Advise Mangala to safeguard country’s integrity: JO to President
Posted on March 16th, 2017
Courtesy The Daily Mirror
The Joint Opposition today made a request to President Maithripala Sirisena to advise Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera to safeguard the country’s freedom, integrity and the Constitution while dealing with the Geneva Proposals.
Joint Opposition Leader MP Dinesh Gunawardena told a news briefing that it was the government’s responsibility to work on the proposals which were in favour of our country rather than continuing with the ones which were against it.
Several people mocked at us when we have once said the hybrid courts are not feasible in Sri Lanka. After several months the President and Prime Minister have also agreed to the same fact,” he said.
However, he said the discussions have being held in Geneva, requesting for more time to continue with the Geneva Proposals by Sri Lanka
Meanwhile, the JO condemned the suppression on the university students who were protesting against the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) in Malabe by the government.
The conditions have worsened at present regarding the SAITM issue in comparison to the controversy which has taken place in establishing the North Colombo Medical College, the first privately funded medical school in the country,” he said.
He also urged the President to arrive to a decision on the issue immediately in a justified manner without taking wrong steps.
Joint Opposition MP Dullas Alahapperuma said they would launch a country-wide protest campaign starting from March 18 against the government’s continuous postponing of Local Government election; As the initial step we will launch a protest campaign in Ratnapura,” he added. (Kalathma Jayawardhane)
– See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Advise-Mangala-to-safeguard-country-s-integrity-JO-to-President-125596.html#sthash.RHeWOPTQ.dpuf
March 16th, 2017 at 8:50 pm
The YAMAPALANA ACTIVISTS back in GEAR agitating for “Maximum Devolution of Powers”!
Those who HELPED TO PRECIPITATE the CURRENT DISASTER want to COMPLETE THE DESTRUCTION!
These BUGGERS are NOT “Civil Society”, but the MOST UNCIVIL in our SOCIETY because they are PRECIPITATING the DISMANTLING of our Motherland under the PRE-TEXTUAL COVER of “Yahap[alanaya”.
Note that NONE OF THEM are TAMILS, but SINHALESE!
“The new movement called for the abolition of the executive presidency, electoral reforms and power sharing arrangement.
Ven Dambara Amila,
Prof. Sarath Wijesooriya,
Saman Ratnapriya,
Sudarshana Gunawardena,
Lucien Bulathsinhala,
Gamini Viyangoda,
J.C. Weliamuna,
Brito Fernando and
Udeni Dissanayake
pressed the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government to fulfill its much publicized promises made in the run-up to presidential and parliamentary polls in January and August 2015, respectively.”
These are the PAID PUPPETS of the REGIME CHANGING foreign powers! MARK THEM WELL in INDELIBLE INK!
…………………………………
Yahapalana foot soldiers intensify campaign for new Constitution
Island.lk
March 16, 2017, 12:00 pm
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Civil society groups that campaigned for Maithripala Sirisena at the January 2015 presidential poll, have stepped up their campaign for a new constitution.
The project gets underway against the backdrop of members of the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) reaching consensus as regards a new resolution to give space for Sri Lanka to introduce constitutional reforms and address accountability issues.
Twice President Chndrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, UPFA General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera and Minister Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka on Wednesday (March 15) joined the inaugural meeting called by the newly formed National Movement For A New Constitution at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (SLFI).
Convenor of the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) Prof. Sarath Wijesooriya had called the Wednesday’s meeting on behalf of the new grouping.
The new movement called for the abolition of the executive presidency, electoral reforms and power sharing arrangement. Ven Dambara Amila, Prof. Sarath Wijesooriya, Saman Ratnapriya, Sudarshana Gunawardena, Lucien Bulathsinhala, Gamini Viyangoda, J.C. Weliamuna, Brito Fernando and Udeni Dissanayake pressed the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government to fulfill its much publicized promises made in the run-up to presidential and parliamentary polls in January and August 2015, respectively.
Ven. Amila underscored the responsibility on the part of the incumbent government to introduce a new constitution.
Activists carried off a bearded person out of the auditorium after he hooted after the arrival of Mrs Kumaratunga at the venue.
Political commentator Gamini Viyangoda explained that required constitutional reforms, including the abolition of the executive presidency couldn’t be realized without going for a referendum.
Referring to a recent statement made by State Highways Minister Dilan Perera, Viyangoda said that he, too, accepted the SLFPer’s assertion that the government faced certain defeat at a referendum. Viyangoda said that the people had been disgusted due to the failure on the part of the yahapalana government to keep its promises. Therefore, tangible action should be taken without further delay to punish those who had robbed the country during the previous administration, Viyangoda said.
Urging the government to go ahead with constitutional reforms, the civil society activist said that people with vested interests were hell-bent on sabotaging the process. Viyangoda said that the division of the country on ethnic lines could be averted only by devolving powers. Viyangoda asserted that division of the country could be averted through constitutional means, by empowering the Provinces, he asserted.
Viyangoda pointed out the absurdity in the notion that devolution of power was meant only for the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
The Supreme Court in late 2006 de-linked the Eastern Province from the North on a technical matter.
Referring to the civil war in America involving eleven Southern States calling themselves Confederate States of America, Viyangoda said that the following the crushing the separatist movement, devolution of powers wasn’t stopped. Viyangoda said that Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, father of Indian constitution hadn’t been deterred by the breakup of the country at the independence to devolve powers. Viyangoda stressed that both the US and India had proved that devolution posed no threat to stability and unity.
Viyangoda cited Switzerland and Belgium as smaller countries which achieved success through devolution.
The civil society activist said that the Brexit and Colombia were examples that couldn’t be compared with Sri Lanka.
However, the referendum on constitutional reforms in Italy late last year is relevant to Sri Lanka. The then Italian Premier Renzi’s constitution reform plan had been rejected by voters as he wanted to strengthen the Center. The project was meant to strengthen central government and weaken the Senate, the upper house of parliament, Viyangoda explained.
“What we are pushing for is the entire opposite to what Italy wanted to do. We want maximum possible devolution of powers.”
Recently some members of the National Movement For A New Constitution met President Maithripla Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat to discuss ways and means of advancing what they called the yahapalana agenda.
March 17th, 2017 at 6:09 pm
What boggles the mind is how Avamangala Samaraweera was able to get himself appointed the Foreign Minister in the immediate aftermath of the 8 Jan 2015 Presidential Elections, go to Geneva and completely unseat and reverse the Sri Lanka’s position with respect to alleged war crimes during the end of Eelam War.
Who gave him that mandate is unclear. To my mind such a reversal of policy should have been debated in the Parliament before taking it Geneva. Today even after more than two years of that great betrayal, this arch traitor continues to have his own way with regard to Sri Lanka’s foreign policy with nary a care about our great war heroes. What he has turned into Sri Lanka’s foreign policy is not even an election promise!
While a spineless President is lecturing ‘school kids’ about the qualities of his backbone, Avamangala continue to promise his handlers in Geneva that there will be hybrid courts in Sri Lanka to investigate alleged war crimes!
This disgraceful person must be brought to book at the earliest! Sri Lanka must see an end to this disgraceful President no later!
March 17th, 2017 at 6:56 pm
President Sirisena has no backbone to remove Mangala when he contradicts the president.
Mangala was made the foreign minister immediately after Mahinda won in 2005. However, he disregarded the official policy agreed by Mahinda over Israel and Palestine. As a result he was removed. Although Mahinda offered the position again, Mangala refused and crossed over to the UNP in 2006.
President Sirisena lacks such decisive skills in regards to the foreign minister and the finance minister. Both are utterly useless and are influenced by Tamil advisors and officials with dubious loyalty to Sri Lanka.
March 17th, 2017 at 7:24 pm
SPINELESS …. That is why I have nicknamed our illustrious President Gamarala the PANA-NATHI JANA-PATHI!
His EXPERTISE is in backstabbing and displaying paroxysms of ectasy when shaken by the ungloved hand by foreign potentates!
I WEEP for my Motherland!