NPP will retain constitutional provision that guarantees foremost place for Buddhism nor weaken unitary status – Vijitha

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Sarvajana Balaya spokesman Gevindu Cumaratunga, MP, has alleged that the NPP manifesto differs quite significantly from what the party is propagating in support of its presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

The dissident SLPPer said among contestable issues were the constitution making process and the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

Referring to page 230 of the NPP manifesto, released in the run-up to the Sept. 21 presidential election, Cumaratunga, who appeared on behalf of Sarvajana Balaya candidate Dilith Jayaweera at a public forum organised by All Ceylon Buddhist Congress, questioned the NPP’s intention to expedite the constitution making process undertaken by the Yahapalana administration during the 2015-2019 period. The then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe led the process that was brought to an end with the election of Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the 2019 presidential election.

MP Cumaratunga explained how the JVP had surreptitiously backed Wickremesinghe’s strategies.

Cumaratunga questioned why the government had tabled the National Land Commission Bill and the Commission for Truth, Unity and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka Bill in Parliament ahead of the presidential election.

Declaring that land and police powers hadn’t been fully granted yet, regardless of the enactment of the 13th Amendment, MP Cumaratunga warned of dire consequences in the event of forming a separate provincial police unit for each province. He said that the real issue was not the provincial police coming under the purview of a Senior DIG answerable to the relevant Chief Minister, but the formidable challenge posed by a police force empowered to procure arms.

Against the developing situation, the NPP declaration that it would revive the Yahapalana constitution making process amounted to an extremely serious threat to the country, MP Cumaratunga said, alleging that the constitution proposed during the Yahpalana regime had been aimed at doing away with Sri Lanka’s unitary status. The MP said that the NPP wanted to resume a project that had been defeated by the nationalistic forces at that time.

While condemning the Commission for Truth, Unity and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka Bill, MP Cumaratunga pointed out that the NPP, in its manifesto assured that measures proposed in terms of the new law would be further expanded. He said the NPP was determined to go ahead with a controversial law that had been enacted at the behest of President Wickremesinghe.

MP Cumaratunga sought a clarification from the NPP regarding its assurance regarding the full implementation of the 13th Amendment pending enactment of a new Constitution within 2 years.

However, by then NPP MP Herath had left the forum after making his presentation.

Addressing the gathering on behalf of Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Gampaha District MP Herath assured that they wouldn’t under any circumstances resort to an agenda inimical to the country.

MP Herath declared that Article 09 of the Constitution that dealt with Buddhism wouldn’t be altered in anyway. The JVPer also assured the gathering of the country’s unitary status while declaring that the NPP wouldn’t proceed beyond the current status of the 13th Amendment.

Recalling their initial rejection of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1987, MP Herath said that particular law never addressed the national issue or facilitated development.

Referring to Article 14 of the Constitution, MP Herath said that their administration upheld and would guarantee the freedom of speech, and other rights of the public.

Herath also dismissed often repeated allegations that the NPP would bring in laws targeting law enforcement and military officers in respect of accountability issues though they wouldn’t interfere with crimes being dealt with according to the law.

One-time Cultural Affairs and National Heritage Minister Herath said that the JVP wouldn’t move against Buddhism. The JVPer said that their presidential candidate, Dissanayake, had been the Chairman of the Buddhist Society of the Kelaniya University.

MP Cumaratunga, in his presentation discussed how the government had used Parliament to enact laws that were inimical to the country’s interest. The MP named Sri Lanka Electricity Bill as one such law that should be abolished.

MP Cumaratunga said that MPs merely rubber-stamped bills that were contrary to Sri Lanka’s interests and in fact undermined national security. Parliament passed Sri Lanka Electricity Bill by a majority of 44 votes on June 06 this year.

At the end of the debate on the Second Reading of the Bill held yesterday, the Opposition called for a division and accordingly, 59 votes were cast against and 103 were cast in favour.

Referring to ECTA (Economic and Technology Co-operation Agreement), MP Cumaratuga said that they intended to review all international agreements and agreements under consideration and discussion.