The government’s proposal to re-enforce the members of local councils, city councils and small town councils has caught fire.
The private member’s proposal must be passed by a 3/2 special majority in Parliament and approved by the people in a referendum.
Mr. Lakshman Kiriella, the chief organizer of the opposition, who spoke at the press conference held at the opposition leader’s office yesterday (12):
You all know that last week a private member’s proposal was submitted to amend the existing local councils act, municipal councils act and small municipal councils act. It is hoped that the dissolved local councils will be reactivated by the members of the local councils, municipal councils and small municipal councils. To be appointed once, but the government did not expect it.
The Attorney General has said that two-thirds of the parliament and a referendum are needed to implement this. In fact, the government brought this, the members of the local councils of the government are in great distress today, because all the members of parliament have been abolished and the elections have been postponed. Therefore, the government tried to show, especially to the members of the government’s potholes, that we We will take care of them, we will devote ourselves to them, bring a bill and re-appoint them. That idea was given to them.
Many elections are coming in the future. These people are needed to work for the elections. Another story is spreading that when this law is implemented, none of the members of the opposition will be appointed, only the members of the government will be appointed. It is a fight to get those appointments today. We are clearly asking the government to please the local council members. Is there a referendum? The government, which said there is no money for the local government elections, is working on a referendum.
Whether it is a parliamentary election, local council election or a referendum, the same cost is spent on any election. We need nearly ten billion. Are former regional councilors reappointed after holding a referendum? No? The government should give a clear answer.
The Attorney General says that the proposed amendment may have the effect of postponing elections by extending the term of a local government body and the local government councilors who have exceeded their term as representatives elected by the people can hold their office for an indefinite period without any democratic mandate. Therefore, this act will affect the voting rights of the people as well as their basic rights in the subject of voting and participation in elections.
Clearly this is unconstitutional. It is against basic human rights. We ask the government what it hopes to do? Because this bill was presented to the parliament. The government should clarify whether two-thirds of the parliament will go for a referendum. We ask the government why it is afraid to hold local council elections
Also, I saw yesterday that the government’s population and housing census has been gazetted. It is scheduled to start in September. There is clearly money for this. The argument that the government does not have money cannot be presented now. Because the government itself said that the label of “bankrupt” that has been given to Sri Lanka will now be applied to Sri Lanka. It cannot be used against. We tell the government that our people are very impatient to vote. It is good that different groups can come. People like those who joined the last struggle.
Five judges of the Supreme Court have been appointed to hear the cases we filed. The hearings will be held in the middle of this month. We are confident that the court will give an order to hold elections. The primary responsibility lies with the court, not anyone else. There is no power in any law.
The Second World War ended in 1944. In the same year that it ended, England should have held the parliamentary election. They held the parliamentary election. It was not postponed. There was a big earthquake in Turkey and about 50,000 lives were lost. But the election was not postponed. The vote was held. Take it to the democratic front. Timely elections are necessary. The government is clearly afraid to hold an election. According to the surveys conducted by the government, the government is at a very weak level.
In the last parliamentary session, the opposition proposed a committee to look into the bankruptcy of the country. Then the proposal came to the general business committee of the parliament. In general, everyone accepted it. We made a clear request to appoint a member of the opposition to the first chair, but it did not happen. The leader of the opposition discussed with us. I made a decision to withdraw from that committee. But we are appointing a separate committee to find out how the country went bankrupt. I also want to say this, in the parliament I said that I would ask the mother of the thief but yesterday someone called me and said that what you said was wrong, from the mother of the thief. Not to ask the thief himself that this is going.
(Sarat Samaranayake)
