"Govt will face inevitable fallout," – JHU
November 10, 2014
If the government goes ahead with the Presidential Election without abolishing or reforming the Executive Presidency, not only will the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) but the government too will face a severe internal falling-out, JHU Parliamentarian Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera said.
Leader of the National Council for a Clean Tomorrow Rathana Thera also added that there was a possibility of the common candidate to abolish the Executive Presidency being unveiled on Wednesday (12).
Both, Rathana Thera and Leader of the National Movement for Social Justice Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera voiced that no one had asked for the hurried upcoming Presidential election, which incidentally comes at a time when two years remain in the incumbent President's second term.
Sobitha Thera said the Executive President was not answerable to the Parliament, the Legislature and the Judiciary.
"Day by day anti-society and anti-democratic things are taking place due to the Executive Presidency. President Mahinda Rajapaksa as far back as 2005 promised to do this and it is also stated in the Mahinda Chinthana manifesto. He even walked from Colombo to Kataragama to prove his commitment to abolishing it. The unlimited powers he has, has resulted in the breakdown of the administrative service and the defanged nature of the institutions in place to tackle bribery and corruption, corrupt elections, citizens not having the right to information and the lack of rule of law," he added.
"The society has paid a heavy price enduring frauds, corruption and insurrections because of this authoritarian Executive Presidency. Those who accuse us of working to the agendas of non-governmental organizations should ask whether it was they who included in the Mahinda Chinthana manifesto that the Executive Presidency should be abolished. Eelam fostered under the Executive Presidency and therefore, there is no connection to defeating terrorism and maintaining the Executive Presidency. Rajapaksa should not handle finance or hold ministries," Rathana Thera added.
The Thera also mentioned that a common candidate could be put forward whilst still having a foot in the government, adding that a programme was needed to address the issues of minority political parties.
The National Council for a Clean Tomorrow with Sobhitha Thera will be having a rally on Wednesday (12) at 3:00 p.m. at the Muttiah grounds near the Gangaramaya temple to lobby public support for the abolishing of the dictatorial powers vested with the Executive Presidency. Religious leaders, leaders of the Opposition, leaders of the government (including the Lanka Sama Samaja Party, the Communist Party of Sri Lanka and the Minister of National Languages and Social Integration), civil society organizations, farmers and labourers too are expected to participate.
November 10, 2014 If the government goes ahead with the Presidential Election without abolishing or reforming the Executive Presidency, not only will the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) but the government too will face a severe internal falling-out, JHU Parliamentarian Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera said.
Leader of the National Council for a Clean Tomorrow Rathana Thera also added that there was a possibility of the common candidate to abolish the Executive Presidency being unveiled on Wednesday (12).
Both, Rathana Thera and Leader of the National Movement for Social Justice Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera voiced that no one had asked for the hurried upcoming Presidential election, which incidentally comes at a time when two years remain in the incumbent President's second term.
Sobitha Thera said the Executive President was not answerable to the Parliament, the Legislature and the Judiciary.
"Day by day anti-society and anti-democratic things are taking place due to the Executive Presidency. President Mahinda Rajapaksa as far back as 2005 promised to do this and it is also stated in the Mahinda Chinthana manifesto. He even walked from Colombo to Kataragama to prove his commitment to abolishing it. The unlimited powers he has, has resulted in the breakdown of the administrative service and the defanged nature of the institutions in place to tackle bribery and corruption, corrupt elections, citizens not having the right to information and the lack of rule of law," he added.
"The society has paid a heavy price enduring frauds, corruption and insurrections because of this authoritarian Executive Presidency. Those who accuse us of working to the agendas of non-governmental organizations should ask whether it was they who included in the Mahinda Chinthana manifesto that the Executive Presidency should be abolished. Eelam fostered under the Executive Presidency and therefore, there is no connection to defeating terrorism and maintaining the Executive Presidency. Rajapaksa should not handle finance or hold ministries," Rathana Thera added.
The Thera also mentioned that a common candidate could be put forward whilst still having a foot in the government, adding that a programme was needed to address the issues of minority political parties.
The National Council for a Clean Tomorrow with Sobhitha Thera will be having a rally on Wednesday (12) at 3:00 p.m. at the Muttiah grounds near the Gangaramaya temple to lobby public support for the abolishing of the dictatorial powers vested with the Executive Presidency. Religious leaders, leaders of the Opposition, leaders of the government (including the Lanka Sama Samaja Party, the Communist Party of Sri Lanka and the Minister of National Languages and Social Integration), civil society organizations, farmers and labourers too are expected to participate.
