Duty of P’ment to formulate new Constitution: TNA

• Says new Constitution needed to abolish Executive Presidency, strengthen democratic rights and resolve Tamil issue

Illankai Tamil Arasu Kacchi (ITAK) MP Rajavarothiam Sampanthan, moving an Adjournment Motion, on Thursday reiterated the importance of a new Constitution which gives due recognition to minorities while upholding peace and harmony acceptable to all ethnicities and religions.

“If a new Constitutionwith asubstantial measure of national consensus is not formulated, andif consequentlythe country is compelled to be governed under a Constitution which hasbeen rejected by the people, and also unanimously by the presentParliament, Sri Lanka could before long qualify itself to be termed a failed state, and I submit it is the duty of this Parliament to take every step to avoid such a calamity,” he said.

According to MP Sampanthan, the Tamil people of the North and the East have a heritage and civilisation of their own. They have a distinct linguistic and cultural identity, and historically predominantly inhabited the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

“Sri Lanka has thus been governed since Independence in 1947 under Constitutions which did not enjoy the maximum possible national consensus of the diverse and pluralist people of 

Sri Lanka.

Duty...

 The situation of conflict that has prevailed in Sri Lanka from independence in 1947, including an armed conflict that lasted for 25-30 years, is attributable to the absence of a Constitution based on such maximum possible national consensus, to suit the needs of a diverse and pluralist society. Sri Lanka, with a diverse and pluralist society in the past 70 years, has failed to evolve a Sri Lankan identity as a Sri Lankan nation within a united and undivided Sri Lanka,” he said.

Based on the mandates received at the elections in 2015, a resolution was adopted in Parliament unanimously on 9 March 2015. According to MP Sampanthan, there was a broad agreement among the people of Sri Lanka that it is necessary to enact a new Constitution.

“People have, at the Presidential Election held on 8 January 2015, given a clear mandate for establishing a political culture that respects the rule of law and strengthens democracy. President Maithripala Sirisena has clearly expressed his desire to give effect to the will of the people expressed at the aforesaid Presidential Election, by enacting a new Constitution inter alia, abolishing the Executive Presidency.”

“Now it has become necessary to enacta new Constitution that inter alia, abolishes the Executive Presidency, ensuresa fairand representativeelectoral system which eliminatespreferential voting, strengthensthe democratic rights of all citizens, providesa Constitutional Resolution of the national issue, promotes national reconciliation, establishes a political culture that respects the rule of Law,guaranteesthe People’s fundamental rightsand freedom that assure human dignity, and promotes responsible and accountable government,” he added. (AH)