Why this Dissension amoung the Cabinet Ministers on the 13 Amendment ?

Minister Champika Ranawaka of JHU without an unwavering conviction for the removal of the 13Amendment

 

Tissa Vitharan  the Technology and Research Minister  representing the LSSP had said that the 13 Amendment is already a weak Amendment and therefore there is no reason that it should be removed.   But if that is the case why not remove  it instead of keeping a weak controversial amendment.  Tissa Vitharana had added, “Whatever amendments to the 13A, could be presented to the legislature after the polls were over, as the people’s representatives could take a decision at that stage.”

The removal of the 13 Amendment if a decision is taken to remove it would take a period of time- drafting the relevant Act, presenting it to the Supreme court for legal approval and then present it to the Parliament. In the mean time  the elections could still be held in the North under the provisions of the 13Amendment, but the action for its removal should be initiated now.  Thereafter a new system of provincial administration should be prepared to affect all Provincial Councils once the 13Amendment is removed.  All actions pertaining to land and police powers etc., under the 13 Amendment  should in the mean time be  suspended  until its removal from the Constitution, and new provisions made under a new Act.

The 13Amendment which our legislators do not seem to understand  is a foreign law-thought out and prepared by India and forced to be included  in our Constitution. It will neither help the Tamil people, nor the other communities. Its is its  removal and adopting a system appropriate to the country which would help reconciliation and uniting the people and provide them with a true representative system of Provincial Councils.

Tissa Vitharana had further added that, “ The Northerners, who had undergone enough suffering over the last three decades, should be left in peace to exercise their franchise at a free and fair election without creating unnecessary issues and confrontations. ”

This in fact is the very reason why the 13Amendment should be removed, as it is foreign to our people who went through untold, suffering and misery since its introduction in to the Constitution in 1987.  India when it forced the 13Amendment on Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka was  in disarray and  nobody knew what was going to be the outcome of terrorism, which was very powerful at the time  and thought invincible.

The 13 Amendment was an attempt to subjugate  a sovereign State according to  whims and fancies of  the leaders of a  neighbouring State profiting from the weakness of Sri Lanka.  Therefore, one cannot understand the logic of those Cabinet Ministers demanding  the “ Amendment of shame”  to be retained in  Constitution of Sri Lanka. 

The 13 Amendment should be removed in its entirety, and removing of the President’s right to merge two provinces is not the worst that has been  removed.  In fact there is already a legal ruling which removed the  merger of North and East. And the decision to remove the right of the President to re-merge provinces is an eye washer to fool the people.

The government has not said any thing with regard to the removal of the police and land rights or  given any reason  why the whole of the 13 Amendment should not be removed, instead of removing bits and pieces of it..

In the meantime  Rauf Hakeem the Minster of Justice says,“We must remember that the 13th Amendment came as a solution to the National problem after a long-drawn-out process.”  This is « bull shit ».  This man seems to have no idea  how the 13 Amendment came to be included in the Constitution. 

Rauf Hakeem was a sympathiser of the terrorists and even signed a MoU with Prabhakaran.  He is not a patriot who loves the Country.  His interest is in his Community and an eventual Islamizing of Sri Lanka. Rauff Hakeem says that the13 Amendment came after a long drawn up  process as a solution to the National problem.  We wonder from where  he got that idea .

It is only the Sinhala Buddhists, and those with real patriotic sentiments who  want the 13 Amendment removed, as they are  concerned about the unitary status of Sri Lanka and will not hesitate to sacrifice their lives to save the country even if the other Communities were to look askance. 

Karu Jayasuriya, who is a copy confirm of Mangala Samaraweera bleats his protests against the government, having failed to be the second in command in the UNP after leaving the  Cabinet of the President Mahinda Rajapakse.

Ranil Wickramasinghe is crying over a repealed 17 Amendment and  threatens to boycott the PSC.  These UNP stalwarts  are only politically motivated about keeping the 13 Amendment, and do not seem to be over concerned about the country’s  future and the reconciliation of the Communities. They do not see that the 13 Amendment is a deterrent for reconciliation of Communities , which will keep alive the hatred of the Tamils against the other Communities.  

It  had been a habit with Ranil Wickramasinghe under the previous  President as well  to refuse to cooperate to find solutions for national  problems. Under the President Chandrika Kumaratunga  Ranil Wickramasinghe  refused to attend  all party discussions to find solutions to terrorism to which he was invited. 

Ranil Wickramasinghe panders to the TNA hoping that he may be able to get the  votes of the North in a future Presidential Election if the TNA win the PC elections under the 13Amenment.  He is the man who has still refused to give credit to the Armed Forces of Sri Lanka for the elimination of terrorism. 

He has demanded that the Army Personnel should not be appointed  Governors in  Provinces.  The Army Personnel have on the other hand every right to hold positions of importance in the North and East as it was they who contributed for the emancipation of the people in the North and East, from the bonds of terrorism, risking their lives in that effort.

The people of Sri Lanka should take note of these non progressive   reactionary attitude of the UNP leadership and politically isolate UNP under Ranil Wickramasinghe  and refuse to vote for the UNP in any future election.

The Catholic Bishops also have ganged together against the removal of the 13 Amendment.  This is no surprise as the Catholic Church had a very close connection with the LTTE and Catholic Father Emmanuel is all out to divide Sri Lanka  with his World Tamil Forum.   The Catholic Priests of  Sri Lanka  do not take patriotic decisions on  any issue that concerns the country as a whole, as they are first bound by the dictates that come from Rome, and their patriotisms is towards the Holy See. So much for their love for Sri Lanka.

India fears a break away of TamilNadu if the Central government does not give into all their demands,  and fears that with it several other Indian States may follow. The President of Sri Lanka perhaps considers  a broken away TamilNadu may be a worst  alternative than a TamilNadu as a part of the Government of India.  But those are political  moves that are beyond the control of Sri Lanka, therefore  Sri Lanka  should take precautions to meet such political evolutions in India, while doing what is necessary for Sri Lanka as an Independent Sovereign State.

The LSSP and CP have been reduced to mere Name Boards. They are hoping to comeback making their decision to oppose the removal of the 13Amendment  as their determination to uphold their absurd principle, which is  to  assure the diminishing  party cadre, their loyalty to the LSSP and to  keep themselves politically  afloat. Their opposition to the 13 Amendment is with that selfish motive  and to present a different opinion to that of the JVP, which incidentally is for the removal of the 13 Amendment.

In evaluating the issue there appears to be no  valid reason for these errant members of the Cabinet to oppose the 13 Amendment.  They should ask in  one voice to remove it from the Constitution. 

The Minister who stands by his unwavering conviction to remove the  “unholy” 13 Amendment is  Champika Ranawaka of the JHU.  Rajitha Senaratne has gone to the extent of saying that he would resign from his Ministry if the 13 Amendment is removed. One cannot understand what he stands to gain by maintaining the 13Amenment in the Constitution. He may have a secret agenda for his vehement protest.  But his leaving the Ministry is not a great loss, as Sri Lanka stands to gain much more from removing the 13 Amendment.

TNA MPs are brainless slaves without minds of their own, even frightened to participate in the PSC.

Leader without leadership

The TNA MPs began life in 2001  as slaves of the Terrorist Prabhakaran.  They did not have to think, but do what the terrorist Thamilchelvam and Prabhakaran asked them to do.  As a result they are today a set of  morons unable to think  for themselves without  having to consult others to tell them what they should do.  It is a shame to have them in Parliament as representatives of people as in reality they represent no one, not even themselves.

What can they do  in a National Forum like the Parliament where they have to plan things for the people and  the country.  They are unable to do that, and  do only things they have learnt from their evil masters the terrorist.  TNA MPs cannot speak about unity , because their masters the terrorists stood for division.  TNA MPs cannot speak about development, because their masters the terrorist stood for  regression. TNA MPs cannot work to take the country and its people forward, because their masters the terrorists stood for taking the people and the country backward.

Therefore, why bother about asking TNA MPs about the 13 Amendment , as they know next to nothing about it and their masters the terrorists having been eliminated they seek those who helped their masters to take orders and understand about the 13 Amendment. 

The President  Mahinda Rajapakse instead of asking these  set of dummies the TNA MPs  their views on the abolition of the 13Amendment, should take his own decision as the executive President, and face the consequences without a 13 Amendment the best way possible, facing any problems  as and when  they arise.  If not we will remain for years encumbered with the  13Amendment which we do not want,  and which will cause more problems as time goes on.  13A is something which could have been nipped in the bud  which  now requires an axe, and more.

What have the TNA MPs done ever since the elimination of terrorism ? They have been running about from India to South Africa, from South Africa to Canada, Canada to UK, and from UK back to India asking them to help them set up a separate Eelam State. 

Sampanthan speaking to the Foreign Press had said the Tamil people will not return to violence.  Then he say  but who knows. He says that they did not create LTTE .  Of course it was the LTTE that created TNA.

He takes himself  for Prabhakaran

 

The TNA MPs cannot speak in one voice.  They are divided and Sampanthan cannot profess to speak for the rest of the TNA MPs.  TNA MPs can speak only about  devolution of power, an undefined ethnic issue, undiluted 13Amendment, police and land power to PCs. Other than that they know nothing about the Communal Unity, peoples desire for peace , inter communal relations, etc. 

What have the TNA MPs really done since they were organised in to a political party  by the terrorists to be their spokesmen in the Parliament and forced the Tamil people in the North and East to vote for them at the 2001 election ? They have done nothing progressive or positive other than carrying the torch of terrorism in to the Parliamentary politics, and carrying a negative image of Sri Lanka as  violating the rights of the minorities in to the outside world.  They have not organised any new project  for the Tamil people , but has laid barriers to the Government in its work for the betterment of the Tamil people.

Today a serious matter with regard to the interference of India into Sri Lanka’s internal affairs is to be discussed and the necessity to remove the  13 Amendment, which  remains a scar in the Constitution of Sri Lanka  subjugating Sri Lanka’s sovereignty  to India, is demanded by the people, and the MPs of the TNA instead of being with the government to discuss the matter is out in India discussing the subject with India.  TNA MPs who were the spokesmen for the terrorists in the Parliament then , are today the spokesmen for India in the Parliament of Sri Lanka.

TNA slave MPs with their  New Master Manmoan Singh Indian PM

                                   

It is time that a Supreme court Judgment is requested through legal means to disband TNA as a political party, as it is openly in breach of the Constitution of Sri Lanka. If the President does not ignore them and go ahead with the removal of the 13A  from the Constitution in the interest of the country and the reconciliation of the Communities, it would be subjugating  Presidential authority to whims and fancies of trouble shooters, and nincompoops.

Remove 13A-Lock, Stock and Barrel - People should know why President hesitates.

Is it a sign language or an infection

 The President is respected  by the people of Sri Lanka. Therefore, he has a right to keep the people informed without hiding any thing from them. The 13 Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka must be removed lock,stock and barrel, without leaving any trace of it remaining in the Constitution.

It was a “desecration” of the Constitution of the Sovereign State of Sri Lanka, by a manipulating Indian Government.  At the time there was no alternative left for the then President J.R.Jayawardhane other than to give into the pressure of India, with terrorism remaining the main threat, and the friend on whom he heavily depended for support, the  USA dropping him off like a hot brick,  at a time he  needed his friend the USA most.

It was a case of  accepting the proposal made by India to adopt the 13A to the Constitution or allow terrorism to continue undeterred protected by India which would have kept its armed forces ready in case Sri Lanka attacks the terrorists. 

The proposal had been accepted by the President of Sri Lanka under duress.  Therefore, legally the document they signed accepting the inclusion of 13A into the Sri Lanka Constitution is not valid, and therefore null and void.

If despite that the President having a two third majority in Parliament hesitates to remove it. He is  making all efforts to keep the 13 Amendment removing only some still unspecified  powers given to the Provincial Councils under the 13th Amendment. He consults all  political parties. He even asks the TNA which is openly defying the authority of the President , the Constitution and the Parliament to participate in the PSC along with the other Political parties to decide on the 13 Amendment. There must be some  reason for the President to do so.

If so, the majority of the people who wants the 13A removed completely from the Constitution of Sri Lanka,  has a right to know why the President hesitates to take such a decision himself.  He could perhaps do so  using his Executive powers and face the consequences as he did in the case of his determination to carry out military operations against the terrorists until they were completely eliminated.

More time the President takes to take a decision, more and more international trouble shooters will pop up to stop the President carry out his duties towards his people. India our enemy number one is already on the war path, inviting the TNA the terrorists in civil to discus the implementation of the 13 Amendment. 

DBS Jeyaraj accentuate the Indian Prime Minister’s displeasure on the proposal to remove land and police powers from the 13A.  Jehan Perera the pro-terrorist NGO begins his article  with the blessings of The Island’s Sahabandu. Sarawanbavan the TNA MP informs that India has sought an urgent meeting with the TNA on the 13 Amendment.

Not only the Tamil Diaspora and the Western anti Sri Lanka players but also the Sri Lanka NGO funded goons are on the war path against the removal of the 13Amendment. It is time that the President takes a positive decision.

It appears that there should not be any difficulty in rescinding the India Sri Lanka Pact from what the  DMDK founder and Leader of Opposition in the Tamil Nadu assembly A. Vijayakantin  has said in a statement to Yahaoo News of the 11 June,2013 in reference to the 1974 agreement with which India transferred Katchatheevu Island to Sri Lanka:

 “ As circumstances change and unforeseen hardship is caused, it is quite natural for any treaty to be reviewed and altered if necessary,"   So why not the India Sri Lanka Pact ?

India cannot also wash its hands off  its responsibility of the thousands of civilians and Army personal who lost their lives between 1987 and May,2009, since the India Sri Lanka Pact was forced on the then  President of Sri Lanka. In intervening by trespassing into the Air Space of Sri Lanka to save the terrorists by dropping packets of lentils and forcing the government to enter into a pact, India has   committed herself, committed to the very hilt to account  for  aiding and  abetting  terrorism in Sri Lanka.

This is the very India which refused transport to thousands of Sri Lanka Soldiers in Jaffna besieged by the terrorists that in 1987 forced the Sri Lanka Armed forces to stop a winning war against the terrorists.   In doing so India gave a life line to the terrorists to continue its massacres  from 1987 to 2009.

If not for India’s intervention, forcing itself into the air space of Sri Lanka, thousands of lives would have been saved from terrorism, and the Sri Lanka Armed Forces may have eliminated terrorism in 1987 itself. India which now dictates terms to Sri Lanka to implement the 13Amendment  is as responsible as the terrorists for the deaths of those thousands of Civilians and the Army Personal in Sri Lanka. 

Though India is our close neighbour  and pronounces incessantly its close connection with Sri Lank and its special relationship with the Island it cannot be ruled out that India is secretly working in close collaboration with  America and other anti Sri Lanka, to divide the Island allowing USA to have a Military Base in Trincomalee.

“India desperately planning to divide Sri Lanka” wrote Ashraf Javed Lahore on 22  March, 2011, in an article to  the Nation,  and added , “ In a desperate move to assert its hegemony in South Asia, India is covertly planning to divide Sri Lanka in order to teach a lesson to the well-educated island nation for looking towards China for leadership and guidance, it has been reliably learnt on Monday. WikiLeaks cable also exposed New Delhis designs to divide Sri Lankan by creating ethnic and sectarian strife among its people. With reference to Sri Lanka, India has stepped up work on three-pronged strategy; divide the overall population, support militant groups which are loyal to India and urge international powers to press Colombo on war crimes, a Sri Lanka-based defense analyst (not Sri Lankan) told this report by phone.”

The President Mahinda Rajapakse should not hesitate to remove the 13 Amendment from the Constitution completely, and pass new legislation for a more workable and a progressive system of regional administration.  If he has any impediments against such a decision the President should inform the people.  It is the President’s duty to the people who elected him to the high Office.

Doing Politics with the Constitution.

Having  won an election for the last time in 2001, Ranil Wickramasinghe is desperately  pulling all the rabbits he can from his hat hoping something would pop-out  to propel him  onto the Presidential Chair.  All his yes men-Tissa Attanayake, Laksman Kiriella, Ravi Karunanayake, Karu Jayasuriy and the rest follow him wagging their tails yapping in unison,

hoping one day to follow the “magic leader” in to some sort of government  of their own,

while the failed politician Mangala Samaraweera is  praying the western leaders to boycott the CHOGM, as he says he has found  a dictator in Sri Lanka.  What a looney lot ?

In the mean time the Catholic Bishops’ Conference led by Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith  has announced the wisdom to have a totally new Constitution, and proposes while waiting ,  to continue to keep the 13 Amendment in tact.  Apparently the Cardinal would like to have his say in a new Constitution to  multiethnic Sri Lanka, providing an equal place to Christianity along side  Buddhism .

A constitution and the writing of it is not the activity of a political party without government responsibility, if it is so there would be numerous Constitutions prepared by different political Parties, -the TNA, SLMC,JVP,  and claiming their constitutions as well be  considered  to be accepted  as the Constitution of Sri Lanka by a referendum- a vogue term now  brandished in respect of the 13Amendment. Therefore, it is a dangerous precedence, and lack of respect to an existing Constitution for UNP to present a draft for  a  new Constitution to Sri Lanka.

Ranil Wickramasinghe may well  have written a Constitution for his own part, but his attempt at writing a Constitution to Sri Lanka is a pathetic sequel to his political failure as an astute politician, despite his being the Prime Minister twice and many years as  the Leader of the Opposition of the Parliament.  He seems to have learnt nothing of politics either as the Prime Minister, or as the Leader of the Opposition.

Writing a Constitution for a Nation cannot be taken lightly although again a UNP Leader had been the  prime mover of the present Constitution of Sri Lanka with its numerous defects, with the inclusion of the 13Amendment as the “icing on the cake”.  

The Present Constitution however is the second Republican Constitution of Sri Lanka of the three Constitution she had since her independence.  The first constitution  of 1946 with Dominion status was authored by Sir Ivor Jennings. The second and the First Republican Constitution  of 1972 was authored by Dr. Colvin R.De Silva. 

The present Constitution came into effect in 1978 . This Constitution  was created by a political leader who was thrown into the political backyard after the SLFP triumphed  at the General Election of 1970. The SLFP drew up the  new Constitution of 1972 breaking away from the Westminster model and establishing the first Republic of Sri Lanka, with a ceremonial President. The Prime Minster was given  executive Authority.

In the General elections of 1977 the UNP led by  JR Jayawardhana got a landslide victory.  JR Jayawadhane who had been biting his nails for seven years being out of political power had planned a revengeful come back.  He  immediately set about preparing a Constitution  on the basis of the UK and French Constitutions and made himself the all powerful Executive President.

The Executive powers of the President was not questioned at the time and JR used executive power making himself a Dictator.  owHowever when  However when eventually Mahinda Rajapakse was elected President of Sri Lanka, he still retained the  1978 Constitution, but refrained from using the  Executive powers vested in him as the President to the detriment of the people and the country.  He kept strictly within the Democratic norms, whatever his antagonists have to say. 

It shows that even the excessive powers vested in the office  of a Dictator or a President may still be used for the betterment of the people and the country dependent mostly on the character  and   a strictly religious, cultural and patriotic essence of the  person holding the office , as it is in the case of Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse.

One cannot deny that in fact the Executive Powers vested in the President under the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka had been of benefit to  Sri Lanka in the elimination of the terrorism and keeping at bay those who wanted to prevent the successful military operations against terrorists.  The retaining those powers further is still essential as the terrorism though it has disappeared in the soil of Sri Lanka it  still lingers amoung those Tamils who live in clover in Western Countries. 

They  keep alive the fires of  communal hatred amoung the Tamils in the diaspora and those within the country shedding crocodile tears about the suffering of the Tamil people without taking any step to help them.  Instead they are using all means to destabilise and weaken the government to allow the star players from the West to intervene to divide Sri Lanka to allow them to establish a separate Eelam State, to derive political benefits for themselves.

Therefore, UNP’s latest tactic to bring disrepute to the Government of the President Mahinda Rajapakse and remove the government by a possible popular uprising of the people  against it, is seeking  the people’s approval for his Draft Constitution.  It is a  dangerous initiative which had no precedence any where  else in the world.

It is best to have one Constitution for Sri Lanka for ever, without having a new Constitution each time a new political party comes in to power.  The Constitution has only to be amended to remove what is considered offensive, out dated or a danger to the unitary status of Sri Lanka . 

In other words a Constitution should be Amended and not rescinded.  The 1978 Constitution with much of its defects had withstood the most critical period of Sri Lanka’s history, and therefore it is worth keeping it as the basic instrument of political Authority and the one and only Constitution of Sri Lanka.

Eventually, Amendments may be brought in to reduce the executive powers of  the President and Committees be set up to study the ways and means to improve the Constitution always without rescinding it, but moving suitable Amendments.

In conclusion, Ranil Wickramasinghe or following him any other Political leader should not be allowed to brandish any document drawn in  any ones back yard as a draft for a New Constitution of Sri Lanka. Such an act should be made a  legally chargeable act of  high treason. 

We already have a constitution with which we won a war against ruthless terrorists and impeached a not so good Chief Justice, therefore we should respect the Constitution we have  and keep it for generations to come. The future political leaders may continue to use this Same Constitution, amending it when the necessity arises but never rescind it to replace it with another.

Only thing the President Mahinda Rajapakse did………with determination and confidence.

Only thing the President Mahinda Rajapakse did with determination, and with confidence to face the consequences was the elimination of Terrorists. 

After that what  happened to the President and his government’s  determination to do  what they  think is right  and what happened to their   confidence to face the consequences of  their  acts which they believe is correct ?

After that  the President became cautious.  He acted to please the West, escape being accused for violation of human rights at the UNHuman Rights Council. He  Suffers the indignities of a Navineetham Piilai a biased Tamil woman trying to take revenge for imagined violation of the human rights of our own Tamil people.

The President is unsure not of his actions but of how his opponents  would react to his actions.  He wanted to please India, and did not want to take any action to antagonise India.  He allowed India to open a Consular Office in the North and in the South.  He allowed USA to open a USCenter in the North.

He went all out to develop the North and East that had never seen the like of such developments before or after Independence.  He was hoping the Tamils in the North and the East will show gratitude.  But do they ?  He should perhaps have slowed down the unparalleled development process in the North and East.

He said he would implement not only the 13 Amendment but give the  13 plus.  TNA who took an oath of Allegiance to the constitution continuously acted in breach of the constitution which is punishable under law.  But the Government has not reacted.

TNA on many occasion  breached and continues to breach the Article 157 A of the constitution of Sri Lanka. Which reads, “ [157A. (1) No person shall, directly or indirectly, in or outside Sri Lanka, support, espouse, promote, finance, encourage or advocate the establishment of a separate State within the territory of Sri Lanka.

(2) No political party or other association or organization shall have as one of its aims or objects the establishment of a separate State within the territory of Sri Lanka….”

In view of the fact the Government stands inactive in the face of such evident violation of the constitution by the TNA,  Jayantha Liyanage of Sinhala Jathika Peramuna filed a FR case against the TNA for the breach of the relevant article in the Constitution.  But the Supreme court of Sri Lanka refused to hear  the case. 

The Honourable judge Shirani Tilakewardane before whom this case against the TNA was to be heard, did not take the trouble even to verify whether there was in fact a breach of the Constitution, but asked the Plaintiff to withdraw the case requesting him to live in peace with all communities, but the Judge Shirani Tillekewardena did not extend the same advice to the TNA the defendant. Why ?

Now the American Ambassador Michelle Sison is openly  interfering in to the internal affairs of the Government and  makes  statements critical of Sri Lanka to the press.  The Sri Lanka Foreign Minister has the right to call her and warn her against her undiplomatic activities she has started which hamper the reconciliation processes. The Diplomats in Sri Lanka should be requested to restrict themselves to their diplomatic activities and nothing else.

The President has his Executive powers which he has not so far utilised. He should perhaps use them to clamp down on rising evil in the country. Azath Salley should not have been released before making a complete investigation. President  should go ahead with settlement of Sinhala IDPs in the North, and start new Sinhala Settlements.   The Army Camps should not be disbanded or number of soldiers in the North and East should not be reduced to please the demands made by foreign governments and  human rights activists.

The Muslims are our people but they are being manipulated by foreign religious fanatics.  The President should issue orders for the Muslims to respect all religions while enjoying their freedom of observing their faith.

Thesavalamai is against reconciliation and that law should be removed.   

There should be feasibility tests before  undertaking a project.  There was a report , “The Govt will seek US $ 2.5 billion or Rs.320 billion through another loan to set up a new oil refinery in Sri Lanka, Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa declared. “This will help us save monies spent on imported refined fuel,” he said. He said that the only refinery at Sapugaskanda is not suitable to refine some varieties of crude oil.” 

The world is in  an economic crisis therefore Sri Lanka should be cautious in undertaking new projects.  It is better to hold up development for some time to assure that the financial situation improves and the interest payments on loans etc; will not have a detrimental effect on the economy.

The President should not hold the elections in the North until the situation with regard to the settlement of  Sinhala IDPs and attitude of the TNA has changed.   Perhaps it would not be a bad idea to ban all Political Parties with a  Communal “label” and recognise only the Political Parties which are for all Communities, so that the Tamil, Sinhala, and Muslim will be either in the socialist Parties or the Capitalist Parties.

The Government is still battling as to what it should do with the 13 Amendment.

While the Government is battling as to what it should do with the 13 Amendment, the TNA and the Tamil National People’s Front are busy formulating a draft proposal to address Tamil issues.  SLMC General Secretary Ha ssan Ali opposes a 19 Amendment proposed by the government and opposes removal of the Land and Police powers proposed in the 17 Amendment.  The Government is still not sure as to what it should do and informs reducing armed forces from the North.

While the TNA is demanding, “ voting rights be granted to Sri Lankan Tamil refugees living in camps in Tamil Nadu and facilities be set up to enable them to vote in the upcoming Northern Provincial Council election. An estimated 100,000 Sri Lankan Tamils are living as refugees in Tamil Nadu.”, the Sri  Government has not taken any steps to resettle the Sinhala IDPs in Jaffna.  

There was a report that the Sinhala IDPs have still not claimed those  lands in Jaffna  from which they were ousted by the LTTE,  and therefore they have not been resettled

These people  probably have the fear of attacks against them by the TNA sponsored Tamil Groups, and the reducing  of the Army Camps will not encourage the re-settlement of these Sinhala IDPs.

The government had been putting off doing so many essential things, that should have been done in May, 2009 immediately after the elimination of the terrorists. As a result those problems that could have been nipped off in the bud, have grown up in size. The Government should be bold to take decisions, and prepare to meet the out comes later.

Whether Azath Salley has or has not called for the Muslims to rise against the government is not the main problem , the main problem is the government leaving room  for such situations to arise due to hesitation in taking action.

Every day TNA is  becoming a heavier  political burden, and a great nuisance to all communities. The Government is unable to stop their “high treason” in calling for governments out side Sri, Lanka to intervene to settle internal affairs.  A TNA Mp had said that he is prepared to defend Azath Salley, if he is charged  under the prevention of terrorist act.  

How can Sri Lanka ever reconcile the Sinhala and Tamil Communities as long as the TNA carries out subversive activities against reconciliation ?  It should be either reconciliation or showing the TNA where their political  “journey” ends.

While the Government remains undecided about land and police powers, it is reported that , “ over 1,500 hectares of government land in Kilinochchi have been allocated for the newly-resettled landless Muslim families.”

As time goes, a greater problem for reconciliation of the Communities and taking the Country forward will  not be the TNA and Azath Alys, but the supposed to be democratic Opposition of Sri Lanka, the UNP led by Ranil Wickramasinghe and  JVP  led by Lal Kantha, and others like the FUTA, and  Mercantile Union. 

The UNP is prepared to join hands with the Devil himself to defeat the government by making the Tamils in Jaffna vote for TNA.  For Ranil Wickramasinghe whether the Sri Lanka should be a one nation in a Unitary Sri Lanka or two nations in a divided Sri Lanka  is immaterial as long has he can feather hopes  to assure his place some day  to become  the President of at least a part of Sri Lanka.

Hence the Government should soon decide which way it is going. It was reported , “National Organizer of the SLFP, Minister Basil Rajapaksa said yesterday that the government has still not reached finality on the longstanding proposition to repeal certain sections of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution considered obstacles to government’s development initiative.”

For how long is the government  going to hang on with the 13 Amendment, considering which parts of it should be kept and which parts of it should be removed.

The 13 Amendment should be removed as a whole immediately, and introduce amendments which the Government considers necessary to keep, but be certain that no land and police powers are handed over to the PCs.  The Government should also revitalise the Prevention of Terrorism Act to take into custody members of Political parties proposing special benefits to particular Communities.

After May, 2009, the political aspect of Sri Lanka  has taken a new dimension.  The development of the Country is for the people of Sri Lanka, therefore proposals should be for the progress and development of the people of all Communities.  

Sri Lanka cannot allow any individual or group to promote special privileges by way of  promoting political or  religious loyalties to countries away from Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka has its own Law and every one has to obey its laws.

It is certainly wise to stop elections in the North until the Governments takes a definite decision to withdraw the 13 Amendment and bring in new Amendments to the Constitution, and issue a strong warning against communal political  alliances  formed to benefit one community against another.

Please do not make Sri Lanka a playground of the foreigners and the rich, like Cuba under Batista.

There is no reason why Sri Lanka should put all its cards on tourism, as the number one money maker.  It should be kept in mind that  tourism while it brings financial benefits , it also brings  innumerable social problems. Sri Lanka as a developing country which made much head way in the economic growth should  consider for whose benefit  the country is being developed. It is the people of Sri Lanka that  should first  benefit by the country's development.

Secondly, the promoters of tourism should not be allowed to do so haphazardly, it should be planned at the highest level and Parliamentary approval should be obtained.  That is to avoid the infiltration of disadvantages, vice in all its different forms, and  loss of moral values  that could affect the country, socially and culturally.  Each time a new project is commenced for tourist attraction, one has to consider how much it would be beneficial to the country, what effect will it have on the people , to what extent it will cause damage to the environment, to the culture and the social fabric of the country, and whether such a project is really necessary.

There is a sudden interest in night motor  racing first in Colombo and they are proposing to bring it to Kandy.  How many people are going to benefit from this night racing  project.  Is it really necessary for the wellbeing of the people.  Is it a financially viable  project that would bring in more money to the country.  What other benefits will it have ?  Should the village youth be made to take an interest in night racing, and  for what reason and for what benefit ?  Have the organisers considered  the atmospheric  pollution, it would cause ?  This is a sport of the rich. Is it  really unnecessary to  promote it in Sri Lanka ? It would be in the interest of Sri Lanka to stop motor car racing whether in the day time or in the night.

If it is a project promoted by Nimal Rajapakse, it could be understood as he is a modern, fashionable young man rich enough to have his own  racing car.  But he is not doing so  with foresight.  If that is the case, the President should intervene to stop it as it is a game of the rich and will not benefit the country nor will it bring  more money   from a few rich western  racing car pilots  who will participate to make it another play ground for the big names of  sport of  car racing. 

   

Another project that is being talked about is opening of Casinos .  There was one casino long time back in Kandy in Sri Lanka.  It caused immense problems as people got addicted to games and spent all their earnings  in it.  Many got into debt. It will be like the liquor shops that have been opened in almost  every small town.   The poor people get ruined, families break up the poor take to prostitution.  Is that what Sri Lanka wants ?  It is the middle and the lower middle class people  who may  get interested in Casinos  and ruin themselves  catching the virus of the Casino games.

There was also a suggestion by a Member of the Parliament to open brothels.  There are also such houses already going on unchecked under different business names .  The leaders should take into account falling of moral standards, crime against women, child rape, and molestation of tourists. 

Back in Sri Lanka I was told how in a private textile weaving centres, the owner uses the working girls for prostitution.  There was a time when special sex tourisms were organised by some tour operators in some Western countries, where the  rich retired old men were taken to Philippines for sex with minors.  Tourism should not therefore be hailed as the ideal money maker.

Eagle Golf link is the fourth golf link  functioning in Sri Lanka. Is that a necessity ?  How many Sri Lankans gain from having golf links.  It also caters to the rich and well to do  western tourist. How many tourists come to play golf in Sri Lanka, and how many in SrI Lanka take to playing golf. There appears to be a mix up of priorities.  Every such project has money as the objective , without considering advantages and disadvantages  that come along with  such ventures.

It is the same with developing beach resorts for  sea surfing.  It should be  made a normal tourist attraction without making it a special attraction for competition surfing.  Some Sri Lanka beaches are ideal for Surfing, but one should not promote them for international competition standard.

The Sri Lanka’s ancient tanks were built by our kings  to provide farmers water for their farming lands.  Therefore no ancient tank  should be turned into a tourist attraction for boat riding and  surfing.

Hotels are coming up like mushrooms and all hotel rooms are not occupied.  The room rates are too high for local tourists.  The West is having an economic crisis and the western tourists tend to spend less.  Therefore, it is wise to slow down on development of the tourist Sector.

There are other important things that have still not been attended to such as settling down the Sinhala IDPs in Jaffna, which has been long delayed. The Government should also start Sinhala settlements in the north and east before it is too late.

Tourism is not well planned each one seems to have one’s own idea of tourism. What do the tourist coming from abroad want ?  Do they want a home away from home ?  Of course they would like to enjoy the beauty of nature. See how the people live  and relax in a sunny beach.  But meal wise do they want the same wines they drink at home ? Do they want hard liquor Whisky, Brandy, Martini, Gin etc., they find back home ?  They could easily  be substituted by Sri Lanka beer, and Arrack.

Why cannot Sri Lanka offer the tourist a real Sri Lankan holiday, without liquor simple Sri Lanka meals, preferably vegetarian, and fish (less  beef and chicken),  accompanied  with tea ?   Serve coconut juice and other fruit juices instead of expensive wines. 

What is important is the comfort in rooms secure un-interfered relaxation in the hotel premises. They should be provided security when travelling. The Tourist  Department should think out ways of  providing tourists with different  facilities than those  they have  in the countries from where they come,   but substitute those with exotic Sri Lankan facilities.  Make the tourists feel that they are living their holiday in Sri Lanka which is different in every respect from where they have  come. 

There had been reports of many attacks on tourists lately.  The tourist board should train special security officers for the safety of the tourists.  Many brawls that end up seriously are the results of consumption of excessive liquor by the locals, who are allowed in to hotels.  Tourists have their limits and know how to consume liquor.  It is the locals who have to be controlled