19th Amendment – Gateway for good governance - Premachandran

by Naalir Jamaldeen

Constitutional Amendments are necessary because power has to be transferred from the Executive Presidency to the parliamentary system of Government, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) spokesman Suresh Premachandran (MP) told the Sunday Observer.

The Government's decision to introduce the 19th Amendment will be a gateway for good governance, Premachandran said.

After the introduction of the 19th Amendment, Independent Election, Police, Bribery and other Commissions will be set up and they will check corruption and bribery in the country.

Premachandran said that the new Government plans to bring back the 17th Amendment which was abolished by the previous Government.

“We have held discussions with the Government on the problems of the Tamils and are holding discussions. They have publicly said that steps would be taken to resolve the problems of the Tamils. We held discussions with the previous Government but they did not come to any settlement in regard to the Tamil problems.

They could have used the opportunity to address the grievances of the Tamils. But they failed to do so. We hope the new Government will take steps to resolve the problems of the Tamils. We will wait for some more time”, Premachandran said.

He also stressed that Constitutional reforms and Amendments are necessary to have transparency and good governance. Democracy can also be practised, if changes are made to the Constitution.

“Over 450,000 Tamils voted for the victory of the New Democratic Front. The Tamils are also stakeholders of the victory of President Maithripala Sirisena. I think it is a huge gesture for ethnic reconciliation. The entire Tamil community had shown their gesture at the Presidential election. Now it is reciprocated by the Government”, he said.

When Premachandran was asked whether the TNA had any idea to go for a National Government, at a time when certain factions are criticising the National Government, he said that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is talking about a National Government.

The National Government could resolve all problems in the country. The National Government will be successful only when it is practised properly by seeking ideas from various factions. First of all, an election must be held and thereafter it can be decided whether to go for a National Government or not.

He was told that the UPFA says that it could come to power with the majority votes at the forthcoming general election, Premachandran said it was not possible as the party is already split.

“The SLFP, UPFA, LSSP and Wimal Weerawansa's parties function separately in Parliament. Hence the UPFA can't achieve its goals.

A new Alliance will emerge in the future, he said. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa tried to rouse racial feelings among the Sinhala people. He keeps telling the Muslims in the Eastern province that they were guided by someone against him and that's why he lost the election”, Premachandran said.

Premachandran said that all voted for the New Democratic Front hoping for a parliamentary form of Government and this was the pledge given by President Maithripala Sirisena during his election campaign.

He said the 13th Amendment cannot be implemented without a proper Amendment to the Constitution. There must be a dialogue between the Government and the TNA. Both parties should reach an agreement. Discussions need to be held on power sharing.

When asked whether the TNA had any idea to hold discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Sri Lanka, Premachandran said that so far they have no idea of holding discussions with the Indian Prime Minister.

“The land problem of the Northern people must be addressed immediately. We have already met the President and the Prime Minister and apprised them of the problems of the Tamils in the North today. Now it is up to the President and the Prime Minister to do it”, Premachandran said.