Remove Presidents’ legal immunity and make Legislature more liable

Discussion held to mark 90 years of universal franchise in Sri Lanka

People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL ) together with the March 12 Group launched a book ‘Democracy Theory and Practice, Sri Lanka’s Experience’ to mark 90 years of universal franchise in Sri Lanka. A discussion titled “Do we want an administrator or an elected leader” was also held to mark the event. The picture shows the launching of the book. Pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana   

By Yohan Perera   

Changes to the system of governance such as removing the legal immunity of the President and making the legislation more legally liable and strengthening internal democracy was proposed at a discussion of intellectuals held yesterday to mark 90 years of universal franchise in Sri Lanka.   

Former Auditor General Gamini Wijesinghe who made the keynote address at the discussion organized by People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) and March 12 Group said removing the legal immunity of the President, making the legislature more legally liable was one of the eight step programmes he would recommend to put the nation on the right track. The other proposals he came up with are removing all perks given to politicians, making political parties accountable for their spending, establishing financial discipline, saving the agriculture industry and other local industries from being exposed to global markets, establishing a sub economy and updating legal systems every three years.   “This eight point programme will help lift up the fallen pillars of the nation such as the Executive, Legislature, Judiciary, media, public sector, Anti-corruption agencies and political parties,” he said.   He said the failure of these pillars had resulted in making each member of the Sri Lanka population owe Rs 1 million to foreign countries.   

Former Chairman of the Elections Commission Mahinda Deshapriya said internal democracy of political parties should be established. “Political parties should not be controlled by families and other small groups,” he said.