-By Shantha Jayaratne
(Lanka-e-News -06.Nov.2024, 11.40 pm) We believed that once we entrusted the country to Anura, all of our problems would be solved, leading us to a prosperous nation and a beautiful life. However, we now realize that achieving this vision cannot be done by President Anura alone. The state machinery is run by a massive public service and about 50 ministries, currently managed by only three ministers. Therefore, it is our responsibility to establish a Parliament that can walk in step with President Anura. If various groups in Parliament are prepared to obstruct the President’s steps, the prosperous nation and the life we hope for will elude us, leaving countless citizens without the beautiful life they aspire to. It is our duty to fill Parliament with those who will provide the support he needs.
While the Constitution grants President Anura executive power, financial control rests with Parliament. According to Article 148 in Chapter XVII of the Constitution, "the complete control over public finance rests with Parliament" (Constitution of Sri Lanka). To secure the funds required to implement his policies, President Anura needs a supportive Parliament. The Supreme Court may also call for special majority power to pass certain bills, and without enough support in Parliament, the President may be forced to withdraw such bills.
During the presidential campaign, Anura pledged to simplify Sri Lanka’s complex tax system. He stated that he would aim to increase the annual PAYE tax threshold for salaried workers from Rs. 1.2 million to Rs. 2.4 million and address existing income tax disparities. He also expressed intent to review VAT. However, to fulfill these commitments, President Anura will need a Parliament that supports him. Opposition groups currently question why the promised tax reductions have not yet materialized. Seven weeks have passed since Anura became president, and only about ten days remain until the new Parliament is elected. Until then, under Article 148, he cannot make any financial decisions. If we elect a Parliament that aligns with him, he will be able to provide the relief he promised.
Several former presidents and their widows, maintained by the taxpayers, enjoy generous benefits. Under Article 36 of the 1978 Constitution, these presidents are entitled to a monthly pension, regardless of how short their term was. Additional benefits include numerous vehicles, state-maintained official residences, and security personnel, obtained through Cabinet approvals, gazette notifications, or parliamentary endorsements. Changing this system is legally challenging. While a government employee retires at 60, a president can retain these privileges even after serving only a short term. For instance, Gotabaya Rajapaksa was in office for nearly two years, and D.B. Wijetunga for even less. Reducing these benefits to the level of other public servants would require amending Article 36 of the Constitution, which President Anura can accomplish with a supportive Parliament.
The 1978 Constitution has been amended 21 times. The people of Sri Lanka know that the creators of this Constitution have repeatedly tried to introduce a new one. From its inception, the National People’s Power (NPP), represented by President Anura, maintained that this 1978 Constitution was an obstacle to building a prosperous Sri Lankan nation. In every election, the NPP has sought a mandate for a new Constitution. Now we have a golden opportunity. President Anura has already initiated a pioneering task toward drafting a new Constitution. However, to succeed, he needs the support of a Parliament that would secure the special majority required under Article 82, Chapter XII of the Constitution (Constitution of Sri Lanka).
President Anura is asking us to fill Parliament with loyal supporters to implement his proposed five-year policy of "A Prosperous Nation - A Beautiful Life" and lift the country out of its economic crisis. The goal is to achieve a minimum Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of USD 100 billion in the next five years. Apart from constitutional amendments, rapid, structural changes to public administration must be made to transform the entire nation into a workplace. It is necessary to remove barriers to joining global supply chains and to restore the reputation that Sri Lanka lost over the past several years. Therefore, President Anura’s request to fill Parliament with supporters is a fair one, and it is our responsibility to send as many members as possible to Parliament to support him.
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by (2024-11-06 19:39:38)
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