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CBK submits proposals for interim government, state council

03 May 2022

  • PM to head six-month interim govt. with 12 Cabinet Ministers
  • Exec. Presidency to be abolished, Prez to be a nominal figure
BY Buddhika Samaraweera Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has handed over a series of proposals to religious leaders, political parties, and civil organisations regarding the formation of an interim government and a council of State as a solution to the prevailing economic and political crisis situation in the country. It is reported that the series of proposals prepared by Kumaratunga has been handed over to a number of parties including the Mahanayakes (Chief Prelates) of the Asgiri and Malwathu Chapters of the Siam Sect Ven. Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thera and Ven. Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera, respectively. The said proposals include the formation of an interim government for a maximum duration of six months, which will be headed by a Prime Minister elected from among the current MPs in Parliament. The appointment of a Cabinet of Ministers that will comprise 12 Ministers from among these MPs has also been proposed. Kumaratunga has also suggested the interim Government bring about amendments to the Constitution that will abolish the office of the Executive President and replace it with that of a Head of State who will be a nominal President. In addition, the appointment of a council of State for national policy has also been proposed. “The Cabinet acts in consultation with the council of State on all matters relating to the drafting and implementation of policies, laws, and regulations. It will promote democratic governance and prevent authoritarianism through the effective participation of citizens in decision making and the implementation of government policy, and the council of State will act in close collaboration with the Cabinet and other relevant government institutions in the performance of its duties,” a communication with regard to the proposals read. It further added that the council of State will review important laws and policies before they are presented to Parliament by the Government, while it will also propose laws to the Cabinet and the Government. “The council of State will review policies of the Government, especially those related to constitutional amendments, the economy, governance, and especially matters relating to anti-corruption and transparency in the Government, as well as education. The council of State will make proposals to the Government on the economy and all economic development and social matters.” All sectors of the society shall be represented in the council of State, it recommended, adding that elected members of political parties, MPs, Provincial Councillors, and councillors and members of local government bodies will not be eligible for membership in the council of State. The proposals state that the said council of State should be made up of 101 members, out of which 75 shall be nominated by civil society organisations, professionals, the business and private sector, academics, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), while 26 members will be nominated by the Premier and the Opposition Leader.  The 75 members from civil society organisations will include those from professional bodies such as the Bar Association of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Medical Association. Among the other members would be accountants, engineers, surveyors, valuers, teachers, principals, artistes, private sector employees, academics, and NGO representatives, out of which, not less than 40% should be below the age of 40 years. Also, 40% of the total number of members should be females, it urged. A conference of representatives of several political parties and civil society organisations, chaired by Kumaratunga, was held on 11 April to discuss steps to be taken to overcome the economic and political crisis in the country. The conference, which was held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo, was attended by Samagi Jana Balawegaya Opposition MPs Kumara Welgama, Patali Champika Ranawaka, and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Leader Rauff Hakeem, as well as Tamil National Alliance MP M.A. Sumanthiran PC, and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna MP Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, who now sits independently in Parliament. Kumaratunga was also instrumental in bringing the previous United National Front-led Government to power in 2015.


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