Hon. Ajith P. Perera

¶ 01 “Abolition of the Executive Presidential system, establishment of a parliamentary system of government, and appointment of a ceremonial President.”

¶ 02 We support that too. That was in Hon. Sajith Premadasa’s manifesto as well. So, the entire country agrees. We do not need 100 per cent consensus. You have the power of 159 seats in Parliament. We have 45. Both main parties – the Government and the main Opposition – agree. Therefore, we can end the Executive Presidency. We know the cost concerns that arise when two institutions run in parallel. The issues of cost and waste are important. We do not need both an Executive President and a separate parliamentary system. The country needs one system, but you have forgotten that.

¶ 03 Also, page 194 of the policy statement states: “Introduction of a new parliamentary electoral system.”

¶ 04 Hon. Presiding Member, we know the drawbacks of the current mixed proportional system and also of the preferential voting system. The people have approved this policy overwhelmingly. The Government has the power of 159 seats – 60 per cent. The Opposition also agrees. Then what is the problem? The Hon. President did not even mention this on Independence Day. He has come to Parliament twice and spoken, but did not mention it then either. Likewise, Government Members here – even with 159 seats – are not talking about abolishing the Executive Presidency, establishing a parliamentary system, the Westminster model, appointing a nominal President, or about self-governance for the Tamil-speaking people of the North and East, or about devolving power across the country. You do not speak now about what you said during the election. Power devolution is needed not only to resolve the national question; it is also essential for development. We need devolution so that development, now concentrated in Colombo, spreads evenly across the country. So, there is agreement on fundamentals.

¶ 05 Hon. Presiding Member, why is this not being done? The Executive Presidency is a trap. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga promised to abolish it, the people elected her, but it was not abolished. Mahinda Rajapaksa promised to abolish it; did not do so. Maithripala Sirisena promised; reduced some powers but did not abolish it. Anura Kumara Dissanayake too seems headed that way. Once they gain power, they become intoxicated with it and desire it. Remember this: this Constitution, deformed by numerous decayed amendments, must be changed to a system where this country becomes truly one for Sinhalese and Tamils alike, with a single centre of power instead of two, and with a fair, low-cost electoral system. There will not be a better opportunity than now.

¶ 06 The ruling party holds the Executive Presidency and the power of 159 MPs. That was not stolen. We know that Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Government also once had a two-thirds, but that was obtained dishonestly, by inducements. Today it is not so. You were given 159 seats at the start. Therefore, if you bring constitutional reform, begin in the first Session and, at the latest, complete it in the second.

¶ 07 Hon. Presiding Member, let me add this: If there is a genuine desire to change the political culture, its foundation is a new Constitution and a new electoral system. If you truly intend to change the political culture, you must commence the process for a new Constitution. Not doing so is a betrayal, a wrong, and a sellout of the people’s mandate.