A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
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Thiranjala Weerasinghe sj.- One Island Two Nations
?????????????????????????????????????????????????Tuesday, May 2, 2017
PM: Draft Constitutional Proposal ready soon
‘International support needed to resolve domestic problem’
By Shamindra Ferdinando-May 1, 2017, 12:00 pm
UNP
leader Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said that Draft
Constitutional Proposal for Sri Lanka could be taken up in the
Constitutional Assembly within the next two or three months.
Premier
Wickremesinghe said that a Steering Committee appointed by the
Constitutional Assembly was in the process of preparing the Draft
Constitutional Proposal.
The 20 member Steering Committee comprises members of all political parties represented in parliament.
The UNP leader was addressing an event held by the side of the statue of
the late leader at Mihindu Mawatha near Hulftsdorp court complex with
the participation of President Maithripala Sirisena to commemorate slain
President Ranasinghe Premadasa.
The LTTE assassinated President Premadasa near Armour Street police station on May Day, 1993.
Premier Wickremesinghe said that the government would discuss the Draft
Constitutional Proposal with the Buddhist clergy and other religious
leaders as well as civil society organizations parallel to deliberations
in the Constitutional Assembly.
The Draft Constitutional Proposal is based on the reports prepared by
six Sub Committees also appointed by the Constitutional Assembly in
respect of specified subject areas relevant to the making of a
Constitution.
The UNP leader said that their intention was to reach a consensus after
having discussed the Draft Constitutional Proposal with all
stakeholders.
Commenting on the progress so far made in the constitutional making
process, Premier Wickremesinghe said that discussions had been held with
many stakeholders. The UNP leader said that ways and means of devolving
power without dividing the country and safeguarding Sri Lanka’s unitary
status had been discussed with Chief Ministers of Provincial Councils.
In addition to that, human rights, electoral reforms, religious and
foremost place for Buddhism had been discussed, Premier Wickremesinghe
said.
Calling for public support to achieve genuine post-war national
reconciliation, Premier Wickremesinghe said that creation of a national
government under President Maithripala Sirisena’s leadership was meant
for the above mentioned purpose.
Premier Wickremesinghe expressed confidence that the government could
achieve national unity as President Premadasa once wanted during the
current term of parliament.
President Premadasa’s unfortunate death occurred as he was participating in May Day procession, the PM said.
Referring to Sri Lanka co-sponsoring a US led resolution at the
Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council in March, 2017, Premier
Wickremesinghe said that the international community had given Sri
Lanka two years to achieve unity and national solution. Premier
Wickremesinghe said the support of the international community was
essential to resolve the national issue.
The Premier said they could move forward under the leadership of
President Maithripala Sirisena though they faced daunting task at the
onset of the new administration.
Commenting on President Premadasa’s style of governance, Wickremesinghe
said the then UNP leader pursued a two-pronged strategy to address major
issues confronting the country. President Premadasa had sought to
provide equal opportunities to the poor and uplift their living
standards. However, having realised that approach was insufficient,
President Premadasa took measures to solve the ethnic issue. Recalling
President Premadasa, too, had resorted to military operations to
eradicate terrorism, Premier Wickremesinghe said, while underscoring the
late leader’s efforts to reach consensus on political settlement
against the backdrop of terrorism in the North as well as the South,
simultaneously.
Premier Wickremesinghe recollected President Premadasa having talks with all stakeholders, including armed groups.
The LTTE quit direct negotiations with President Premadasa in June 1990
following 14 month long truce in the wake of the Indian Army pulling out
of Sri Lanka.
Wickremesinghe pointed out that President Premadasa had been killed
before the then Opposition lawmaker Mangala Moonesinghe presented his
report on a political settlement. Premier Wickremesinghe dealt with
Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga abortive bid to provide a political
solution after her victory in August 1994, the UNP-led UNF regaining
power in Dec 2001 leading to fresh round of talks with terrorists. When
terrorists rejected that offer there was consensus that national unity
should be achieved after eradicating terrorism.
Premier Wickremesinghe said the country couldn’t achieve peace though
the war ended. Blaming the then leadership for failing to achieve
post-war national reconciliation, Premier Wickremesinghe said that
instead there was instability.
The Rajapaksa administration brought the war to a successful conclusion in May 2009.
Wickremesinghe alleged that the failure on the part of the then
government to fulfill promises given to the international community
isolated Sri Lanka.
He emphasized that the international support was required to resolve the
domestic problem by way of a political solution acceptable to all.
The election of Maithripala Sirisena as the president at January 2015
presidential poll had paved the way for a fresh bid achieve genuine
reconciliation, the PM said.
At the onset of his speech, Premier Wickremesinghe briefly discussed
Premadasa’s role in the run up to 1977 general election and as the Prime
Minister during JRJ presidency.