|
|
Sri Lanka`s devolution proposal gets slammed
Saturday, 26 January 2008 - 4:34 AM SL Time
|
|
|
Sri Lanka`s main opposition and dominant Tamil party have denounced a proposal by a panel suggesting devolution of powers to provinces as a `deception` and a `farce`.
Lakshman Kiriella, a leading member of the United National Party (UNP), said that the proposal by the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) was only made to the liking of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
`The APRC did not consider recommending the full implementation of the 13th amendment (of the constitution) before the president requested it to do so,` he pointed out.
The 13th amendment came into being after India and Sri Lanka signed a pact in 1987 under which New Delhi urged Colombo to devolve powers to provinces in a bid to placate the restive minorities, Tamils included.
It is no secret that President Rajapaksa had wanted the existing constitutional arrangement for devolution to the provinces to be fully implemented first, before going for a more elaborate and drastic change. The president asked the APRC to suggest ways of doing justice to the existing arrangement, as stated in the 13th amendment and the Provincial Councils Act.
The pro-Tamil Tigers Tamil National Alliance (TNA), the largest Tamil grouping in parliament, also dubbed the APRC recommendation to stick to the 13th amendment as a `farce`.
Mavai Senathirajah, a senior TNA MP, told IANS that Rajapaksa had arm-twisted the APRC to submit a report suggesting the implementation of the existing 13th amendment of the constitution and not go beyond it.
`The idea was to create confusion in the political sphere and buy time. Otherwise, what was the need to make the APRC do this, when it was well on its way to drafting a new (quasi federal) devolution package?` Senathirajah asked.
`It was meant to satisfy the JVP (Sinhalese Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna) and the JHU (Sinhalese nationalist Jathika Hela Urumaya),` he said.
The minority Tamils have been fighting for regional autonomy for the past 60 years, saying the majority Sinhalese community dominates the Sri Lankan political system.
By talking of implementing the 13th amendment, the president was trying to `hoodwink` India, Senathirajah charged.
He alleged that Rajapaksa would not implement even the 13th amendment. `Ours had been a history of broken promises.`
He said he was disappointed with India for coming out in support of the APRC proposal, especially since it envisaged separate provincial councils for the northern and the eastern provinces. `The TNA will take up the matter with the Indian authorities.`
Earlier, pro-government Tamil parties like the TULF, PLOTE and EPRLF-P said the APRC proposal could only be a `first step` and that a final solution to the ethnic issue would have to be a federal constitution.
Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) president V. Anandasangaree said: `The 13th amendment of 1987 was a treatment for ulcer. But 20 years down the line, the ulcer has become cancer. We now need a medicine for cancer, not ulcer.`
|
|
|
Magnum357
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 388
Member Profile
|
 25 Jan 2008 22:47:30 GMT Report for Abuse
|
| Tissa Vitarana's 13 page proposals were reduced to 1 page by MR! Ohoma yamu ohoma yamu! |
Aani
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3315
Member Profile
|
 25 Jan 2008 23:05:25 GMT Report for Abuse
|
2 year circus - then carries out president's orders to recommend 13th amendment as the solution.
Dont these guys have any shame or feeling of self worth?
:)) |
AnuD
Senior Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 20193
Member Profile
|
 25 Jan 2008 23:27:44 GMT Report for Abuse
|
The pro-Tamil Tigers Tamil National Alliance (TNA), the largest Tamil grouping in parliament
TNA will be eliminated gradually from politics,these morons will be unemployed. then they can not talk. Only ways left will be go to Wanni and take a T -56.
But, MR won't leave Wanni that long this way.
TNA crying Fowl and ananda Sangaree lamenting. |
AnuD
Senior Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 20193
Member Profile
|
25 Jan 2008 23:37:41 GMT Report for Abuse
|
Even the 13th Amendment is a wastage of resources. It is good to satisfy at least a faction of a tribal LEaders.
A strong country would never implement even the 13th amendment.
Instead what we need is a Strong, Efficient govt with out too much politicization of the country.
JUst compare the efficiency of the govt with too many ethnic, regional and divisive politics. They have problems in progressing.
IF 13th Amendment is to be implemented, the Central govt should be cut down the size very drastically.
I can understand why Socialist JVP, once killed thousands for the betterment of the country and tried to destroy the country, IS NOW SILENT ABOUT making the GOVT SMALL, EFFICIENT AND PRODUCTIVE ???????????
|
shan
Senior Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2101
Member Profile
|
25 Jan 2008 23:41:03 GMT Report for Abuse
|
What happen to sangaree? drunk?
Hm
? East elections |
Emperor74
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1330
Member Profile
|
 25 Jan 2008 23:41:28 GMT Report for Abuse
|
| Why a Federal Phobia,when the very same system was created to unify a political entity than to separate ? we need a change in the way we think i guess. |
sansare
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2546
Member Profile
|
 25 Jan 2008 23:44:21 GMT Report for Abuse
|
'It was meant to satisfy the JVP (Sinhalese Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna) and the JHU (Sinhalese nationalist Jathika Hela Urumaya),' he said.
Then why that hard-line Thonda and Hakeem endorsed it..? |
AnuD
Senior Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 20193
Member Profile
|
25 Jan 2008 23:44:46 GMT Report for Abuse
|
I think, the 13th Amendment is good. But cut down the Central GOVt Size.
Make it More productive, effective and accountable. |
DVLADV
Senior Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4063
Member Profile
|
25 Jan 2008 23:46:44 GMT Report for Abuse
|
What we need is a Federal system which will allow each part of the country to develop economically and cherish its cultures. With the current system your trying to do a little of everything and achieving nothing.
Equally essential for SL is an independent judiciary without any political interference. Law abiding citizens become extremists when the political system lets them down and they cannot even find remedy through the legal system. |
|
Search All News and Discussions