A Season Of Light, A Season Of Darkness

By Sarath De Alwis -April 29, 2015

arath De Alwis

“Had every Athenian citizen been a Socrates, every Athenian assembly would still have been a mob.” – James Madison

We live in times of hope and despair. That is to be expected. The opposition seems to have succeeded in enlarging the composition of the Constitutional Council under the 19th Amendment. The opposition insistence on elected members of Parliament instead of independent members appointed by political parties though flawed is understandable.

In the light of the good governance practices of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in the last one hundred days, the opposition position has some incontrovertible logic. Who defines independence and eminence? The Prime Minister described the three lawyers he appointed to inquire and report on the bond fiasco as eminent men. He has also made a number of other appointments where the appointees derive their eminence and exceptional credentials on grounds best known only to Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe and perhaps Mr. Malik Samarawickereme.

So, why not members of parliament? In the opinion of this writer, the only member of the present parliament who should not be appointed to the constitutional council is Professor G.L.Pieris. He is a professional constitutional greaser and repairman. He is also the author of the 18th amendment which nearly excluded the God Father from running for a third term.

*Photo – President Maithripala Sirisena observes the voting on Second bill of the 19th amendment to the constitution from President’s Chamber inside the Parliament, April 28, 2015.                                           Read More