Mr. Lakshman Kiriella, the chief organiser of the opposition, stated today (12) at the office of the Leader of the Opposition that the Attorney General has informed the government about their proposal to re-enforce the members of local councils, Municipal councils, and town councils must be passed by a 3/2 special majority in the parliament and approved by the people in a referendum. Sri Lanka Latest News.
As you all know that last week a private member’s proposal was submitted to amend the existing local councils act, municipal councils act and urban council’s acts. It is hoped that the dissolved local councils will be reactivated and the members of the local councils will function again as the councillors of the respective bodies once again.
Unexpected to the government the Attorney General has said that two-thirds of the parliament and a referendum needed to implement this. In fact, the government brought this because the members of the local councils of the government are in great distress today, because all their seats have been abolished and the elections have been postponed.
Therefore, the government tried to show especially to the Pohottu members of the government that ‘we take care of them; we are committed to them, and bring a bill and re-appoint them. That idea was given to them. They tried to completely deceive the Pohottu members, because they need people to work for them in upcoming elections. Another story is being spread 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.
Today there is a fight to get those appointments. We are clearly asking the government if there is a referendum to please the local council members. The government, which said that there is no money for the local government election, but is working to have a referendum to please Pohottuwa councillors. Whether it is a parliamentary election, a local council election, or a referendum, it is the same cost for all of them. The cost will be nearly ten billion. We ask the government what is expected from this work by bringing these kinds of bills to the parliament, wasting valuable time and forcing us to go to court.Government should tell clearly are they having a referendum and appointing former councillors or not?
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 councillors 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 fundamental rights in the subject of voting and participation in elections. This is clearly unconstitutional.
It violates fundamental human rights. We inquire as to what the government intends to do. Because this bill has been introduced in parliament. Some individuals have gone to court. The government should state whether or not a referendum will be held. We question the government about its aversion to holding local government elections.
Also, I saw yesterday that the government has scheduled a census of the population and houses and this has been gazetted. It is scheduled to start in September. There is obviously 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 chair, but it did not happen. The leader of the opposition discussed with us. We 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 we ask the mother of the thief but yesterday someone called me and said that what you said was wrong, we don’t ask from the mother of the thief but rom the thief himsel.
