EXECUTIVE PRESIDENCY AT GRASSROOTS LEVEL

31May 2022

Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

I smiled, watching the Sri Lankan news in which the working women at grassroots level called out to the President to come out if he was born to a single father and mother. As per the original known to me which is often used in Tamil cinema  - the saying is ‘if born to a single father’

The above is based on the chastity of the woman. The raw version is used by Sinhalese as well as Tamils. The structured version is ‘bastard’.

My belief in this was presented as follows to a group in which one member claimed:

‘Some songs are based on Sanga Kalam, lovers lamenting the loss of their men/Boyfriends who took to the sea during Chola's seafaring days, reaching far as Java, Sumatra, and Cambodia’

My response:

[[lovers lamenting the loss of their men/Boyfriends ]

“Missing is husband. Silappathikaaram is based on Kannaki and her husband and not lover/boyfriend. The position of husband is filled by the dedication of the woman not only to satisfying the needs and desires of the man currently holding the position, but must represent all women who were true their position as ‘wife’ – i.e. the Common wife. Kannaki did not deny Kovalan when he returned from Lover Mathavi. Thus Kannaki accumulated the Energy of Common wife. Hence when Kannaki claimed that Her husband was not a thief – that Energy burnt Madurai. In essence – every holder of a position needs to respect all predecessors in that position to be true to that position.

More importantly, if we are taking a position in the new structure of Eelam – Tamils -  through emphasis on Tamil language being foremost, then we need to renounce benefits and opportunities from Sri Lankans, Australians, British etc. When we are true to that position the truth would merge us with all Tamils – past as well as current. To be Eelam Tamil, one has to live within that position – and the benefits it brings. In all countries that have listed LTTE as terrorists – we have to live with that status and no more. That is true Sovereignty.”

The structured version of the above challenge is for ‘whether the President was true to those who created the Executive Presidency?’

As per my experience I was more ‘free’ of Financial pressures after 1978 when the position of Sri Lankan President was formed through a new Constitution. This meant that it is a structure that would lead me to financial prosperity. It also led to me emigrating from Sri Lanka. But I took the value of my true work with me. Hence I was able to realise financial independence.

If therefore, Sri Lanka goes back to Parliamentary system those who prospered under Executive Presidency may not be able to work that structure.

 

When the 19^th Amendment to the Constitution was passed by Parliament – the current PM was leader of the Parliamentary team. An elected member will naturally connect to other elected members who came in through the same Process.

The parallel of that on time basis is the time based team of all those who were in that position previously.

Mr Wicremesinghe was appointed as Prime Minister. The President’s authority flows from article 43(3) of the Constitution:

“43 (3) The President shall appoint as Prime Minister the Member of Parliament who in his opinion is most likely to command the confidence of Parliament.”

The President has failed to confirm that the Parliament has confidence in Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe. Hence the appointment is in breach of the provisions of the Constitution.  Instead, the President relied on Mr Wickremesinghe having held and performed in that position without recording any breaches of the law.

As per Financial Times report ‘Ranil’s road map to political reforms’:

• In special statement, PM unveils proposals to strength Parliament, reduce Executive power
• PM says reintroduction of 19A, abolition of Executive Presidency are two main political issues
• Opines Parliament paralysed due to weakening of powers after 20A
• Says methodology towards abolition of Executive Presidency must be decided by party leaders
• Moots appointment of several new committees to give Parliament more powers on public finance

The last on the above list has been foreshadowed by the PM as follows:

[Wickremesinghe said the youth are calling for a change in the existing system and to facilitate this, he proposed the appointment of four youth representatives to each of these 15 committees. “One of them will be appointed by the Youth Parliament. The other three will be from the protesting groups and other activist groups. The methodology used to choose these individuals can be decided by the youth organisations themselves,” he said.]
This however needs the approval of the constitution as it exists now. On the other hand, he as the Finance Minister would have the authority to Appoint such persons through Administrative processes.

At Parliamentary level – one believes and votes on the issue. In Administration – one uses laws made as per that belief and not as per one’s personal belief. To introduce such a system would have the effect of disrespecting the Pain of the People who elected this government. It is by experiencing the pain that we learn not to repeat mistakes. The simple theory is – no pain no gain.

 When votes are ‘bought’ – the voter becomes the Executive.  It is the parent depending on the child