Disaster if constitution drafted only based on Aragalaya
Prasanna Ranatunga
Member of Parliament – Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP)
The Constitution of our country has been amended 20 times since 1978. Most of these amendments were to fulfill the agendas of political parties or to serve individuals. That is why this has become an utter confusion with amendment after amendment added on. Therefore, people of the country, scholars and elders are of the opinion that a new constitution should be introduced in this country that is relevant to the times.
It is my suggestion that a brand new constitution should be brought that is relevant to the country by recognizing and understanding the needs of the people. When the presidential system is abolished, what will happen to the Provincial Council? – and how would the Provincial Councils be governed? – There are several issues that will surface…These things are intertwined with each other. We have to decide whether to make our country subject to a federal system or a unitary country. If we pursue federalism, when the presidential system is abolished, the federal system can be implemented through the provincial councils.
If the majority of the people of the country want this to be a unitary state, the president should have some powers to handle the provincial councils. This cannot be explained briefly this requires a broad dialogue. When I was in the opposition, I was in the constitutional amendment committee, we discussed for four years and still could not see an end. The constitution is not something that
can be drafted in two or three days.
We need to create a broad discourse in the country, since many people do not understand the constitution. They want to fulfil their daily needs and live. Therefore, I believe that we should create a discourse in this country, allow debates to take place and introduce a constitution suitable for this country. We
need everyone’s assistance with such a process.
Otherwise, the efforts will be futile. Today, except for the MPs who were
elected from the National List in the Parliament, all the others have been appointed by the people’s votes, as representatives of the people. Today, people talk about the agitation (Aragalaya) in the country in a big way. The activists reject all 225 parliamentarians. However, if the 225 leave, the next in line
on the list will be appointed. Therefore, this should not be the purpose of the Aragalaya. If you ask sixty leaders of the Aragalaya what the next steps are, they will tell you sixty different things. People who do not understand the
constitution speak at these forums.
When they were questioned by the media regarding their suggestions and proposals, they say that there are no such plans. Therefore, if we get restricted to the Aragalaya to develop a constitution the country will be damned
from the start. Instead, groups that have the expertise and sound understanding in this area need to be called, engaged in a wider discourse, and a constitution that guarantees the objectives of the people should be developed with good understanding and consideration from the perspective of the public.
Voice of Citizens
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