In an interview to The Hindu UNP Parliamentarian Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne insisted the importance of a “democratic” and “very inclusive” Constitution, and also the urgency of the Constitution-making process. “It must be a democratic Constitution. Democracy also means that it must be a very inclusive Constitution. Sri Lanka is a multicultural society. We have ethnic groups as well as political minorities, smaller parties. They all must be included in the process of government”, he said. When asked about his stance on the 13th amendment he said; “We have seen under the 13th Amendment that in the guise of making a national policy, powers have been taken back. We must definitely prevent that. Subjects and functions devolved to provincial councils must be clearly identified. I have no problem with national policies being made on certain devolved issues such as education, agriculture and health. But when a national policy is made, it must be through a constitutionally mandated process which is participatory, involving the provinces”. He further stated that some Sinhalese fear that devolution could lead to separation while Tamils fear of its instability. “When a large majority of the Sinhalese uses the word ‘unitary’, they mean an indivisible state. The Tamils fear that what will be given today can be taken back tomorrow. So, they want safeguards”.Dr. Jayampathy urges a Constitution that doesn’t encourage separatism
In an interview to The Hindu UNP Parliamentarian Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne insisted the importance of a “democratic” and “very inclusive” Constitution, and also the urgency of the Constitution-making process. “It must be a democratic Constitution. Democracy also means that it must be a very inclusive Constitution. Sri Lanka is a multicultural society. We have ethnic groups as well as political minorities, smaller parties. They all must be included in the process of government”, he said. When asked about his stance on the 13th amendment he said; “We have seen under the 13th Amendment that in the guise of making a national policy, powers have been taken back. We must definitely prevent that. Subjects and functions devolved to provincial councils must be clearly identified. I have no problem with national policies being made on certain devolved issues such as education, agriculture and health. But when a national policy is made, it must be through a constitutionally mandated process which is participatory, involving the provinces”. He further stated that some Sinhalese fear that devolution could lead to separation while Tamils fear of its instability. “When a large majority of the Sinhalese uses the word ‘unitary’, they mean an indivisible state. The Tamils fear that what will be given today can be taken back tomorrow. So, they want safeguards”.
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