, Kuliyapitiya, Polonnaruwa, Kalutara, Udawalawe, Thanamalwila, Gampaha, Eppawala, Kegalle, Kandy and Galle.

These seminars are held to educate the people and attended by prominent professionals and jurists.  The degree of the decline of law and order in the country is revealed at these seminars.

People who participate at these seminars express their satisfaction when the issues confronted by them are discussed and solutions are shown.  Their sufferings and desolation come to light in the course of the discussions.

Seminars are attended by the Buddhist priests, other religious dignitaries, civil activists and political representatives.
In the areas like Anuradhapura and Kuliyapitiya, the biggest strength was Buddhist priests.  Several Mahanayakes were present at these seminars.

During the seminars conducted in Polonnaruwa, Sevenagala, Udawalawe, Thanamalwila, it was brought to notice that the farmers and Civil activists finds it difficult to act freely due to various administrative rules and regulations imposed on them by the officials, citing directives issued under the Executive Presidential system.

Adverse effects of the Executive Presidential system were revealed at these seminars citing incidents such as impeachment against Shirani Bandaranayake, former Chief Justice; order given by a Provincial Council Member to a teacher to kneel down in his presence;  killing of a worker at the protest at Katunayake demanding workers’ rights; killing 3 persons at Rathupaswela, Weliveriya by shooting at the protestors when they asked for drinking water, curtailing freedom of press, arsoning Udayan paper printing press in Jaffna.  Misdeeds of Provincial and Local Government members.  Acts of thuggery by a Deputy Inspector General of Police, are quoted at these seminars as examples to show the level of decline in law and order under the Executive Presidential system.

Seminars were held during the weekends at Naga Vihare Kotte; these seminar were attended by trade unions, civil activists, retired police officers and several other societies.

On the 27th H.E. Michelle Sisson, Ambassador of the United States visited Sri Naga Viharaya with a group of officials and had discussion.   At the discussions she said that re-introduction of the 17th Amendment will support, protect and strengthen democracy in Sri Lanka.  Several other diplomats, Prominent Ministers and members of parliament of the government met Ven. Sobitha Thero and expressed their blessings for the programme of work.

It has been planned to organize a series of seminars in the near future with the participation of Ven. Sobitha Thero, politicians and jurists.  First of this series will be held at Eppawala on the 11th of September.

Signed
Dr. Rajith Cabral
General Secretary
National Movement for Social Justice