Address sovereign voters’ proposals at the APC – by Bernard Fernando
The out come of current ‘All Party Conference’ (APC) aimed at resolving our National issue without the JJB has to be awaited with mixed feelings. In the meanwhile, the country loving sovereign voters genuinely feel that the reconciliation proceedings can be catalysed by addressing the following Electoral Reforms/System changes with a ‘win-win’ outlook.
1)Allocate seats for all People’s representatives using pure Proportionate Representation method thereby ensuring ‘Equality of Vote’ as per UN Resolution of 1948 and fostering ‘Sri lankan ness’ in the process;
2) Ensure Quality of Peoples’ Representatives based on Meritocracy under a mandatory methodology;
3) Abolish existing Preference Voting(‘Manape’) and Mixed Member Voting (MMV) systems and if necessary, allow all parties to enter their nominees in merit order using any one of 03 District/Electorate lists captioned PR, FPP and Central-Pool as stipulated by NEC.
4)Apply Proportionate Representation to allocate Cabinet seats further ensuring ‘Sri Lankan ness’;
5)Objectively, strengthen PCs and rationalise the role of National MPs.;
6) Depoliticise the LG level tier and allow independent ‘Jana Sabhas ‘at GND level as proposed by NMSJ to manage their local affairs while participating in National Policy making under a ‘Bottom -up’ approach;
7)Abolish Executive Presidency with effect from a specified date through a Referendum and Elect a ‘Hybrid Governor General’ from 3 candidates proposed by the Constitutional Council, with the vote of MPs and PC members. He/She will have additional powers to appoint Provincial Governors and through them ensure timely execution of Parliament approved Acts, Laws, Budgets and Programmes without red tape.
As country loving citizens we are frustrated by the inability of our corrupt party system to abolish the politicized ‘Executive Presidency’ hanging fire for the last 30 years. Since the present political environment points to the closest Presidential Election, the only alternative left for the people is to vote for a suitable ‘Independent candidate’ who can be relied upon to abolish the current Executive Presidency and also effect the aforesaid critical ‘System changes’ and other related and cost effective proposals by country loving Sovereign voters which have already appeared in the Press. The existing Constitution and the genre of our current set of ‘225’ who are hell bent on grabbing power by hook or by crook, are direct impediments for achieving people’s expectations.
Bernard Fernando,
Moratuwa.
Email: jbvfernando@yahoo.com
