National government label is to conceal foul smelling need of splitting ministries among themselves

FRIDAY, 04 SEPTEMBER 2015

The national government labels are to conceal the foul smelling need of splitting ministries among themselves states the Leader of the JVP Anura Dissanayaka.  He said this at a press conference held at the head office of the JVP at Pelawatta today (4th) morning. The Member of the Political Bureau of the JVP Sunil Handunneththi too was present.

Speaking further Mr. Dissanayaka said, “Rajapaksa regime was brought down on 8th January not only because of personal weaknesses of Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa. The regime was brought down because the moves were a hindrance to the country as well as the people. One of the main factors of Rajapaksa regime was the number of ministries. There was a culture in our country where ministries multiply overnight. It was so acute that the Secretary General of the UNP was taken to the government and given a ministry. Presenting portfolios has become an exercise to beef up power. Giving privileges, favours, benefits and portfolios became a main factor to topple Rajapaksa regime. Hence, the mandate of 8th January contained not an opposition limited to Mahinda Rajapaksa. An opposition to his cabinet too was reflected. The opposition to the cabinet was more than the opposition to Rajapaksa. Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa was required for the general election even after his defeat due to the immense opposition to the cabinet. Hence, on 8th January masses defeated this culture of appointing such a cabinet.

However, presenting portfolios to beef up power has been made the priority of this government. If the Parliament was for good governance what should have been done is to appoint Constitutional Council to appoint independent commissions and officials for important state institutions as stated in the 19th amendment to the Constitution.

If this government has been formed to establish good governance it priority should be to appoint the Constitutional Council. However, it has been put off indefinitely. Instead, increasing the number of ministries has become the priority of this government. This indicates that the mandates given on 8th January as well as on 17th August have been set aside.

On the other hand who is being presented with ministerial portfolios? Frauds at the Petroleum Corporation were a main topic on election stages. There is an allegation that substandard fuel had been imported and many vehicles were damaged. Susil Premajayanth, who is a main person who has been accused of this sin, too is given a ministerial portfolio. Also, there was a minister who wanted to skin, imprison and chase away university students and called university teachers donkeys. The mandate on 8th January was against such people. Isn’t giving portfolios to such people going against this mandate? We possess a large amount of information regarding Foreign Employment Bureau. We have information how funds collected as ‘registration fees’ from employees who go for foreign employment were wasted. Persons who were involved in such rackets are given ministerial posts in this government. Increasing the number of ministries as well as the people who are given ministerial posts goes against the mandate.

The UPFA has not given a mandate to form a national government. At least the UNF said it would form a national government on election stages. What did the likes of Nimal Siripala de Silva, Susil Premajayanth and Dinesh Gunawardena say on election stages? They asked voters to vote them to form their own government. What would happen to the result if they had said they would form a government with the UNP? If so people would not have used their vote the way they did. They plundered people’s vote saying they would form a government and now they join the UNP to split ministerial portfolios between the two parties. This government is not a reflection of the mandate given by the people on 17th August. On the other hand the government that is formed is against the Constitution.  It is the Supreme Court that has the power to interpret the Constitution. If the government acts democratically and maintains good governance it should inquire from Supreme Court. They could have got a view from the Supreme Court.

According to 19th amendment an ordinary government could have 30 cabinet ministerial posts and 40 deputy or state ministerial posts. However, if a national government is formed the number of ministries could be increased by adopting a proposal in Parliament. It is such a proposal that was brought to the Parliament yesterday. However, there is an interpretation in the Constitution for a national government. It is very clear that all parties representing the Parliament should join to form a national government. In the Constitution the national government is introduced as “National Government means, a Government formed by the recognized political party or the independent group which obtains the highest number of seats in Parliament together with the other recognized political parties or the independent groups.” What does it say? It means a government formed by all parties representing the Parliament. However, the argument puts forward by the government is that the Constitution doesn’t state ‘all’. However, the definition interprets ‘all’. The political party that obtains the highest number of seats and other parties mean all Members in Parliament. It is stated clearly in the Constitution. Some try to bring up the draft of the 19th amendment. What is law is not the draft by the adopted Constitution.

As such, the likes of Maithri Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe have shown that they are prepared to cast aside the Constitution for their need for power. How is it different from Rajapaksa regime? How does it agree with the mandate given on 8th January? How does it agree with the political culture that was defeated on 8th January? Increasing ministries is against the Constitution.  We would like to ask one question. If a country could be administered with a government of 30 ministers and 40 deputy ministers under an ordinary government, why should the number of ministries have to be increased when a coalition government is formed? The Constitution states 30 ministers because it is possible. Do subjects multiply when a coalition government is formed? Do people have new needs? None of these happen. They have only one need. It is to share power, positions and privileges among themselves. The national government labels are to conceal the foul smelling need of splitting ministries among themselves. The number 48 is given by adding the number of ministries the UNP wants and the number of ministries that should be given for those from the SLFP. This would never be a cabinet where subjects have been allocated scientifically. It is the same old pickle.

In China the population is 1370 million but has only 17 ministers. The population in India is 1270 million and it has 36 ministers. The population in the USA is 320 million and has 24 ministers. In Brazil the population is 200 million and the number of ministers is 27. The population in Japan is 125 million but has only 19 ministers. In Sri Lanka the population is 20 million but will have 48 ministers.  The same old tomfoolery is repeated. As such, we vehemently oppose this situation. Also, We protest against increasing the number of ministries as it is a violation of the Constitution and casting aside the mandate given by the people on 8th January and 17th August. This situation should be defeated. The political buffoonery carried out to fulfill each other’s greed for power should be stopped. We believe that the masses in this country should rally to protest against such vile moves.”