By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham

Colombo, March 10 – A study conducted by think – tank ‘Research Lanka’ reveals that the Sri Lankan population is sharply divided over the abolition of the Executive Presidential system.

The study indicates that 50 percent of the population desires the abolition of the Presidential system, while the other 50 percent wishes to continue with it. At the same time, it has come to light that 80 percent of the people believe the National People’s Power (NPP) government will not bring in a new constitution, with only 20 percent  maintaining that a new constitution will be introduced by this government.

The research further suggests that the majority of the people believe that  if the current government fails to bring in a new constitution, Sri Lanka may never see another one in the future.

Usually, governments tend to introduce new constitutions during the early stages of their term. Independent Sri Lanka’s two constitutions was ere introduced early in the tenure of Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s United Front government and J.R. Jayewardene’s United National Party (UNP) government, respectively.

When questions regarding a new constitution arose during the initial months of the NPP government, its leaders stated that the constitutional drafting process would be initiated after three years. Now, a year and a half has passed. Given the internal challenges the government faces and the issues likely to intensify due to the current international crises, it is difficult to expect the country’s situation to be conducive to introducing a new constitution in the coming years.

Regarding the abolition of the Executive Presidency, no President who came to power promising its removal has ever fulfilled that pledge. The NPP had also made the same promise.

However, people had never defeated a President in a subsequent election specifically for failing to fulfil the promise to abolish the Presidential system.  Among those who broke this promise, two )residents (Chandrika Kumaratunga and Mahinda Rajapaksa) served two terms in power. However, when Mahinda Rajapaksa contested for a third term, several other factors contributed to his defeat.

Therefore, while the abolition of the Executive Presidency has been a key promise put forward by opposition candidates contesting against incumbent Presidents, there remains a doubt as to how far this has truly been a popular demand. The results of the aforementioned study strengthen that doubt.

One cannot claim that the people brought the UNP to power with a massive majority in the July 1977 elections specifically because J.R. Jayewardene promised to introduce the Executive Presidency. Similarly, it cannot be said that in elections where those promising to abolish the system won, are voted to power solely for that particular promise.

The Executive Presidency and the debates surrounding its abolition will likely continue, but it appears that change is not on the horizon.

END

By Veeragathy Thanabalasingham

Colombo, March 10 – A study conducted by think – tank ‘Research Lanka’ reveals that the Sri Lankan population is sharply divided over the abolition of the Executive Presidential system.

The study indicates that 50 percent of the population desires the abolition of the Presidential system, while the other 50 percent wishes to continue with it. At the same time, it has come to light that 80 percent of the people believe the National People’s Power (NPP) government will not bring in a new constitution, with only 20 percent  maintaining that a new constitution will be introduced by this government.

The research further suggests that the majority of the people believe that  if the current government fails to bring in a new constitution, Sri Lanka may never see another one in the future.

Usually, governments tend to introduce new constitutions during the early stages of their term. Independent Sri Lanka’s two constitutions was ere introduced early in the tenure of Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s United Front government and J.R. Jayewardene’s United National Party (UNP) government, respectively.

When questions regarding a new constitution arose during the initial months of the NPP government, its leaders stated that the constitutional drafting process would be initiated after three years. Now, a year and a half has passed. Given the internal challenges the government faces and the issues likely to intensify due to the current international crises, it is difficult to expect the country’s situation to be conducive to introducing a new constitution in the coming years.

Regarding the abolition of the Executive Presidency, no President who came to power promising its removal has ever fulfilled that pledge. The NPP had also made the same promise.

However, people had never defeated a President in a subsequent election specifically for failing to fulfil the promise to abolish the Presidential system.  Among those who broke this promise, two )residents (Chandrika Kumaratunga and Mahinda Rajapaksa) served two terms in power. However, when Mahinda Rajapaksa contested for a third term, several other factors contributed to his defeat.

Therefore, while the abolition of the Executive Presidency has been a key promise put forward by opposition candidates contesting against incumbent Presidents, there remains a doubt as to how far this has truly been a popular demand. The results of the aforementioned study strengthen that doubt.

One cannot claim that the people brought the UNP to power with a massive majority in the July 1977 elections specifically because J.R. Jayewardene promised to introduce the Executive Presidency. Similarly, it cannot be said that in elections where those promising to abolish the system won, are voted to power solely for that particular promise.

The Executive Presidency and the debates surrounding its abolition will likely continue, but it appears that change is not on the horizon.

END