Prelates urge President, PM to annul PC polls

Fourteen leading Buddhist monks, in an open letter to the President, the Prime Minister and the government, urged not to conduct the provincial councils and calling it a treacherous act, they asked for the introduction of the new constitution without making the promise given to people a facade.

“Although the country had seen success in ending a war that terrorized the country after the sacrifice of the lives of many patriotic soldiers, we were not able to live in peace for a long time. The people of this country have become the target of other acts of terrorism along with the Easter Sunday attacks in 2019. The real perpetrators of this dastard terrorist attack that had its roots in the Eastern Province with the connivance of international Muslim terrorism are yet a mystery. The threats of bigoted leaders and the unearthing of bombs and weapons recently in the Northern Province is an indication that terrorist activities from among the Tamil population are not fully eradicated. The monks who signed are Ven. Ittepane Dhammalankara Mahanayaka Thera, Diviyagaha Yasassi Nayaka Thera, Dodampahala Chandasiri Mahanayaka Thera, Karagoda Uyangoda Maitrimurti Mahanayaka Thera, Matale Dhammakusala Anunayaka Thera, Balangoda Sobhita Nayaka Thera, Tirikunamale Ananda Mahanayaka Thera, Ellawala Medhananda Nayaka Thera, Prof. Tumbulle Silakkhanda Nayaka Thera, Omare Kassapa Anunayaka Thera, Prof. Kandegoda Vimaladhamma Anunayaka Thera, Akuratiye Nanda Nayaka Thera, Prof. Medagama Nandavamsa Nayaka Thera and Prof. Agalakada Sirisumana Thera.

Hence, it is imperative that the country should bring into being a new constitution that firmly establishes the unitary status of Sri Lanka. The efforts of the present government to strengthen the Provincial Council system that has been forcefully and arbitrarily shoved on the people of this country, rather than bringing about a new Constitution that rectifies this situation, have resulted in much condemnation by the public.

Making preparations to hold Provincial Council elections in haste, similar to the passing of the 20th amendment to the Constitution, seems to be a hint that the promise placed before the people of the country to have a new constitution is only a facade.

The recent UNHCR resolution passed recently in Geneva reveals the shameless attempts of the Western interests to annul the Prevention of Terrorism Act. In this regard it is sad to note that there are sections within the Government, the opposition and the NGO sector that are hand in glove with various groups who are hell-bound to destroy our country.

The short-sighted cabinet decision to hold elections for Provincial Councils before getting the recommendations of the Committee appointed by this same Government in regard to a new Constitution should be considered as a golden opportunity lost to rectify a wrong that is hindering the future path of progress of this country.

If the Provincial Council elections are held as announced, the government will be legally bound to implement in full the 13th Amendment. According to the provisions of the 13th Amendment, Provincial Councils are allowed to establish Provincial Police Forces and hold firearms, ammunition and other equipment. Going by the past record, it is not difficult to predict how Chief Ministers will govern the provinces. Such behaviour was clearly evident from the former Chief Minister of the Northern Province C.V. Vigneswaran during his tenure as CM. Injustices were meted out to the Buddhists and Buddhist religious places purely driven by communal considerations.

If two such Chief Ministers were to be elected, the establishment of a Provincial Council system according to the wishes of the people will become just a pipe dream. It appears that the hasty decision taken by the government is for the sole purpose of obstructing and making it impossible to abolish the current Provincial Council system. It is apparent that the present move of the government is to satisfy requirements or conditions of external elements. We do not want a government that is guided and dictated by foreign governments, agencies or organizations,” they wrote.