Indian command: 13th Amendment a must

Sunday 12 June 201
‘supreme court recognized it’
By Christy Mahesh de Silva

Top level government sources told LAKBIMAnEWS that the visiting Indian delegation has stressed on the full implementation of the  13th Amendment as a means of a lasting political solution to the ethnic conflict.
The high-level Indian delegation comprised Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao,  Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar and National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon.
They have noted that the Indo-Lanka Accord which was signed way back in 1987 should still be considered valid and emphasized the need to devolve power to the Provincial Councils. “The Indians advised the government to take the issue seriously,” a highly placed government source confided.
As for the merger of the North and East -- later de-merged by the Supreme Court -- the Indian delegation had highlighted the fact that the Court de-merged the two provinces in terms of the Accord, underscoring the fact that the Accord is still operative.
The Indian delegation has also underscored India’s support in Sri Lanka’s endeavour to defeat terrorism in the North, and had stressed that it was vital that Colombo pays special emphasis on effectively dealing with the contents laid down in the Indo-Lanka Accord.
Meanwhile,  government media reported that Indian Premier Manmohan Singh has accepted an invitation from President Mahinda Rajapaksa to visit Sri Lanka. It was not stated however, as to when the official visit would take place.
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Months after the 18th Amendment: Is the Executive really more accountable to Parliament

groundviews journalism For citizens

11 Jun, 2011
Image credit Sunday Leader
The 18th Amendment, we were told, would make the President more accountable to Parliament. The Editorial of the Sunday Observer noted back in the day,

By making it mandatory for the President to attend Parliament at least once in three months to answer questions by MPs, the 18th Amendment has not only made a vital link between the Executive and the Legislature, but has also made the President answerable to Parliament. Had President Rajapaksa given thought to dictatorship even in his wildest dreams, he would never have decided to attend Parliament once in three months. Despite being elected twice to the high office, President Rajapaksa strongly believes in parliamentary democracy and is keen to attend Parliament and follow proceedings whenever time permits. Isn’t this characteristic of a truly people’s leader who firmly believes in the power of the ballot?

Emphasis ours. But has the President in fact entertained any questions from MPs in Parliament since the 18th Amendment was passed in late 2010? And precisely when has he attended Parliament, and for what purpose?     Continue reading »