Comments on: Radical Reforms in Sri Lanka: Realities we are afraid of?

By: Suren

Suren — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 20:54:08 +0000

Thank you for all the comments,
@ Professor Wije,
How do you conclude that two weeks of silence = no faith in my own proposal?
I am a researcher with many other urgent /life supporting projects at hand. I write only because I have a committment to see a democractic modern Sri Lanka

1. I hate to discuss real things with those who even fear to give their actual names
2. I am not paid for my politics but do it during my spare time thinking it will contribute to a civil debate
3.respected inttelectuals ( including Dr Jayathilake amidst of our many disagreements ,) are encouraging me
4. My attempt is to propose a thought it is up to the active civil society like you to continue the debate and take the best out of it.
5.

By: wije

wije — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:35:04 +0000

It has been 2 weeks, and Suren has yet to respond to any of the comments here.

Can we conclude that he lacks even the basic faith in his own proposal that he cannot engage with any responses to his ideas? Is this how he hopes to promote change?

By: Palmyrah

Palmyrah — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 07:25:29 +0000

Abolish Parliament?

Who will make and pass laws?

Political Science FAIL. Go back to Grade 9 and re-commence your education.

By: yapa

yapa — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 01:11:17 +0000

At least a good innovative idea, compared to stupid and short sighted attempts in the past and what is in the agenda at present.

Thanks for the initiative!

By: longus

longus — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 16:52:29 +0000

I mean Pope,sorry…

By: longus

longus — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 16:51:29 +0000

justin

I think you haven’t seen the motercade and the security provided to the Pop,I suppose!

By: Ravi

Ravi — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 15:47:30 +0000

Interesting radical reform, I thing every province will have its own ethnic and religious minority and thier rights will be protected by law sothat, there is on need for special emphasis on Muslim rights in Kalmunai/Sammanturai. But I have never been to these areas and I wan’t make a big issue out of this some thing can be sorted out. Trincomalee can be brought under direct PM rule with special panel from north, east and central provinces.

By: sinhala_voice

sinhala_voice — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 12:28:38 +0000

The existing Districts and Provinces have historical value in it’s boundaries. I do not see any need to change the boundaries of the provinces.

The electoral system of the House of representatives (lower house ) needs to be a Preferential system with single tranferable vote for a particular geographic area. Whilst the Senate needs to represent equal number of candidates from each of the provinces based on a Proportional system of voting taking the whole province as the electoral.

There needs to be a president with MUCH limited powers compared to today’s presidential powers. The Parliament needs to be elected for a term of 4 years and MUST be made to run the 4 years. That is it must not be able to be dissolved by anyone.

Presidential term must be 7 years and there should not be any limits to the number of times the president can contest.

The public service has to be made completely APOLITICAL and looking after the interest of the public.

These are the urgent things that needs to be addressed. Even devolution is NOT necessary if the above steps can be clearly implemented.

By: niranjan

niranjan — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 05:38:49 +0000

Suren Raghavan,

None of what you suggest is going to happen. However, your suggestions/ideas make interesting reading.
If you do visit Sri Lanka sometime you will find that the country has moved in a different political direction since CBK left office. Devolution of power is not on the cards. Even the 13 amendment to the Constitution is not been properly implimented so what hope is there for the new Constitutional rearrangements that you speak of. The old Constitution is still in place.
It is likely the old constitution will remain in place during the duration of this Government.

By: Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka

Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 03:29:15 +0000

What about Trincomalee? Quite a bit of te strtaegic area will have to be directly under Colombo ( or the PM, in Suren’s scheme). The absence of a mention of it is a lacuna in an otherwise interesting piece.