Supreme Court Judge, Chief of Appeals, Appeals Court Judge Takes Oath Before President – ​​The Island

Udaya compares constitutional threat to Indonesia’s crisis in the late 90s

Shamindra Ferdinand

The government has not received proposals from political parties regarding President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s decision to fully implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

On 26 January, President Wickremesinghe was due to brief Parliament on 8 February 2008 on the implementation of the land and police powers, so any proposals were due by 4 February 2004. requested party leaders to submit

Political parties represented in Congress have so far failed to comply with President Wickremesinghe’s demands, authoritative sources said. islandResponding to another question, the source said the president’s office had not received any proposals to support or oppose President Wickremesinghe’s declaration.

Several political parties, including the main opposition Samagi Jana Balabegaya (SJB) and Janata Vimukti Peramuna (JVP), opposed the president’s invitation.

President Wickremesinghe, who declared his intention to fully implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution enacted in November 1987 at the Thai Pongal celebrations in Jaffna on January 15, 2023, was appointed leader on January 26. Congress abolished it. Both declarations were made in the presence of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

Several political parties have voiced their opposition, and some have issued statements supporting the president’s move, but have not submitted written proposals, according to multiple sources.

President Wickremesinghe adjourned Parliament on January 27, the day after he set February 4, 2004, as the deadline for political parties to submit their proposals. The new session of Congress will begin on February 8th. island The decision to fully implement the controversial amendments should not be taken hastily.

“We are certainly not against devolution. But under no circumstances can we support an agenda that could cause confusion,” said the National List MP.

So said the lawyer when the paper asked him if the ruling party had submitted the proposal to President Wickremesinghe. Why shouldn’t President Wickramasinghe fully implement the 13th Amendment without examining the situation on the ground?

“Seven previous presidents didn’t. Why didn’t they? We must investigate why they refrained from giving. If there is no longer any reason why they were compelled not to give, we can consider the proposal.

The SLPP has declared that it will devolve power wherever possible, and MP Kariyawasam has warned of dire consequences if decisions are made on the basis of language and religion. government group.

MP Kariyawasam stressed that we cannot act recklessly on the issues at hand. Udaya Gammanpila, the leader of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU), has compared the developing crisis here to the Western project that divided Indonesia in the late 90s. to East Timor.

Addressing a February 2 general rally in Dehiwela in support of Nidahas Janatha Sandhanaya, who challenged a local government poll in March 2009, the former Minister of Electricity and Energy said that the ongoing balance of payments and debt crises had led to He said the challenges faced by Sri Lanka are very similar. The history leading up to the independence of Timor-Leste.

The 13th Amendment would divide Sri Lanka at ethnic lines, warned the Colombo District MP. I remembered how external forces created an environment that compelled Indonesian President Suharto to resign. The MP said Sukarnoputri had given East Timor independence.