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The country requires a strong Executive Presidency to navigate the Post-Covid world says Milinda Moragoda

Published

6 years ago

2020/07/30

Milinda Moragoda, former Cabinet Minister and founder of the Pathfinder Foundation spoke about the need for Sri Lanka to be fast and agile in order to face the economic, social and international challenges of the Post-Covid environment.

He stated that: ‘there is no disputing the fact that the country benefited from having strong executive decision-making during the early stages of the pandemic. And as a result, many lives were saved.

Disappointingly, no major political party has yet put forward a coherent governance and governing structure for the nation in their policy platforms.

‘Each has been predictably very chameleon-like when addressing issues related to constitutional and governance-structure related matters in their manifestos. This is especially unfortunate in light of the dysfunctional relationship that now exists between the Executive and the Legislature and the proven potential for gridlock, both a result of the enactment of the 19th Amendment.’

Against this backdrop, without any coherent or credible proposals thus far having been presented by any major political party, Moragoda proposes that all thoughtful Sri Lankans take up the following points for their consideration, discussion and if appropriate advocacy :

A. The establishment of a strong Executive Presidency that can act decisively and yet be ultimately accountable to Parliament. After all, the presidency is the only office elected by all Sri Lankan voters. Thus, the individual occupying this post will be implicitly accountable to all citizens, be they from Kankesanturai or Dewinuwara.

B. An independent legislature that will promulgate legislation and act as a

responsible check and balance to Executive excess. This legislature

should be elected on a first-past-the-post basis with a small percentage

of members being chosen through a proportional representation system.

This change should lead to a stable parliament where most members are

directly accountable to their constituencies and citizens. The preference

vote system which has only created chaos and in-fighting should be

dispensed with.

C. The Provincial Councils should be abolished and empowered local

councils set up to address the day-to-day issues of the citizenry.

D. An empowered Senate should be created to represent minority and

regional interests.

Moragoda further pointed out that ‘Forty-two years have passed since the establishment of Sri Lanka’s Executive Presidency and that all those who criticize this form of government have still not been able to convince Sri Lankans of any better option. Notably, when the opportunity for abolishing the presidential system presented itself in 2015, the then government was unable or unwilling to conduct a referendum to abolish the presidency. And, as we are now on the verge of facing the most challenging period in our post-Independence history, the need of the hour is a strong executive.’

To lend further context to his point he noted that: ‘The first conception of a Presidential system was forged in the late 18th century after the American war of Independence against the British. Extensive debates surrounding the extent of the powers of an Executive Presidency took place during the drafting of the American Constitution. One of the founding fathers and authors of the US Constitution, Alexander Hamilton, argued for a strong Executive leader making the point that:

” ‘A feeble Executive implies a feeble execution of the government. A feeble execution is but another phrase for a bad execution, and a government ill-executed, whatever it may be in theory, must be, in practice, a bad government.’”

‘In the final analysis Sri Lanka cannot afford to have a crippled government especially at this critical juncture where a large number of lives and livelihoods are at stake.

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Rajitha calls for combined lists, denounces those unwilling to join as traitors

Published

5 mins ago

2026/05/28

Sahan Weerasooriya

Dr. Senaratne, flanked by Prof. Peiris, M. A. Sumanthiran and Wajira Abeywardena, lashes out at the JVP

Ranil-led group asks govt. to hold PC polls

Former Cabinet Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne yesterday (27) claimed that there was no consensus between the JVP and the NPP regarding the long delayed Provincial Council (PC) polls.

Dr. Senaratne said that though JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva had declared in Jaffna, over the last weekend, that it wouldn’t be possible to conduct PC polls this year, due to financial constraints and legal impediments, the position of NPP General Secretary Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe was different.

Addressing the media at Hotel Nippon, on behalf of the People’s United Opposition grouping, operating out of Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Flower Road Office, Dr. Senaratne, who represents the UNP, claimed that the JVP/NPP was all out to postpone the long delayed PC polls. The New Democratic Front (NDF) parliamentary group, elected to the current Parliament, received the backing of Wickremesinghe.

The ex-Minister explained how the NPP, with a 159-member parliamentary group, could comfortably secure the approval of the Parliament to conduct the PC polls under Proportional Representation system.

Declaring that they would submit combined candidate lists at the PC polls, Dr. Senaratne declared that those who declined to join them would be considered traitors.

Dr. Senaratne emphasised that there was no need for alliances and their objectives could be achieved through fielding combined candidate lists.

The Illankai Thamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) was represented by former lawmaker and acting Secretaray General of ITAK but the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) weren’t represented.

Convenor of the People’s United Opposition Prof. G. L Peiris, at the beginning of the briefing, explained how the people were deprived of their democratic rights by the NPP, through the postponement of PC polls.

On Tuesday (26) MPs Shanakiyan Rasamanikkam, Mano Ganesan, and Nizam Kariapper attended a joint Opposition discussion with SJB and others, organised by PAFFREL. MP Rasamanikkam has criticised the delay in holding PC elections.

The Batticaloa District MP highlighted that he had already presented a private member’s bill to facilitate the conduct of elections, under the earlier system.

Rasamanikkam said:”The four Opposition members representing the Parliamentary Select Committee affirmed their stance to hold the Provincial Council elections under the preferential voting system.

“We noted, however, that the establishment of this committee appears to be a measure to further delay the process.

“Concurrently, an Additional Solicitor General of the Attorney General’s Department presented two proposals for conducting the elections.

“One of these recommendations involves introducing minor amendments concerning women and youth representation to the private member’s motion I tabled in Parliament, which seeks to hold the Provincial Council elections under the previous system.”

Meanwhile, PAFFREL said that altogether 42 political parties and civil society organisations were involved in that discussion.

PAFFREL said that of the 42 political parties and monitoring organisations that participated in the discussion, all but one political party consented to endorse the following joint statement. And it was decided to forward the joint statement to the Parliamentary Select Committee and the government.

“We, the secretaries of political parties and representatives of the other organisations, who attended the meeting organised by PAFFREL at the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agricultural Training and Research Institute, on 26 May, 2026, agreed to the proposal adopted to hold the Provincial Council elections as per the electoral system prevailed prior to the enactment of Act No. 17 of 2017, pending the final outcome of the Parliamentary Select Committee. We also agreed to ensure 25% representation of women and youth on a voluntary basis.”

News

20 lawmakers, four officials visiting China

Published

7 mins ago

2026/05/28

Sahan Weerasooriya

Twenty MPs and four officials are on a visit to China. Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathna, Deputy Minister, leads the delegation (pic courtesy Parliament)

A Parliamentary delegation, comprising 20 Members of Parliament, and four officials, of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, led by Dr. Kaushalya Ariyarathna, Deputy Minister of Mass Media, is in China to participate in a workshop for Members of Parliament of Sri Lanka being held in Beijing and Guangdong.

The programme has been organised by the International Cooperation Centre of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of China, from 26th May to 5th June, 2026.

The delegation arrived in Beijing, on 25 May, and commenced official engagements on 26th May, with the Opening Ceremony of the Workshop held at the Fenghui Centre in Beijing, Parliament said.

News

More Japanese funds for demining operations in the north

Published

8 mins ago

2026/05/28

Sahan Weerasooriya

Ambassador Akio Isomata

Japanese Ambassador in Colombo Akio Isomata yesterday (27) signed a grant contract for a demining project under the scheme of “Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP)”, with Kevin Klerx, Head of Support Services of the Mines Advisory Group(MAG), Ms. Hannah Picton, Programme Manager of the Hazardous Area Life-support Organization(The HALO Trust) and Ananda Chandrasiri, Director/ Programme Manager of the Delvon Assistance for Social Harmony (DASH).

The text of the Japanese embassy press release: “The Government of Japan has provided USD 1,343,202 (approx. Rs. 400million) for these projects, which will be implemented by MAG, The HALO Trust and DASH, to support their humanitarian demining activities in the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka. Under this new project, almost 400,000 m2 of land is expected to be made mine-free, allowing more than 3,100 people to return to their land and approx. 22,000 people in the surrounding areas to expand their economic activities.

Japan has been a major donor to demining activities in Sri Lanka since 2002, and the total assistance amounts to over USD 49 million.”

The statement quoted Isomata as having said that: “Today’s signing of three (3) grant contracts is another testament to Japan’s commitment to continued assistance to the people of Sri Lanka, especially to those in the conflict-affected areas. At the same time, we also have to strengthen assistance to the affected communities for the enhancement of livelihoods and improvement of necessary infrastructure, in order to help the people of the communities to move on to the next stage of socio-economic development in the North and East in a seamless manner. I hope Japan’s continued assistance to the demining efforts of Sri Lanka will further strengthen the strong bond of trust and friendship that exists between Japan and Sri Lanka.”