News Date 2024/09/09
According to NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, a government led by the party will organise a referendum on a new constitution, conduct the long-overdue municipal and provincial elections within a year, and establish a commission to look into prejudice.
Speaking on Thursday, September 05, at a rally in Jaffna, Dissanayake stated that the 2015–2019 administration’s work on draughting a new constitution will be continued by an NPP administration based on the principles of equality, democracy, and participatory governance within the nation.
Many politicians from the South attempt to negotiate with those in the North. “Vote for us, and we’ll give you land powers or the Thirteenth Amendment.” What is the duration of their actions? That’s not why I’m here. If I approached you to strike a bargain, you may respond, “13 is not enough. Give us plus.” “My primary goal is to establish a government that has gained the trust of both the northern and southern regions,” he declared.
“AKD promises a commission on discrimination, provincial polls, and a new constitution.”
“In our country, governments were established to oppress the ‘other.'” The south created governments in opposition to the north. Governments in Sri Lanka were established in opposition to Tamils. “My primary goal is to alter this oppositional politics,” he continued.
According to Dissanayake, a new constitution for Sri Lanka has long been necessary.
A new constitution was draughted in the year 2000. That was put to an end by Ranil Wickremesinghe and associates setting it on fire in parliament. Between 2015 and 2019, there was further discussion on the constitution, but no resolution was reached, he claimed.According to the NPP leader, the party intends to “rapidly conclude the process that began in 2015-2019” and develop a new constitution that is based on democracy and equality and allows all citizens to take part in national governance. “Devolve power politically and administratively to every local government body, district, and province and guarantee the political participation of every ethnicity” is the stated goal of the draft constitution.
We have put up a fresh constitution proposal. You’ve been provided an overview of the proposal. In a short while, this constitution would be ratified by a referendum and become Sri Lanka’s primary body of law, he declared.
Dissanayake pointed out that local government elections have been postponed by two years and that there haven’t been provincial council elections in six years.
“The opportunity for citizens to participate in governance will be upheld, and these elections—which have been postponed indefinitely—will take place within a year,” he said.
He said that a commission with the authority to file lawsuits against discrimination will be appointed by an NPP administration.
In this nation, there are Muslims, Tamils, and Sinhalese people. There are Muslims, Christians, Hindus, and Buddhists. There are people who speak Tamil and Sinhala. A variety of communities exist. There is a chance that some populations may experience discrimination until racism is eradicated entirely. A commission with the authority to file lawsuits against discrimination shall be appointed by us. “Any instances of discrimination can be reported to this commission by anyone,” he stated.
Dissanayake urged Tamils in the north to support the NPP and not oppose it, asserting that a win in the September 21 presidential election is a certain.
