President Wickremesinghe, The Current Pohottuwa Government & The Way Forward – A Call From Citiz...

The Presidential election held on 20^th July placed Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe in the office of 8th Executive President of Sri Lanka by votes in Parliament. Media publicized the idea that this was the fulfillment of a personal dream of a politician with a Parliamentary career of 45 years. Surprisingly, his first official visit after taking oaths on 21^st July was to meet the Armed Forces Chiefs at Defence Headquarters, creating a reasonable fear of use of force in the exercise of political power. And what happened in the early hours of the 22^nd July?

Citizens watched in stunned disbelief as they witnessed the brutal military attack against protestors including media and lawyers  in GotaGoGama on Galle Face Green. The protestors had made it clear by their words and actions that they were clearing the site. We join others in condemning this obviously well-planned attack which is not only a blatant violation of the right to peaceful assembly and association of the protestors, but also of the democratic rights of all the people of Sri Lanka. We hold the administration of President Ranil Wickramasinghe who had just been sworn into office, and the military authorities, responsible for this violation of the Constitutional rights of the people and international human rights commitments of Sri Lanka.   We demand disciplinary inquiries and appropriate measures against those responsible for these events. We call upon the President to pledge in an address to the nation, that this will not happen again, and that there will be no further interference with the People exercising their rights of peaceful political protest.

A powerful peoples’ protest resulted in the elimination of the Rajapaksa family from leadership in government, amidst serious allegations of corruption and misuse of power. This encouraged a public expectation  that Parliament would elect a person as President who was not connected to this family to fill the vacancy of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. They believed that the new President would lead an all party interim government for a very short time till a General Election is held as this was the general demand in the country. However, 134 MPs voted to confirm Mr. Wickremesinghe as President on 20^th July, and also to protect their seats in Parliament. The voting has confirmed the view of the People  that these MPs are concerned only with their petty  personal and political agendas and have absolutely no intention of heeding the voice of the People for a change in both leadership and accountability in governance.

Ranil Wickremesinghe’s own election as President is unique in a system of Parliamentary democracy. He is a person who lost his long-term constituency due to serious allegations of involvement in the Central Bank bond scam and poor leadership. Although his election was procedurally valid and constitutional, it reinforced public perceptions that a dysfunctional Parliament was continuing in office. Rhetoric on the preservation of Parliamentary democracy, Constitutionalism and the national interest has not removed the lack of public trust in the government. Worse, there are grave allegations of bribery and corruption in voting, because of the actions of some persons within and outside Parliament, as late as the day before the election, resulting in the 113 votes pledged for the consensus opposition candidate not being cast for him. It is clear to the public that ugly political deals were made in this Presidential election, when the recovery of the country demands personal integrity, and commitment to national interest, from MPs.

President Wickremesinghe’s “new Cabinet” was sworn in on 22^nd July. It was the very day on which there was a shocking military attack on peaceful protestors. Astoundingly, the new Prime Minister, Dinesh Gunewardena, when questioned by journalists on this event stated that the government was fulfilling its law and order obligations. It is very clear that the Pohottuwa government’s swearing in of four Cabinets in four months has not in any way changed their understanding of the People’s demands for democratic and accountable governance.

The new President’s call for unity in responding to our devastating national predicament and for systemic institutional change seems a hollow promise in light of the political realities of this government.

Therefore we demand of the President that he addresses immediately the following immediate public concerns:

1. The need for a General Election within the next six months. It is impossible to initiate economic recovery without political stability and a government recognized by the People. We must find the resources to fulfill this important public need and explore all options available to do so.

2. The urgency of abolishing the Executive Presidency. The shocking incidents of 22^nd July demonstrate once again the urgent need to do away with the Executive Presidency with its over focus on a single, all powerful individual in governance. The President has the right to refer an issue of national importance for the views of the People at a Referendum under Article 86 of the Constitution. President Wickremesinghe has endorsed this change many times in his political career, including in 2018-2019. He must therefore call for a Referendum on this issue and lead the current government in obtaining a 2/3 majority to realise the result of such a Referendum.

3. The critical importance of upholding fundamental rights of the People as the foundation for democratic governance. Limitations on such rights must be strictly within the law and Article 15 of the Constitution and the President cannot act outside those limitations. As Commander in Chief he cannot permit or authorize abuse of power by the armed forces or law enforcement agencies on the grounds of national security or threat of anarchy. The negative international publicity for the events of the 22^nd July demonstrate that the violation of the Peoples’ rights will destroy our international image and prospects of getting broad based international support for economic recovery.

The President and government must realise that the People will no longer accept meaningless rhetoric on a national consensus and unity in resolving the political and economic crisis of this time. National unity is critical if we are to cope with the challenges of an economic recovery but it will not come through governance based on illegal use of force and suppression of protest and through the usual political lies and broken promises made to the People.

We wish to remind the President, Cabinet, and Members of Parliament that they are only repositories of our sovereign powers and are duty bound to serve us diligently, efficiently and by fulfilling the public trust placed in them.

1. Ranil Abayasekara – Senior Lecturer, University of Peradeniya (retired)
2. K Nihal Ahamed – Human Rights and Environmental Activist
3. Geoffrey Alagaratnam – President’s Counsel
4. D. C. Ambalavanar, Visiting Lecturer in Surgery, University of Jaffna
5. Arjuna Aluvihare – Emeritus Professor of Surgery and Vice Chancellor, Peradeniya, one time UGC Chairman
6. Darshan Ambalavanar – Director, Theological Education, CACM (Church of the American Ceylon Mission)
7. Annaluxumy – Social Activist
8. Safarich Anfaz – Artist
9. Roshan Arrupre – College Principal Batticoloa
10. Rajan Asirwatham – Former Country Head and Precedent Partner KPMG
11. Safana Gul Begum – Attorney-at-Law
12. Bisliya Bhutto -Former Member of Puttalam Pradeshiya Sabha
13. Yohesan Casie Chetty – Attorney – at – Law & former Headmaster S. Thomas’ Preparatory School Kollupitiya.
14. Galkande Dhammananda Thero
15. Bishop Duleep  de Chickera
16. Ruwanthie de Chickera – Artists of the Peoples’ Movement
17. Harendra de Silva – Consultant Paediatrician
18. Marisa de Silva
19. Anushaya Collure – Activist
20. Radhika Coomaraswamy – Retired International Civil Servant
21. Andrew Devadason – Clergy,  Anglican Church, Diocese of Colombo
22. Niroshan de Mel – Vicar, St. Michael & All Angels, Polwatta. Area Dean, Colombo South Area Deanery.
23. Priyan Dias – Emeritus Professor, University of Moratuwa
24. Shanthi Dias
25. C.C.Elankovan – Attorney-at-Law and Development Consultant
26. K J Brito Fernando – Human Rights Activist
27. Priyanthi Fernando – Former Executive Director, Centre for Poverty Analysis
28. Shiekh MBM Firthous – Chairman, Bismi Institute
29. Aneesa Firthous – Human Rights Activist
30. Bhavani Fonseka – Attorney-at-Law and Rights Activist
31. C Ranitha Gnanarajah – Attorney-at-Law
32. Mario Gomez – Attorney-at-Law
33. Shyamala Gomez – Executive Director, Centre for Equality and Justice
34. Savitri Goonesekere – Emeritus Professor of Law and Former Vice Chancellor, University of Colombo
35. Camena Guneratne – Professor, Open University of Sri Lanka
36. Dileni Gunewardena – Professor of Economics, University of Peradeniya
37. Pulasthi Hewamanne – Attorney-at-Law
38. S Ratnajeevan H Hoole – Prof. of Electrical Engineering (Rtd) and former Member of the Election Commission
39. Ameena Hussein – Writer
40. Bishop Kumara Illangasinghe
41. Deekshaya Illangasinghe – Activist
42. Fathima Nabeela Iqbal – Peacebuilder, Sisterhood Initiative
43. Chandra Jayaratne – former Chairman, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce
44. Rohana Jayaratne – Economist.
45. Tissa Jayatilaka- Retired Academic and Academic Administrator.
46. Sakuntala Kadirgamar – Executive Director, Law and Society Trust
47. Pavithra Kailasapathy – Professor, University of Colombo
48. Thiru Kandiah – Retired University Academic
49. Chulani Kodikara – Co-Editor “Polity”
50. Sepali Kottegoda
51. Herman Kumara – National Fisheries Solidarity Movement
52. Mahaluxmy Kurushanthan – Women’s Rights Activist
53. Lawrence  – Parish priest, Batticoloa
54. Jansila Majeed – Women’s Rights Activist
55. Bennette Mellawa – Director CARITAS Anuradhapura
56. Farah Mihlar – Senior Lecturer
57. Buhary Mohamed – Human Rights Activist
58. Juwairya Mohideen – Women’s Rights Activist
59. P Muthulingam – Executive Director, Institute of Social Development
60. Ramani Muttetuwegama – Attorney-at-Law
61. Rohini Nanayakkara – Former General Manager, Bank of Ceylon and Chairperson LOLC
62. M. Navaratna Bandara – Professor, University of Peradeniya (retired)
63. Gananath Obeyesekere- Prof. Emeritus,  Princeton University, USA,
64. Ranjini Obeyesekere-  Retired Prof. Princeton University, USA
65. Nalinika Obeyesekere – Veterinary Surgeon, Colombo
66. Arjuna Parakrama – Professor, University of Peradeniya
67. Sasanka Perera, Professor of Sociology, South Asian University, New Delhi
68. Sumika Perera Co-ordinator, Women’s’ Resource Centre
69. Suren D Perera – Attorney-at-Law
70. Pethiyagoda – Agronomist, Former Ambasador to Italy,
71. Chryso Pieris  – Centre for Reconciliation and Development
72. Dr. Jayasiri T Peiris.
73. Brother Lionel Peiris – Society of St. Francis
74. Sydney Peiris
75. Mirak Raheem – Researcher and Activist
76. PM Mujibur Rahman – LL.B
77. Dr Ramesh Ramasamy – University of Peradeniya
78. K S Ratnavale – Attorney at Law
79. Sheila Richards
80. Mahbooba Rifaideen – Attorney-at-Law
81. Rosairo S J – .  Chaplin Home for the Elders,
82. Sahayanathan – Superior of Batticaloa Jesuits,
83. Gameela Samarasinghe – Professor, University of Colombo
84. Jeanne Samuel
85. Shreen Saroor – Human Rights Activist
86. Paul Satkunanayagam- Counseling Centre Director,
87. Kalana Senaratne – University of Peradeniya
88. H.Sheriffdeen – Emeritus Professor of Surgery, University of Colombo.
89. Vanie Simon – Women’s Rights Activist
90. Kalani Subasinghe
91. S Sumithra – Human Rights Activist
92. Sujeewa  – Provincial Jesuits Sri Lanka
93. James Suresh – Director ETI, Batticoloa
94. Sirany Thevakumar – Community Activist
95. Mahendran Thiruvarangan – University of Jaffna
96. Sandun Thudugala – Director Programmes and Operations, Law and Society Trust
97. Deepika Udagama -Professor of Law, University of Peradeniya and former Chairperson Human Rights Commission
98. Jayadeva Uyangoda – Professor Emeritus, University of Colombo
99. C.Visvalingam – former President, Citizens Movement for Good Governance
100. M A Wahid – Youth Activist
101. Ruvan Weerasinghe – University of Colombo.
102. D Wijayanandana
103. Jayanta de S Wijeratne
104. Gamini Wijeyesinghe
105. Senior Superintendent of Police (ret) and United Nations International Civil Servant UN International War Crimes Tribunal, The Hague, The Netherlands.
106. Affected Women’s Forum
107. Alliance for Minorities
108. Centre for Human Rights and Development
109. Centre for Social Concerns, Jaela
110. Eastern Social Development Foundation
111. Families of the Disappeared
112. Human Elevation Organisation
113. International Centre for Ethnic Studies
114. Mannar Women’s Development Federation
115. Muslim Women’s Research and Action Forum
116. Muslim Women’s Development Trust
117. Rural Development Foundation
118. Star Rural Women’s Society
119. Women’s Action Network
120. Women and Media Collective
121. Women’s Voice Movement

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