Back to Galle Face!

For Everlasting Assembly on Economic Revival and Reconciliation

Our voters have constantly exhibited their ability to change Governments. Unfortunately, in the selection of individual candidates, they, and the Political party leaders have failed miserably. They select and elect popular film stars, teledrama actresses, gold-snatchers, criminals idling in remand prisons pending court cases, those found guilty but serving suspended sentences, clowns, corrupt, inefficient candidates, and comedians over the honest youth, and experienced politicians.  The President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is the Head of the State, the Head of the Executive and of the Government, and the Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. 

   The Presidential Secretariat is housed at the magnificent edifice which signifies a most important institutional landmark in our country’s political progress. With its beautiful architecture, the old Parliament building is one of the major attractions of Colombo. The building was built resembling the Parthenon, the temple of the Greek Idol, Athena, at Athens. Sir Herbert Stanley, Governor declared open it on January 29, 1930, during the Legislative Council days. It was Sir Henry McCallum, his predecessor who initiated the project for a legislative building—a hallmark of the old legislature. It is placed in a commanding position on the Galle Face Road and built on reclaimed land between the military barracks and the ‘Beira” Lake at the northern end of Galle Face. 

The building has been designed by Austin Woodeson, so as to have an open view and to have the advantage of cross breezes; the chamber has been located on the east end of the structure away from the noise of the waves and protected from the afternoon sun and robust South-West gusts. Woodeson, the Chief architect of the Public Works Department, inspired by the Neo-Baroque style designed it.  The building is fire-proof throughout, steel frames support the walls and concrete columns. Precautions have been taken to reduce the reverberation and echo, and the acoustic properties reduced as perfectly as possible. Air is also circulated to the public galleries entering through openings at the backs of the chairs, thus obviating the necessity for overhead fans, which disturb the audibility and clarity of public speaking.  

Ever since gaining independence 75 years ago, attempts were made to find a solution to the national conflict, due to the resentment and disputes that occurred among the political parties in handling subjects of national standing, we failed to make solid decisions. Coherence among political parties is paramount to finding a political solution.  The strange scenario of having an executive president from one party, and the prime minister and cabinet belonging to another was a golden occasion to show their support for each other on national issues. However, they failed to support each other in taking a unanimous decision. 

A multi-ethnic, languages, and religious community, continuously ruled by representatives of the majority, Sinhalese, needs to be changed by a far-sighted, all-inclusive structure that reflects the plurality of the society

 Due to the war that lasted almost three decades, independent institutions were weakened, and good governance and rule of law became weak. For a healthy political system to operate efficiently, there must be some level of the covenant on the basic nature, the common role of government in the society, and the goals of participation.  The differences in languages, religious faiths, class, and casts create huge problems for any political regime.  A multi-ethnic, languages, and religious community, continuously ruled by representatives of the majority, Sinhalese, needs to be changed by a far-sighted, all-inclusive structure that reflects the plurality of the society.  All governments over the 75 years resorted to inciting racism to push their agendas, resulting in Sri Lanka losing every chance of unity, integrity, and compromise, creating a dent in its sovereignty, and standing internationally.

 The consequences of this resulted in the degeneration of reconciliation among the government, and the ethnic groups causing harmful effects. Governor, Sir Herbert Stanley delivering his address on the occasion said, “It is the hope and prayer of us all that the deliberations which will be conducted within these walls may serve to weld the several communities and classes of the population together into an organic unity of national life and national progress, not by the suppression of varying traditions but by their co-ordination on a basis of mutual respect”. 

The great flight of steps that led to the complex proper is another unique feature of the Old Parliament. Following Constitutional reforms, later, the name of the Legislature, was changed to the State Council in 1931, and in 1947 it became the House of Representatives until 1972 when the nation became a republic, it was renamed, The National State Assembly, only to be called, Parliament of Sri Lanka with further reforms in 1978. However, in 1979, due to the “lack of space” in the Building at Galle Face, the need arose to move it to another building. Then it was proposed to construct a new building at Sri Jayawardenapura, Kotte. Accordingly, the construction of the new Parliament complex commenced in the year 1979 on a design by legendary architect Geoffrey Bawa and was built by President JR Jayewardene on a 16-acre island at the heart of the Diyawanna Oya in the Kotte area. 

To bring back glory to the legislator, the Parliament and Presidential Secretariat should swap places. The chamber at the old parliament is comparatively smaller, and would ideally suit the reduced number of elected representatives from the present 225 to 150 under a new amendment to the constitution. An assembly of 150, that includes 10 nominated members.  The ten should include three from minority communities who are unable to have one of them elected: one each from Malays, Burghers, and the Indigenous people and the rest from different professions.  A cabinet of 15 with fifteen deputies with only the MP’s salary plus one vehicle. The Cabinet’s composition should be all-encompassing and representative to the highest extent possible; one-third of the Cabinet positions should be comprised of women and one-third should represent minorities (reservations could overlap), plus, the following proposals--The National Anthem should be incorporated in both Sinhala and Tamil languages into the text of the Constitution with equal recognition. Foremost status to Buddhism is against Buddha Dhamma, the clause needs to be deleted. Privatize all state enterprises, irrespective of profit/loss making, for the profits of ‘profit-making’ ones could double the profits if managed efficiently. 

The draft Constitution should grant maximum devolution of powers to the Provinces. A Board of Ministers led by a Chief Minister elected directly by the people of that Province is adequate. The Prime Minister and Cabinet lead executive policy-making, while being accountable to Parliament. The PM will be the Head of Government. The PM will not hold any additional portfolios. There will be a non-Executive President as the Head of State, who plays an impartial role and acts as a force uniting the people. The non-Executive President will be expected to carry out certain ceremonial functions only. The President will be in constant contact with the Prime Minister and cabinet where necessary and shall mediate only in very exceptional circumstances. The non-Executive President is to be elected by the legislature. There will be no ‘State Ministers’. 
The next election should be the Parliamentary election due in 2025. 

Writer can be contacted at - [email protected]