Sri Lankan Expatriates Written to President Maithreepala
Considering the imminent threat to the unitary status of the country and pro-federalist mind set with 13A+ of many of the government ministers and Prime Minister Ranil in particular, expatriates in several countries have written to the Sri Lankan President HE the Maithreepala Sirisena to take several actions to safeguard the motherland from pro-elaam politicians.
The letter emphasized number of proposals as to the 13th Amendment, development of the economy of the country and measure to safe guard the Buddhism.
The full text of the letter is as follows:
15th March 2015
His Excellency Maithreepala Sirisena
The President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Your Excellency
A Message from Expatriate Sri Lankans
The Sri Lankan Expat community extends its congratulations on your victory at the Presidential Elections held on 8th January 2015. The country, the future of its people now lie in your hands as the custodian and leader of the nation, and the commander of the armed forces which sacrificed lives to free this nation from the shackles of the LTTE Tamil terrorism. We would like to reiterate that the LTTE terrorism remains active in other forms and new forms of terrorism continue to haunt our nation.
We are concerned about the nature of the coalition that its constituent parties governing the country when one considers their ideology and separatist agenda and would like to caution Your Excellency to not allow your vision and mission to be hijacked into fulfilling their objectives.
Our efforts to assist Sri Lanka over the years through numerous projects will continue unabated, and as expat communities across the world we would continue to propagate and champion our country’s intrinsic interests and her well-being.
We would like to place before you some key considerations for Your Excellency’s review;
1. Maintain unitary status of the country – the Constitutional provisions should not be changed and Sri Lanka must remain in word and deed a unitary country without providing any means for a part or parts of the country to form separate entities despite of India is demanding United Sri Lanka instead of Unitary state beyond 13th Amendment to create a Federal State in Sri Lanka.
2. Need to revoke the 13th amendment – this amendment came with the signing of the Indo-Lanka Accord in 1987 and was concluded under virtual duress. The Provincial Council system has not provided any relief to the people of these provinces; instead it has enabled ethnic-base political parties to use 13A as a stepping stone to separatism. Returning to the District Council system is suggested,
3. Coalition objectives –Some of parties that are offering support to Your Excellency are backed by foreign powers to influence and set up a federal/Western neo-colonial/liberal nation out of Sri Lanka thus denying the heritage of the Sinhala Buddhist identity of the country. Your Excellency as the custodian of the country must ensure that the Sinhala Buddhist identity is not diluted under whatever name or concept,
4. Demilitarize North and East – The national security of the country is at risk with calls to demilitarize North and even parts of East. With the realization that hard-core LTTE terrorists escaped and are likely to return, and the that there are other nations awaiting to create instability in the country it is imperative that national security and national intelligence is kept under your direct control and away from any influence of such coalition partners,
5. The Executive Presidency must stay – all the nations with strong a political foothold have a Presidential system. When efforts are afoot to divide the nation it is essential that the Presidential system remains, and it is in the interest of the stability of the Nation.
6. Election System -The proportional election system in existence has provided no relief to the voting public, therefore it is best that competent parliamentarians are elected to office. We propose that the electoral system be changed in order to primarily follow the first past the post system that existed earlier,
7. No MP cross over – We request you to introduce a Bill to ensure that no MP crosses over, and if one does so on a principle he loses his seat, and has to contest afresh under a different party,
8. Current Development Project – Continue the development work without revoking the current contracts as Sri Lanka can progress only through development and the moment Sri Lanka looks unstable and the investors will leave, and this will affect the country’s economic stability.
9. ‘Sangayanawak’ – We urge you to initiate a plan to hold a ‘Sangayanawak’ and establish the Buddhist identity of the country while introducing standards for the Buddhist clergy to follow,
10. China Factor – The future of the world has shifted to the East and gravitates towards China and Sri Lanka needs to realign itself to the Asian block. The best way for Sri Lanka to re-establish that presence is to initiate a League of Buddhist Nations, an effort that even India and China are now working towards for political mileage. Sri Lanka’s role in preserving Buddhism historically enables Sri Lanka to be a key link which Sri Lanka should not miss.
Your Excellency, we implore you to realize that there are efforts to dilute the Sinhala identity, the key that protects the nation and keeps the country as .a single unit. The efforts exerted through educational syllabus, manoeuvring of cultural change through ‘multicultural’ and ‘multi religious’ and ‘multi-faith’ are to deny the historical role of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and will lead to denationalizing of our people.
Your Excellency hailing from Polonnaruwa, where the Kingdom of the Kings prevailed in its heyday must protect Sri Lanka’s heritage and keep the people of Sri Lanka united and a country that is not divided.
We wish you good health, success and the vision to ensure Sri Lanka’s unitary status and to protect the historical heritage of the Nation
Ranjith Soysa
Spokesperson
World Alliance for Peace in Sri Lanka
PO Box 4066,
Mulgrave VIC 3170,
Australia
Email; ranjiths@spur.asn.au
Associated Member Organization of the World Alliance for Peace in Sri Lanka (WAPS)
1. Mr. Ranjith Soysa
ranjiths@spur.asn.au
Spokesperson, Society For Peace Unity Human Rights In Sri Lanka ,Victoria PO box 4066.Vic 3170.Australia
2. Mr. Badra Karunarathna
bkarunar@nla.gov.au
Sinhala Cultural Association of Australia Inc
3. Mr. Douglas Wickramaratne dwickramaratne@hotmail.com
Sinhala Association, United Kingdom
4. Mr Pium Attanayake
Society for Peace , Unity and Human Rights for Sri Lanka –NSW
5. Mr. Punsri Abeywickrema
punsria@gmail.com
United Sri Lankans (USA)
6. Dr. Palitha Welgama
pswelgama@hotmail.com
Society for Peace, Unity and Rehabilitation, WA Australia
7. Mr. Gamani Gunatilleke
alwisg22@optusnet.com.au
Veera Parakarmabahau Foundation – New South Wales -Australia
8. Mr. Hemantha Piyasena
Helabima- Sri Lanka and – ME
9. Mr. Senaka Rajapakse
rajapakses@gmail.com
Sri Lankan Expatriates Forum – Poland
10. Mr. Upul Gamage
upulgamage@gmail.com
Lanka Friendship Forum – ME
Copy to;
Ven. Athuriliye Rathana Thero,
Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thero,
Ven. Bengamuwe Nalaka Thero,
Hon. Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremasinghe,
Hon. Leader of Opposition, Nimal Siripala de Silva
Hon. Karu Jayasooriya,
Hon. Champika Ranawake,
Hon. Dinesh Gunawardana,
Hon. Sarath Fonseka,
Hon. Wimal Weerawansa,
Hon. Udaya Gammanpila.
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