A Paper submitted by the ‘Stop MCC Stop USA Movement’ 

What Basil Rajapakse said 

On 13 August 2020 a person by the name of Basil Rajapakse, following up on his poor performance at a press briefing on 09 July 2020, did no better when he told the media, A new Constitution must be introduced for the betterment of Sri Lanka; it must be a Constitution that cannot be changed at will” (https://www.lankaimage.com/2020/08/basil-reveals-expected-amendments-to.html?fbclid=IwAR1K2ZyCwqtjYTdhkslPNAS03wlRRCk6NoaLvPJbN-sYMuQlqYXiUrr91NA) 

According to this individual going by the name of Basil Rajapakse, a new Constitution is a must and it is being introduced to the people of Sri Lanka for their betterment and cannot be changed at the will and pleasure of the people. 

Reaffirming what was said on 09 Jul 20, this brash individual likened the Constitution to a shirt; Sri Lanka’s Constitution is torn in 19 places and has patches all over it; it perforce must be replaced with a brand-new shirt, of Basil’s choice, which will not tear easily. 

The immediate need before a new Constitution is introduced, is abolishing the 19^th Amendment” said our man Basil Rajapakse.  

Who on Earth or hell is this Basil Rajapakse and what gave Him the Right to decide whether a New Constitution is needed and the type of Constitution?  

 B R is sworn to look after US interests wherever he may be  

The Basil Rajapakse we are speaking of is an American. This American upstart is telling us, why Sri Lanka needs a New Constitution and what type of Constitution we must settle for.   

He was born in Sri Lanka and had been a member of the UNP. In 1997 he, with his family, migrated to the US, forsaking his Motherland.  

In the US, Basil Rajapakse applied for US citizenship; he was made a US Citizen after he convinced the US Government that he and his family would faithfully serve the US and its interests, as loyal subjects of that country.  

Basil Rajapakse made this point emphatically (See the box below if you care to see the Oath of Allegiance Basil took) when he swore that he had, without remorse, severed all loyalties and fidelities to Sri Lanka and that he was disowning his Motherland; he swore that he would always work with US interests at heart, wherever that would be, even at the peril of risking his life to that end.  

It naturally followed that this Basil Rajapakse would physically take up arms, even against Sri Lanka, on behalf of the US. If Sri Lanka and the US were to be in conflict with each other, Basil Rajapakse has pledged that Sri Lanka would be his Enemy. 

 Even if Sri Lanka and the US were not in conflict with each other, it would, always be US interest that this Basil would be pursuing, even if it meant jettisoning Sri Lanka’s interest.  

With what authority is an American speaking to the Sri Lankan people and deciding on what is good or bad for them? 

Basil Rajapakse happens to be a younger brother of Mahinda Rajapakse the Country’s beloved and charismatic hero. Mahinda and his family would never dream of forsaking their Motherland, pledging loyalty to a Foreign country and working disgracefully towards achieving Enemy ends. Mahinda would rather die with his boots on than denigrate himself to such low levels.  

Mahinda is a courageous man and for him, there are no Goliaths amongst the community of Nations. The interest of all Sri Lankans is what matters to him most. 

But Basil is a different kettle of fish; to him, loyalties do not matter. What does it take for a man, who without batting an eyelid abandons and sell his Motherland, to plot the downfall of his own brother?    

During the recently concluded General Elections, there was a strong undercurrent of forces working against Mahinda to oust him from Kurunegala and deprive him of a seat in Parliament. This was the plan of the US that leaked out; the Americans consider Mahinda a threat to their plans and wanted him out of Parliament; they did not want him to be the Prime Minister.  

With Mahinda out of way (if the American plan had worked) the Americans had made plans for Basil, Ranil and Premadasa. In those circumstances, who would the Prime Minister have been? who would the Deputy PM have been, a post that has been planned for by the Americans? Is this the reason why Ranil is yet sticking on and insisted on having for himself the single slot that the UNP has in Parliament? Is this the reason why Basil is making loud political sounds?  

The Americans failed to achieve their objectives at the Elections; they are regrouping. Mahinda has to be careful and look over his shoulders. He and his team in Parliament are needed to stop the MCC and prevent the American takeover of the country  

Basil’s Need to repeal Amendment 19  

Amendment 19 is undoubtedly an obnoxious piece of legislation and needs to be repealed, but not entirely. Before Amendment 19 came into force Americans (and other foreign Nationals) through the mechanism of dual citizenship had a ‘right’ to rule Sri Lanka. 

 Amendment 19 put an end to it. With Amendment 19 in place, Basil Rajapakse the American, is not eligible to enter Parliament nor eligible to be the President of the country.  

The obnoxious clauses in Amendment 19 must be repealed but those provisions that prevent the Americans from ruling this country must be retained at all costs; indeed, this thread of thought must be extended to include all political and public life including holding posts in political parties. 

Why is it unsuitable for Basil to hold any Political position/ post in this country? 

Basil is an American and is compelled to look after American interest and not Sri Lankan interests. At this moment, relations with the US are on edge and every possibility of the situation deteriorating further.  

At this juncture the major issues with the Americans are the MCC, ACSA and SOFA; critical decisions affecting our National Security and Sovereignty have to be taken and to say that Basil is a security risk is a gross understatement; the same argument holds for Moragoda and his team surrounding the President. In all their decisions they are required to look at US interests and how all these fit in with US designs in pivoting to Asia. 

The need for a new Constitution? 

Basil has indicated the need for a new Constitution. That is exactly what the Americans want. The present Executive system of Government is what the Country needs especially at this time because it provides for strong Government; strong Government gives the President the best opportunity to meet the threats solidly as it did during the terrorist campaign and to develop the country. 

The arguments adduced by Basil for a new Constitution are strangely, naïve. The Constitution is not an ornament; the amendments to a Constitution reflect the vibrancy of a democracy. India for example has a 104 Amendments, the US a 27, Germany a 62 and so forth. 

This is a crucial period of our history and we shall overcome the threats from the MCC, ACSA and SOFA. Mahinda got a strong mandate from the people and has the political craftiness engrained in him. Gota is a good administrator and must lean towards him. Together, they can steer the country out of the woods with the people’s support. 

“I, Basil Rohana Rajapaksa, hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform non-combatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.”