Aftermath of Presidential Election and Impending Political Solution for Tamil ethnicity in Sri Lanka
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa may abide by his very first decision taken prior to the declaration of presidential elections that he would have to dissolve parliament upon getting reelected to his office mainly to redesign the burdensome coalition now patronage him.
Rajapaksa wanted a new mandate to sanctify his proposed projects for to rebuild Sri Lanka by exploiting its geographically strategic position astride air and sea lanes, rebuilding infrastructure and encouraging foreign investment and local productivity. Banking that his post-war popularity would secure him a new six-year term, Rajapaksa gambled and called the election two years before his term was set to expire.
President may be keen to reconfigure the current coalition behind him, which has produced a cabinet with more than 100 ministers and has in the past kept him from achieving some of the political tasks he set out to do.
Rajapaksa holds the reins of a $40 billion economy that has enjoyed a partial peace dividend, and is on the path to recovery with big Chinese and Indian investments into infrastructure and plans to put $4 billion into development.
For the nation wounded by decades of war and connected impasse in the development of local industry, business and agriculture , the new government have to heal the same by building a national identity and reconnecting the formerly Tiger-held areas to the rest of the country.
Rajapaksa holds the reins of a $40 billion economy that has enjoyed a partial peace dividend, and is on the path to recovery with big Chinese and Indian investments into infrastructure and plans to put $4 billion into development.
Development of local industry, business and agriculture are what Rajapaksa says will be the key to healing Sri Lanka's divisions, by building a national identity and reconnecting the formerly Tiger-held areas to the rest of the country.
We have to remember that whatever be the adverse opinion from certain quarters about him which he too was aware the Rajapaksa government gracefully came forward to hear opinions from the most responsible political front in India who have empathy to the victims of war. Then the octogenarian Chief Minister Dr.M. Karunanidhi risen to the level of a statesman by interacting with the Sri Lankan regime and enabled a delegation to visit there. The Chief Minister really refined his vision for peace in Sri Lanka and the life of Tamil speaking people belonging to the island nation for generations.
Rajapaksa may still be criticised as at the start of political reconciliation with the Tamil ethnic minority, after the end of the war. He must chalk-out for a fresh process with a strong foundation to retain his image as early as possible.
His regime have to take up the rehabilitation mission with more active international support and ensure that the displaced Tamil speaking people are settled back into their native towns and villages. Similarly the Sri Lankan refugees in India should also be allowed to go back to their native places and enable to settle down there. Primarily the removal of land mines from the villages will be a herculean task for the army. Probably the Sri Lankan government has to rebuild the very basic infrastructure viz. power connections, roads, bridges, telephones etc. in the majority affected areas and international donors may be willing to contribute for the same. India can help Sri Lanka by giving assistance in our know-how on installation of telecommunication lines, construction of roads and bridges etc. Sri Lanka can seek help from Indian Railways not only for reopening of bunged railway lines in Sri Lanka but also for creation of a railway network linking small towns especially in north and east with the capital Colombo.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has the capability to gather support from all sections of society to arrive at a consensus on a challenging and lasting political solution for the peaceful muti-lingual and multi-religious society in the island nation. The government must give top priority to offer the much awaited ‘Political Solution and Economic Package’ for generating employment opportunities, commencement of farming, trade and business activities in Tamil - Regions where people are being resettled.
The Sri Lankan Government should apply caution and not to over-celebrate the war victory or election victory solely to enable the nation to have a transition from the very of devastation. Of course the president’s Sri Lankan Freedom Party had been keen on seeking people’s mandate for both Parliamentary and Presidential polls upon winning the war in May,2009 and now sweeping victory in the presidential Poll facilitates Rajapaksa in his bid for a second term as President and lead the nation as desired by the majority peace-loving citizens.
Few months back immediately after the war in Sri Lanka there were news reports that the Indian Government contemplates to grant around Rs.600 crores for the rehabilitation of the war displaced people in the island nation. This good gesture must be the beginning of a refurbished Indo-Lanka relationship with due mutual respect and authenticity.
India and Sri Lanka together will form a big Trade-Power in the region and can jointly formulate policies for safe-guarding the interests of both countries. Both countries are having almost a uniform export basket and thus can even jointly formulate export strategies for value addition of high-quality of tea and plantation produce for export to the to Europe and U.S market under the global trade regime and ensure that highest value in foreign-exchange are earned.
The Sri Lanka Supreme Court on Tuesday made a determination on the opinion sought by the re-elected President Mahinda Rajapaksa that his second term in office would commence on November 19, 2010. He has to take fresh of oath of office and secrecy within two weeks from the date his second innings begins.
In effect, this would mean that Mr. Rajapaksa — who won the Presidential election held on Jan 26, by a massive majority of over 1.8 million votes against the former Army Commander and common opposition nominee, General (Retd.) Sarath Fonseka — would get five of six years in his first term and six years commencing from November 2010 for the duration of his second tenure. The next Presidential election would be due on November 19, 2016.
It was fantastic for Rajapaksa to seek to the opinion of the Supreme Court on the question of the actual date of commencement of his second term due to differing views among the legal luminaries on the relevant Constitutional provision as well as a 2005 Supreme Court judgment interpreting the provision on the commencement of a second term to a President who is reelected by an early presidential Poll prior to the close of period of his first term.
New parliament…a Constituent Assembly!
The new Parliament to be elected by Aril 2010 would turn into a Constituent Assembly to draft a fresh Constitution as per the principles enunciated in the recently held presidential Poll’s Manifesto. In all probability it will be the way the House of Representatives did in 1970.
If the president has his way to the new Constitution, then it will lead to clipping of Presidential Powers. As commented by himself in his 2010 elections…. “ the Executive Presidency will be converted into a Trusteeship that honours the a Mandate given to the Parliament by being accountable to the Parliament; establishes equality before law;is accountable to the judiciary enacts laws that are accountable to the judiciary; and is not in conflict with judiciary”.
