FNO asks why Constitutional safeguard against separatism removed

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Federation of National Organizations (FNO) has requested President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to review the proposed 20th Amendment to the Constitution. The grouping made several recommendations, including the retaining of Article 53 of the Constitution meant to ensure members of Parliament did not promote or support a separate State.

FNO Convenor Dr. Gunadasa Amarasekera yesterday (9) told The Island that they had informed the Office of the President in writing as regards concerns pertaining to the introduction of the 20th Amendment as well as matters related to the formulation of a new Constitution.

Dr. Amarasekera emphasized that the country was in such a perilous state as a result of the treachery perpetrated by the yahapalana administration, the new government should be extremely careful of its strategy.

Pointing out that the SLPP received two huge mandates at the presidential and parliamentary elections, Dr. Amarasekera acknowledged the urgent requirement for an amendment to enable the President to fulfill his obligations.

The FNO backed Gotabaya Rajapaksa throughout his campaign along with other nationalist groups such as the National Joint Committee (NJC) and Yuthukama.

It has asked the SLPP government to establish a mechanism to (1) accept public proposals as regards a new Constitution (11) suspend Provincial Council polls until the enactment of the new Constitution and (111) far reaching alterations to the proposed 20th Amendment approved by the Attorney General before the Government Printer issued the relevant gazette.

The Federation called for what it called rectification of technical and wrongful policy decisions, in addition to members of the cabinet given an opportunity to provide comments, in writing. Having rectified mistakes, the government would have to amend the 20th Amendment and re-gazette it.

The civil society group said that it would be a mistake to bring in amendments at the committee stage as it could create a situation similar to that of the passage of the 19th Amendment.

They also requested the following provisions altered (1) do away with the proposal in the 20th Amendment to reduce the number of days from 14 to seven available for the public in respect of enactment of urgent bills (ii) abolish provisions relating to the enactment of urgent bills as successive administrations abused them (iii) rescind the proposal to amend Article 53 of the Constitution which required members of parliament to take oath against supporting and promoting a separate State (iv) remove proposal to allow dual citizens to enter parliament. In addition to that extend that law to cover the Governor of the Central Bank, Attorney General, IGP, Auditor General, service commanders, judges of the Supreme Court and Secretaries to Ministries and (v) abolish the move to do away with the National Audit Commission and also to ensure no state institution is freed from audit.

The FNO appreciated the SLPP decision to retain two term limits on presidency as well as five year terms for both the President and the Parliament.