Implement Electoral Reforms or face severe consequences - Ven.Sobitha Thera tells Govt.
The convener of the National Movement for Social Justice, the Ven. Maduluwave Sobhitha Thera with regard to implementation of constitutional reforms said that the public not only gave this government the plate, but, they have also heated it for the. Accordingly President Maithripala Sirisena should make ‘roti’ while the plate is heated and not bask in its warmth, the Ven.Thero stressed.
Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha thera on Sunday addressing a conference organized by the Movement at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, Colombo urged the government to either abolish the Executive Presidency or prune its excessive powers within the hundred days.
Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera, Dr Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri, Prof. Jayadewa Uyangoda, Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratna, Dr. Upul Guinasekera, representatives of social and political organizations were present.
The.Ven Thera also urged the government to give effect to the 17th Amendment that has been approved by Parliament in unison and if there are shortcomings, they may be corrected and the Act shall be put into effect.
“It is equally imperative that the 18th Amendment be revoked. The Government also has to bring electoral reforms, which is not a new topic. It is for this that the Dinesh Gunawardena Committee was appointed,” the Ven. Thera pointed out.
“If it was difficult as some of them would say that delimitation of electoral boundaries and the demography of the population had to be determined over some other factors, the subject could have been taken at the inception,” the Thera stressed.
“They have not even touched upon the subject and seems to have removed it from their thoughts and have begun to say that it cannot be done,” Ven. Sobitha Thera added.
“We are living in a developed world, and these things can be done with available resources,” the Thera said.
“If they are going to hold elections without bringing electoral reforms, they are paving the way for those thieves, drug lords, money launderers and fraudsters to enter Parliament,” Ven. Sobitha Thera said.
“These ill-disposed politicians are selling their MP posts for money without any shame. This 100 Day programme is not something we imposed on the government. They themselves created it. Some of them went on to say on election platforms that they could do all these things in less than 100 days,” the Thera said.
Ven. Sobhitha Thera said this is not the time for the public go in to deep slumber. Let us present all these proposals to Parliament. “The Sri Lankan Freedom Party cannot raise their hands against these proposals. They have raised their voices for these proposals. Will they go against the country’s forward march and democracy? The United National Party (UNP) will vote for this,” he said.
“If there are political parties that abstain from voting in favour of these proposals, it will be a treacherous act. Then we must go for a general election and tell the people that they are trying to stifle the country’s progress, and that they stand in the way of these proposals for good governance and social justice. Let us ask the people to give us a two thirds majority, so that we can make these proposals a reality,” the Thera said.
