SL's ‘Unitary’ character must remain unchanged: JHU

3 October 2017 08:13 pm - 8 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) said today Sri Lanka's ‘Unitary’ character should remain unchanged.

General Secretary and Minister, Patali Champika Ranawaka said their party was against the interpretation given on the ‘State of Sri Lanka' in the Constitutional Reforms Steering Committee Report.

"The provincial council system has damaged the unitary character to some extent. However, we firmly believe that the article pertaining to the Unitary character and the Clauses 4 (1) and 76 (1) of the current Constitution should not be changed,” he told a news briefing.

Although some political parties alleged that the foremost status given to Buddhism had been challenged in the steering committee report, the minister said, to begin with, no special status had been given to any specific religion even in the existing Constitution.

“Article 9 which relates to Buddhism has not been properly interpreted. This particular Article has not given special privileges or special treatment to Buddhism. Whatever is mentioned is just a decoration. However, If attempts are being made to remove that ‘decorative’ status, we are against it. No matter what, Buddhism is a part of our heritage. No harm has befallen other religions because of the peaceful nature of Buddhism. This Article should also remain unchanged,” he said.

The minister said Presidential Powers should not be pruned any further. “The new Constitution should only be made with the consent of all stakeholders. We must make sure that the new Constitution will ensure the country's stability and its democracy,” he said. (Lahiru Pothmulla)

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Comments - 8

ceylon Tuesday, 03 October 2017 09:35 PM

stupid unitery caractor.presently deployed north over 100000 plus military to keep unitary caractor by spending 500 billion plus annualy. via DM Android App

Chaturanga Wednesday, 04 October 2017 08:17 AM

That's 1000 times better than an eternal border conflict.

ANTON Wednesday, 04 October 2017 08:31 AM

" PEACEFUL NATURE OF BUDDHISM " ............. ? WELL , DO ALL THE SRILANKANS FOLLOW THIS, SPECIALLY MONKS ?

S.P.Ramkumar Wednesday, 04 October 2017 08:53 AM

Federal fools and Unitary fool.s are creation this country as a Ethnically and Religiously conflicts Pool. Please keep this constitution as it is and make practical amendments with support of all MP or even go for referendum. People mandate is God's mandate.

asitha Wednesday, 04 October 2017 09:05 AM

Well said Mr Ranawaka. You can get your lost status if you act against this constitutional proposals. I firmly believe Maithree Ranil and the western clan are trying to create unrest among the ethnic and religious groups to get their hidden agendas in place.

suresh Wednesday, 04 October 2017 09:43 AM

please enlighten the rest of the country what is this "hidden agenda" that you have discovered

alex Wednesday, 04 October 2017 09:42 AM

'peaceful nature of Buddhism" we saw a recent display of that in Mt.Lavinia

Patnall Wednesday, 04 October 2017 12:09 PM

Just giving a very prominent place in the Constitution and undermining all other religions will not help protect Buddhism. All Buddhists including the Buddhist priests should speak, act and live according to Buddhist principles. Only then, peace will prevail in this country.

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SL's ‘Unitary’ character must remain unchanged: JHU

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