The party will propose three necessary constitutional amendments, limiting the number of ministers and the temporary President to six months, says the Leader of the JVP and the NPP, Comrade Anura Dissanayake.
He stated this while addressing a press conference held at the JVP head office today (3rd).
He said, “The government is preparing to present and pass the 22nd constitutional amendment to the Parliament next Thursday and Friday. We all know that the constitution brought to our country in 1978 is not suitable for the country. Various amendments have been made to this constitution on different occasions, with different objectives in mind. We are trying to make this new Constitutional amendment a better one. The 1978 constitution does not represent the rights of the people of our country or the democracy of our country, or the sovereignty of the people. As such, we, as a political movement, have taken the stand that this Constitution should be replaced with a new Constitution. We are of the position that a new constitution should be adopted in this country. This destructive executive presidency must be abolished. This executive presidency is a position that completely destroys the democratic institutions of our country, a position where all the power is concentrated in the hands of a single person. Our country needs a new constitution that abolishes it, strengthens democratic structures, further strengthens the people’s basic rights, and imposes regulations that end fraud and corruption. As a party, we have advocated for a new constitution for a long time. But the governments that came to power presented the idea of a new government system and constitution at elections but forgot about it later. Ms Chandrika Bandaranayake and again, in 2015, the Ranil-Maitree government promised the people that they would bring a new constitution. Also, when Gotabaya Rajapaksa passed the 20th amendment in this Parliament, he promised the country that he would bring a new constitution before the start of his second term. Amendments such as dual citizenship were included in the 20th amendment, saying that a complete constitution would be passed to remove them. For that, they started an office headed by a Presidential counsellor and prepared a new constitution.
None of these became effective projects that had a definite target. These rulers have failed to fulfil the people’s desire for a new government system and constitution. Now, a new amendment has been brought to the constitution again. The first and only democratic amendment brought to the Constitution of 1978 was the 17th Constitutional amendment. It was a victory for the people of this country after the JVP put Chandrika’s government under probation. Except for one MP who represented the Parliament then, all the others supported the adoption of the 17th. But after Mahinda Rajapaksa got 2/3 for himself in 2010, he abolished the 17th amendment and brought back the 18th amendment suppressing the democratic features that existed in the 17th amendment. After the elections in 2015, the 18th amendment was removed, and the 19th amendment was brought in to strengthen democracy. Again the 19th was repealed, and the 20th amendment was brought. And, there are people in this Parliament who have raised their hands for all these 04 amendments. They have raised their hands to strengthen democracy and also to abolish it. There are no members like this even in our villages ‘death grant societies. For the fifth time, this group is waiting to raise their hands for the 22nd amendment next Friday. This Parliament is a funny parliament. Therefore, it is very clear that most of the MPs representing this Parliament are not those who are interested in the country’s democracy or the strengthening of democratic structures or the need for a new constitution. They vote based on what they would get to protect their stomachs.
Therefore, we need to make this 22nd amendment more democratic. As you may remember, we made a proposal when the 19th amendment was being prepared. One of the biggest causes of destruction in our country’s politics today is the move by MPs to swap their parties. There is a culture of jumping here and there by MPs to get cases against them removed for ministries, grants, money, land and houses. After the people vote, the Parliament jumps here and there and distorts the people’s opinion. We submitted an amendment to the 19th amendment that the MPs who act against the mandate given to them should be removed. This was included in its original version when it was presented to Parliament. But Dinesh Gunawardena opposed it during the committee stage. Wijedasa Rajapaksa agreed to it. The proposal that the MP’s position would be abolished if they switched sides was removed.
The people of this country all agree that the culture of changing the MP they vote for and hiding from crimes should be changed. However, that is not what the Parliament believed in the 19th amendment. However, we believe that at least this amendment should be included in the 22nd amendment. Changing an entire system is a long, complex process. They would not do that. There is no point in asking them. Nevertheless, at least the clause ‘the position of MP will be abolished if the party is changed’ should be included.
Today, offering ministerial posts has also become a major issue. If 40 State Ministers, 30 Deputy Ministers, and one or more MPs from another party come together, they can declare it as a national government and appoint any number of ministerial positions with the approval of the Parliament. The Ranil-Maithree government did not stop at 30 ministers and 40 state ministers.
They brought a proposal to the Parliament and increased the number of ministers. It could happen tomorrow. It is mentioned in the constitution. We had suggested that the number of ministers and deputy ministers of our country should be limited, and the posts of state ministers should be abolished. The Rajapaksa government was shaken due to a strong popular uprising. The President had to go home. The Prime Minister had to resign.
The cabinet changed several times. But Ranil Wickramasinghe re-appointed the old group to the ministerial positions, though there was public opposition. Information is that more ministerial appointments are to be made. Opportunities have been created within this constitution for the President to gamble with the wealth of the people of this country. In this situation, the 22nd amendment should include a proposal to limit the number of ministers and the number of deputy ministers. According to our proposals, there should be a maximum of 25 ministerial posts and 25 deputy ministerial posts. There is no need for state ministers. There is no need for such positions. There are two burning issues in the country at the moment. One is the MPs jumping here and there. The second is the deliberate appointment of ministers. Limits should be imposed on these two cases.
And another serious amendment is needed. Parliament can elect a president after the office of the President becomes vacant. We have experienced this on two occasions. In 1993 D.B. Wijetunga and recently Ranil Wickramasinghe. This clause in the constitution is so harmful that a person who cannot be elected to the Parliament becomes the President and wields the country’s executive power. If the presidency becomes vacant for a short period of two, three or six months after the election of the President, the Parliament has the ability to appoint a president with executive powers for four and a half years. The clause does not represent democracy and the people’s sovereignty. Therefore, we suggest that a temporary president can be appointed for a maximum period of six months after the post of President becomes vacant. A new president must be given a mandate before six months have passed. Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s tenure lasted two and a half years. Ranil Wickramasinghe still has two and a half years left.
He is not eligible to be elected to Parliament. But according to the provisions of this constitution, he holds the executive president position. Our proposal is that a presidential election should be held to elect a new president within a maximum of six months after the office of the President becomes vacant. That proposal should be included in this constitutional amendment.
Those who a court in our country has punished hold ministerial positions. Those who have been charged with murder and those who have been punished in the High Court hold ministerial positions. This is such a country. There is no point in asking these people for such amendments. We need a better democratic constitution. We in the JVP stand for such a constitution. Until then, we suggest that at least the 22nd amendment should cover three issues that need to be seriously considered at this particular moment.”