by Sahan Tennekoon in The Daily Morning, Aug 8, 2023
Following a request to all political party leaders to submit their proposals and suggestions on the 13th Amendment to the Constitution by 15 August, the majority of political parties representing the Parliament are planning to submit their proposals to the Presidential Secretariat while some Opposition parties do not intend to do so, The Daily Morning has learnt.
The ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), the main Parliamentary Opposition Party, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) of the Opposition are to submit their proposals to the Presidential Secretariat by next week while the Freedom People’s Congress (FPC) and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP), both of the Opposition, have decided against submitting their proposals.
SLPP General Secretary and Parliamentarian attorney Sagara Kariyawasam told The Daily Morning that the SLPP is yet to prepare the proposals, adding however that the proposals will be submitted to the President at the earliest.
SJB National Organiser MP Tissa Attanayake told The Daily Morning that the proposals will be submitted to the President after consulting the group of MPs and the SJB legal team.
When contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday (7), SLFP General Secretary and MP attorney Dayasiri Jayasekara said that the proposals to be submitted will be made following a meeting with the party’s Central Committee. He also said that the SLFP is ready to support the efforts taken by the Government to ensure the reconciliation mechanism regardless of the numerous issues it (SLFP) has with the Government. He also said, however, that the Government must take steps to show their commitment to address this long-term problem which has been a barrier to the development of the country for decades.
Meanwhile, speaking to The Daily Morning, FPC member and MP Prof. Charitha Herath said that they are not prepared to submit any proposal since even the Government has failed to arrive at a single stance in this regard. He also remarked that they have observed a lack of genuineness in the Government’s actions. “Our position is that the Government, which has many branches, should submit their proposals first as one document which takes a single stance on this matter. They are not talking in one voice. The President says one thing while the ruling SLPP MPs say something completely in contrast with the former. Therefore, we ask the Government to come to a position first and then we can submit our proposals,” he said.
NPP MP Vijitha Herath, speaking to The Daily Morning, said that they will not submit any proposal to President Ranil Wickremesinghe as the NPP is not ready to fuel the President’s underhand motives. He also said that the Government is trying to win the votes of minor communities under the guise of the implementation of the 13th Amendment.
Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake, writing to all party leaders, said that this proactive approach aims to foster national reconciliation and facilitate a constructive dialogue on the implementation of the 13th Amendment. At the all-party conference convened on 26 July, President Wickremesinghe underscored the importance of discussing the 13th Amendment with all the parties, as it is a matter that affects the entire country. He also highlighted that a decision on this matter should involve input from all relevant parties. The conference had been organised to update the Parliament’s party leaders on the national reconciliation programme and the North-East development plan.
The Supreme Lanka Coalition submitted their proposals to the President at the all-party conference held last month.
Several attempts to contact Tamil National Alliance MPs President’s Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran and Shanakiyan Rasamanickam proved futile. https://www.themorning.lk/articles/oVNBBkxGGzszPeVOd9Kf
