An interim report of the Sri Lankan Assembly’s Standing Committee on constitutional reform was released recently.
It is neither a final report nor a constitutional draft, but a statement of the various positions of groups in Parliament on reform topics.
It reflects the rising opposition within the government for taking forward the constitutional reforms proposed earlier.
What were the key reform proposals?
The constitutional reform process envisages an undivided and indivisible country, with the province as the unit for devolution of power.
It introduces the concept of ‘subsidiarity’.
Under this, functions that can be performed by the lowest tier of government should be vested in it.
The report also provides for the creation of a second parliamentary chamber representing the provinces.
The report commits that the controversial terms ‘unitary’ and ‘federal’ be avoided.
Instead, Sinhala and Tamil terms that suggest an undivided country be used to describe the republic.
Besides, the electoral system solely based on proportional representation is proposed to be changed.
A mixed method under which 60% of parliamentary members to be elected under the first-past-the-post system is to be introduced.
Complying with earlier demands, the reforms aim at abolishing the executive presidency.
The government has promised that the pre-eminent status given to Buddhism will remain as such; an assurance that may help overcome opposition from the majority.
What are the roadblocks?
Government - The various factions within the government are divided on the nature and scope of the reforms.
The Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his team want a new Constitution and the abolition of the presidential system.
On the other hand, the President Maithripala Sirisena and his Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) insist only on electoral reforms.
Buddhists - The most ardent opponents of the reform initiatives now are Sinhalese nationalist forces, led by Buddhist monks.
They are concerned that any further devolution would amount to giving in to the demands of the Tamil and Muslim minorities.
It would also be appeasing the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam diaspora and foreign powers.
Also, they worry that abolition of the presidential system would weaken the Sri Lankan state.
The Buddhist Sangha leaders are concerned that the new Constitution might relax on the “foremost place” position accorded to Buddhism in the current Constitution.
How does the future look?
The Prime Minister will certainly find it difficult to manage the politics of constitutional reform.
Besides, the government of Sirisena and Wickremesinghe is no longer as politically strong as it was a year ago.
Corruption scandals, slowing down of investigations against individuals of the previous government, and economic stagnation have all seriously undermined the political credibility.
Unless the two leaders repair their relationship, any significant progress in the constitutional reform process is far from reality.
