Whither The Republic?
By Chrishmal Warnasuriya –September 4, 2015
Chrishmal Warnasuriya
Challenges before the 8th Parliament vis-à-vis the People’s Legislative Power
Exercising The People’s Sovereign-Legislative Power
Over the last two weeks or so, in the immediate aftermath of my singular statement on the National List issue, I opted for a self-imposed “media silence”, politely refraining from commenting on many matters to our colleagues in the Press; I express my sincere gratitude to all of you for that kind courtesy and understanding extended, for allowing me that little window of space. I was silent, primarily, as I did not wish to be misunderstood (or misquoted), that my stand which was taken on principle was motivated by a personal or vested interest; I can assure you that it was not! However now that the august assembly representing our Sovereign Legislative power have ceremoniously assumed their public duties, permit me to return to the independence of my pre-election status as a student of the ever-dynamic science of politics and the law and safely comment on several important issues from a “public perspective”; in sincere faith they would be considered objectively, forgetting the momentary (rather unfortunate) marketing of my name before the electorate at this last referendum of the 17th.
As always my point of focus is the very powerful wording of Article 3 of our 2nd Republican (1978) Constitution; that sovereignty (which includes the power of franchise) of this golden soil reposes in us its citizens; absolutely, inalienably and forever. From there it flows to be “separated” in its exercise at Article 4, in terms of 4(b) permitting a temporary conveyance of our Legislative (law making) power, in “Public Trust” (that our absolute interest in that power as its sole repositories will always be ensured); to a parliament represented by 225 citizens elected from amongst us in terms of (the replaced – 14th Amendment of 1988) Article 99.