Constitutional Reforms

A new Constitution is in the offing. I would like to contact persons who are interested in this subject of putting new ideas in the preparation of the new Constitution. A Blue-Print has already been published.

In the Blueprint the idea of separating the Legislative from the Executive which is a fundamental requirement for the efficient functioning of Democracy, has been rejected.

This has to be objected to save Democracy. Are you in support?

An Application for Assistance from FLICT

An Application for Assistance from FLICT

01. PROJECT PROPOSAL For a Lasting and Positive Peace in this Country

02. Name of Organization : An Individual and NOT an organization.
Name : Sie. Kathieravelu,
Address : 217, Station Road, Vavuniya
Telephone : 024 2220524
Contact person : Sie.Kathieravelu
03. Project Title : For a Lasting and Positive Peace
04. Project Location : Entire country
05. Brief Summary : The proposal envisages the increased participation of an informed and empowered polity working in an enabling environment that ensures the meeting of the needs of all the people and thus prevent destructive conflicts. It is a broad-based parliamentary system – with seven chambers – that starts at the village level and goes unto the national level ensuring transparency and accountability by all concerned in the governance and with provision for a significant representation on the basis of generation (old and young), gender, trade and ethnicity. The root causes for the present turmoil in the country is not confined to ethnic conflict only but includes injustice, corruption, bribery, favouritism, injustice are some among many others. Action has to be taken to recast certain sections of the constitution and also add certain clauses in the appropriate places as outlined in the annexed proposal to fulfill the aspirations of the entire populace of this country who are yearning for a prosperous and happy life. The curse that befell this country was due to the manipulation of democracy by shrewd personalities to weaken it to such an extent as to allow dictatorial attitudes to creep in noiselessly. A peace based exclusively upon political and economic arrangements would not be a peace, but which could secure the unanimous, lasting and sincere support of the people. Peace must therefore be founded, if it is not to fall, upon the intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind. The necessity for a remedy does not arise unless there is a malady, which is paving the way for politics of terror and assassination throughout the country, and this in turn would lead to catastrophic consequences for the country and the people resulting in a further decline of the economy that would enable the foreign powers to gain access to further penetrate the life of our country through the prevailing crisis.

06. Implementation Period: A clear-cut time frame cannot be given since a broad public dialogue is necessary to arrive at a wide consensus that would satisfy the aspirations of the various sections of the populace but it has to be concluded as early as possible

07. Requested budget and total budget: Direct financial assistance is not requested. But assistances in kind – organizing public dialogue, interactions and the like – is necessary to arrive at a consensus towards sustainable peace.

08. Have you sent a proposal to FLICT before? If Yes, When: Yes, in February this year and was told to resubmit as per this format.

09. To which other funding agencies have you submitted this or a similar proposal?: To many, not for direct financial assistance but for support in organizing public dialogue, interactions and the like, similar to the present request due to my passion for a peaceful climate in this country since a lot of people have suffered and are continuing to suffer.


Signature of person responsible
Signed at Vavuniya
on this th day of ,2007


10. Information about the Organization: Does not arise, as this request is from an individual to an organization with similar views.


Project Planning:

01. Project background and identified problems:

(a) The area covers the entire country
(b) The conflict issues are bribery, corruption, injustice, politicization of a majority of the public Institutions, discrimination, fraud, ethnic, religious, misuse and mismanagement of public funds given on trust are a few among many of the problems.
(c) Conflicting groups:- The People (share/stake holders in the establishment) as employers with those empowered by them for responsible governing of the establishment (country) with transparency and accountability.
(d) The people are to be considered as the employers and those empowered by them for governing the country with responsibility are to be considered as their employees. The employees’ work is not satisfactory and is on the verge of ruining the establishment (a failed state).
(e) The employer (people) expected the employees (the party in power) to act with restrain, responsibility and sincerity by being more transparent and accountable so as to avoid the creation of any conflict and to contain any conflict that is in the offing with the least possible delay and loss to the establishment (country). The employee has failed in his/her duty but is appropriating a high payment without the consent/concurrence of the employer, to continue with the same or more power but being reluctant to discharge his/her duties efficiently.
(f) The employer needs assistance to overhaul the entire structure of the establishment with a new and better system of management with ‘checks and balances’ throughout the establishment that will pin the responsibility on any particular employee for his/her actions so as to recover the loss incurred so that the establishment would be on a better footing with transparency and accountability being made mandatory.

02. Expected changes (outcomes), Indicators and means of verification:

(a)The concrete changes to be achieved by the project in the analyzed conflict situation are constitutional changes that would empower the people to govern the country with transparency and accountability.
(b) The favourable reports from the organizers and the media together with the support that is being given to the project by the people would be the indices.

03. Implementation Strategy of the Project:

a. People have to be made to realize that good governance, implemented effectively in the most economical and efficient manner, will benefit everyone. And for this purpose, to disseminate the benefits of the proposal to the people through study circles and workshops, which would be carried by the participants to those in their immediate circle and the message as it gathers momentum would engulf the entire country..
b. A few voluntary and dedicated organizations that are sincerely interested in the cause of peace having in their staff dedicated persons who are not interested in making the cause of peace as another project that would bring in more funds to earn or make money.
c. External capacity building inputs would be the support of the media – both print and electronic – and dedicated writers and speakers who can convincingly expound the cause of peace initiatives as part and parcel of their day to day duty without expecting a remuneration for their services.

04. Target Groups:

a. The field officers attached to the various NGO’s and INGO’s that are involved in peace building initiatives.
b. The entire population of the country through workshops and study circles organized by the NGO’s and INGO’s with the CBO’s at the village level.

05. Risks and Obstacles:

a. Finding suitable personnel, CBOs, NGOs and INGOs dedicated to the cause.
b. There cannot be any negative impacts caused by the implementation of the project itself since the country as a whole and the international community is pressing for peace in this country by ending the ongoing turmoil.
c. Further development of the violence and connected activities by persons who might become aware that the process towards peace would jeopardize their own hidden agendas and those others who are averse to peace can put at risk the success of the project.

06. Sustainability: The sustainability of the process initiated by this project would be assured by its initial success and then ensured by the Donors and the international community IF the expectations stated in 5a & 5c could be overcome.

07. Monitoring and Evaluation: Has to done by FLICT itself continuously based on the reports submitted by participating organizations and from the news, articles and features published in the media (both print and electronic) since it is the vision of FLICT that is being implemented.
“A peaceful and pluralistic Sri Lankan society that encompasses the needs
and rights of all people in the country and is able to resolve its conflicts
non-violently”

08. Detailed Budget has to be prepared most economically by the participating organizations treating this as a voluntary service of the personnel involved as part and parcel of their day-to-day duty towards their family and a contribution by – the present generation – to the future generations.

An Urgent and Earnest Appeal due to the escalation of hostilities

An Urgent and Earnest Appeal due to the escalation of hostilities
that is causing immense sufferings to those being ruled – the ordinary people

From: Sie. Kathieravelu of 217, Station Road, Vavuniya (as a member of the public)
To : You, Sir, whom I believe is interested in the prevalence of peace in our country

Respected Sir,
Presenting an alternative democratic system of governance
that would restore peace, prosperity and happiness

Salutations, Greetings and Best wishes for a better future to you and everyone.

This is an earnest appeal by a person who is past the age of seventy and has suffered a lot in the past and is continuing to suffer to the present day due to the so-called ethnic crisis. Since it is sincerely believed that it is persons of your standing who can and has to play a vigorous role, on a wartime footing, in accelerating the peace process, which has already been initiated by the government and encouraged by the international community. It is learnt that the Government has shown an interest in the ‘Panchayat Sabah system’ that is prevailing in India as one system of devolving power at the village level. This attitude of the Government – sharing power unto the village level – has to be commended and appreciated by all concerned, since it is the most vital and meaningful way of finding a reasonable solution for the problems faced by our country. The system advocated in the attached document also starts with the sharing of power from the village (Grama Sevaka) level and continues unto the National level.

The attached 6-page document dealing with a new concept of democracy with an expanded parliament with seven chambers linked in as a chain through the distribution of the different and distinct functions of the present parliament is humbly submitted for your kind perusal. It is most humbly requested that you be good enough to spare a part of your valuable time to go through it with an open mind. I am sure, that on perusal of the document, you will agree that it has been prepared with good intentions. It is framed with a view to help to eradicate of the root causes to the various problems the country is facing today – such as corruption, bribery, discrimination, violence, injustice, unemployment, the rising cost of living, the greed for power for pecuniary reasons and the wastage of public funds – just to mention a few. It is sincerely believed that one of the ways of tackling the various problems, and probably the only most economical way, is through the alternative democratic system of governance that is advocated herein.

Since a very wide consensus of opinion is necessary to achieve a long lasting solution to the various problems that is being faced by the people of our country today, your kind assistance is solicited in passing the attachment on to others for their opinion in addressing the core of the grievances and aspirations of not only the Tamil people but also of the entire populace of this country who are longing for a truly democratic system of governance with transparency with accountability that would usher in an era of real development coupled with justice and fairplay.

The first basic suggestion advocated herein is to expand the present parliament of one chamber into a broad based parliament of seven chambers, functioning through a set of ‘councils’ at six different levels each entrusted with different and distinct functions of the present parliament, thus distributing its functions from the village level unto the national level with ‘checks and balances’ needed for good governance and secondly, the mode of representation in these Councils, which is based on the UN principle of membership – one country one member irrespective of its size or population. In this proposal it is equal representation from similar administrative areas to the same/similar council. For example, the districts of Colombo and Monragala would have the same number of representatives in the suggested Legislative Council, since these two are similar administrative areas (districts) and each administered by a Government Agent, though there is a vast difference in the density of population and size of these two administrative areas.

Another important aspect herein is that, this system of governance provides and stresses the need for representation by genders, age (below and above 40), trade, political ideologies and ethnicity but disallows politics being made a profession.

Being well aware of my limited resources and capacity to carry forward the benefits of these ideas in a convincing manner to the common people, your kind help is solicited in the search for one or more persons/organizations to takeover and spearhead the benefits of the basic ideas expressed herein and also to recast, any part of the document – this appeal (2 pages), the alternative system (6 pages) and the reasons adduced (3 pages) – where necessary without omitting or basically altering any of the ideas expressed therein.

Your comments on any defects in the suggested system and the disadvantages that would accrue to the ordinary people are important and where possible suitable remedies to overcome them, if suggested, would be greatly appreciated.

Let us pray with confidence that ‘peace’ and ‘harmony’’ would be awaiting along with ‘happiness’ and ‘prosperity’ to embrace us as we step into the future that lies ahead.

Always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.

Thanking you in advance in anticipation of an early and kind response that would help in expediting the process on a wartime footing in finding an amicable solution for all the problems faced by the people of this country without causing injustice to any justifiable group of persons.

Yours in Service,


Sie.Kathieravelu

N.B. It would be greatly appreciated if you could please be good enough to suggest ways and means of carrying forward these ideas to the common people in a convincing manner for the restoration of peace, prosperity and happiness that prevailed in this country in 1948 and handing them over to our future generations for preservation.

I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything but I can do something.
And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something I can do.
What I can do, I should do. And what I should do, by the Grace of God, I will do.

– Edward Everett Hale (1822 – 1909)











The necessity and reasons
for an alternative democratic system of governance
for the restoration of peace, prosperity and happiness

Respected Sir/Madam,

May you be pleased to permit me to submit a small brief on the necessity and reasons that prompted me in devising a system of governance that is truly democratic and that would certainly go a long way in integrating all the people of this country who are being kept apart by persons who have their own hidden agendas to serve their own personal interests.

These suggestions are being submitted in the long-term interest of the country as a whole. It is believed that these suggestions, if incorporated into the constitution, might serve as a tool for an alternative method or a way for a resolution of the current disorder in this country by allowing the ordinary people to continuously participate in the governance of the country.

It is my humble opinion that the cause of the various conflicts and disorders since independence that are now being tainted as ethnic are not purely ethnic but created and branded as such by interested groups – big or small – of different political ideologies for their own benefit by misguiding the common man. If the political grievances of the Tamils was the one and only problem in this country, then it would have been suggested to either sincerely implement all the laws that have been enacted since 1956 to solve the ethnic problem or study and follow the way Canada tackled the ethnic problem in Quebec. But here we have to tackle many a problem (some of them being the root causes for the so called ethnic problem) such as the ever rising cost of living, discrimination, bribery, corruption, injustice, the problems caused to the public by the arrogance of some of our public servants, environmental problems created by our planners in the name of development by disrupting and polluting mother nature, the problems of the workers with their employers, the unfair trade principles that are being practiced by some traders and so on and so forth – an unending list of problems. The recent spate of actions taken by the Nepalese government in creating a cordial atmosphere among the various sections in the country to tackle the unrest in their country due to some of the causes mentioned above is commendable and could be replicated by us to create a cordial atmosphere in the country.

The most vital component in maintaining the sovereignty of a nation is the execution of its (nation’s) power with justice to the entire populace. Execution of power with justice to the entire people would only be possible if the social and political minorities are represented in a substantial proportion in the ‘cabinet of ministers’ which is actually the policy making body of the government and thus share executive power. But the constitution of this country does not provide for such an arrangement, which in my humble opinion is the primary cause of all the sufferings the country has undergone and is undergoing from 1948 to this date.

In this connection we may take note of the constitution of South Africa, which compels the induction of the various racial groups – big or small – constitutionally into the Cabinet of Ministers thus ensuring the distribution of power to all. It has to be noted that in this country, persons of different races, religions and diverse political ideologies have shown and are showing the capacity to serve in a single Cabinet of Ministers from independence to date – may be for the sake of their own personal benefits.

Experiences have proved that it is mainly through political empowerment that different groups, which have even mouthed ethnic and religious slogans, could be inducted into the main stream politics and thus officially weaned away from the “gun culture” if the democratic system is put into practice, in the spirit it was intended to be implemented. The factor of crucial significance then, is the quality of the much advocated ‘democracy’ that has to be practiced in this country of ours taking into consideration the prevailing ground situation. The so-called democratic institutions that have been installed are only there to create a false image in the eyes of everyone including the international community.

A former M.P. of Vavuniya and a one-time cabinet minister, the Hon. C.Suntharalingam had repeatedly said in parliament that “ democracy is counting of heads up to a certain point and then it becomes the breaking of heads”.

We must try to evolve a system that will be instrumental in reducing our problems by incorporating the good things found in the constitutions of other countries with modifications where necessary, without attempting to blindly copy the systems adopted in other countries, which have a different political and cultural climate.

In this country the Buddhist identity is accorded a pride of place as being the pre-eminent civilization and tradition that occupies a distinctive position in the historic evolution and formation of this country. Let us and the millions of followers of Lord Gauthama Buddha world-wide think for one moment as to what the feelings of Lord Gauthama Buddha would be if He were to witness the current turmoil in this country which embraced His teachings. “Suffering is the result of craving” is a saying by Lord Gauthama Buddha.

It has to be sincerely emphasized that the suggestions contained herein have been expressed (by a person who has suffered a lot and continues to suffer due to the ongoing turmoil) with a view of creating a just, fair and harmonious society that will be humane by not allowing any citizen of this country to be discriminated or subordinated on grounds of race, caste, creed, social, political, economical, or on any other ground. The suggestions made are to allow every individual to live in harmony with others in any part of this country and that it is not even vaguely motivated by any sectional/group interests. It is worthwhile mentioning that through these proposals the voters do not surrender/hand-over any of their rights/powers to any single elected member or political party since the rights/powers inherent in the people have been separated and distributed among the elected bodies at seven different levels – Legislative, Executive, Regional, District, Divisional, Village Headman and Grama Sevaka. All these bodies are inter-dependant and have to interact to achieve an objective in keeping with the laid down policies This system of governance, with a different mode of representation, would also help to curb many of our ills including bribery, corruption, violence (elimination being difficult) and prohibit or discourage any tendency towards dictatorship in any form.

It is said that the democratic system is the best form of Government. It is being defined as a government elected by the majority of the people (with the consent of the minority?). But in my humble opinion this type of democratic system fails if a majority of its citizens based on gender, age or trade (professionals, workers and peasants) and the small and very small groups that are different and distinct on the basis of politics, ethnicity or religious, – are denied participation in the governance of the country. It is this denial, to participate in the governance of the country by all concerned, that is being used by interested groups to create disorders and conflicts in this country which in turn leads to economical ruin and from there gun-culture begins. It is believed that the makers of the constitution of South Africa have taken this factor into consideration in the interest of that country. In a democratic system the mode of representation of the people in the elected bodies is an important factor that has to be given very careful consideration. It is with this end in view that an entirely different approach has been taken with regard to the mode of representations in the elected bodies at different levels – from the tiny village level unto the national level – based on the UN principle of one representative for one country – here equal representation from similar administrative areas to the same or similar Councils.

The framework outlined below is a way of safeguarding the territorial integrity and the unitary character of the country while guaranteeing the continuous participation of the people in the governance of the country and allow them to live in harmony and dignity in any part of this country. The suggestions of distributing powers from the grass-root level to the national level would strengthen the territorial integrity and unitary character of the country as a whole and create a harmonious atmosphere ensuring political stability and economic prosperity with moral and spiritual happiness to the entire populace.

A proposal incorporating the ideas outlined above is submitted for the perusal of the politically motivated intellectual community. It is most humbly requested that the politically motivated intellectual community be good enough to spare a few hours – in the interest of the country – to study this proposal with an open and unbiased mind and suggest suitable amendments, where necessary, that would benefit the country as a whole with justice being meted out to each and everyone without any discrimination that will allow the people to live in harmony and achieve prosperity and happiness. The suggested amendments could then be discussed to arrive at a solution that could be presented to the country either directly or through the political parties.

To summarize the above suggestions in a nut-shell, Grass Root Councils–proposing the needs of the people of the area, the Sub-Divisional Councils–confirming their needs, the District Councils– implementing their needs, the Divisional Councils – supervising the implementation process and progress – the Regional Councils – releasing the necessary funds and framing regulations for the purpose, the Executive Council – collecting and allocating the necessary funds for expenditure and the Legislative Council – enacting the necessary laws for good governance, with the people always having a direct and indirect control over the entire system of governance for the benefit of the people. Further, this system while not encouraging dictatorial attitude of a single or group of persons is people-friendly and concentrates on the development of the country as a whole.

The prevalence of good governance with transparency and accountability is a must for the meaningful progress of the country in all spheres – economical, political, social, spiritual and moral – and this must be the primary object of each and every political party. The political parties are most humbly requested to shed their petty differences in their way of approach in bringing peace and prosperity to this country. There is no doubt that every political party is striving hard to bring in peace and prosperity with dignity to all in their own way with priority to the well being of their party first, outdoing their main competitors. On behalf of the people of this country who are longing for peace and harmony, it is humbly requested that all the political parties shed their petty differences and change their attitudes in their way of approach to serve the people and the country, in the interest of the country.

Political parties must resolve to give
Priority of interest to the Country as a whole first with
Personal and party interests coming afterwards.

Thanking you in advance in anticipation of an early response that would give first place to the interest of the people of this country and second or third place or no-place to the interest of the political parties

N.B. The said suggestions are appended below for your invaluable comments please.

Yours, in Service,


(Sie. Kathieravelu)










The Alternative Democratic System of Governance referred to

Main Suggestions

Redefine the earlier Village Headman Divisional boundaries and the Provincial boundaries as they existed on 04.02.1948 (the date of independence) with slight adjustments here and there so as to define the boundaries on ground visible to the naked eye of the people of the area, as natural and definite say at least by a bye-lane, stream, bund etc, etc so that it does not divide a house into two Village Headman Divisions or two Provinces.

Create four regions by grouping the existing provinces as given below:

A. Northern + Eastern Provinces - North-East Region
B. Southern + Western Provinces - South-West Region
C. North Central + North Western Provinces - North-Central Region
D. Uva + Central + Sabragamuwa Provinces - South-Central Region

Expand the present parliament of one chamber to one of seven chambers. These seven chambers would have different and distinct functions of the present parliament distributed amongst them in the manner described below and thus inter-linking all of them to form a chain parliament for the proper governance of the country. The ‘Councils’ suggested are for the present area of one administrator as defined and as given below: -

A. Legislative Council - National level (for the country as a whole)
B. Executive Council - National level (for the country as a whole)
C. Regional Council - Regional level (for the proposed regional area)
D. District Council - District level (area of one G.A.)
E. Divisional Council - Divisional Level (area of one D.S.)
F. Sub-Divisional Council - Village Head-man Level (area of one former V.H.)
G. Grass-root Council - Grama-Sevaka level (area of one G.S.)

Functions of the above councils: The functions of the various Councils shall not overlap but linked in a chain well defined by regulations with the limits specified. Every Council must be made accountable to all the Councils below it in the ladder. A broad outline of the functions of these ‘councils’ is given below.

A. Legislative council as the word implies would enact Legislations and lay down policies (foreign and internal) and all connected there-with in the interest of good governance, with the concurrence of all four Regional Councils, so as to evolve a just and fair administration with transparency to maintain a clean and democratic society in this country where law and order with natural justice would prevail.

B. Executive council as the word implies would be responsible for the proper execution of the functions conferred on it by the Legislative Council adhering to the legislations enacted and policies approved by the Legislative Council. The functions would include the preparation of the national budget and connected activities in consultation with the Regional Councils, administration of finance, postal, railway and other functions not confined to a Region and that cannot be specifically assigned to the Regional Councils. But the implementation of these functions must be through the administrative set-up that is functioning in the regions concerned and through that Regional Council without a different administrative set-up of its own. The prior approval of the Grass-Root Council concerned has to be obtained directly before taking action for the implementation of any proposal within the area of that Grass-Root Council.

C. Regional council would be responsible for the proper administration and development of the region, lay down the policies specific and special to the region, such as preparing the regional budget, making byelaws and such other matters and directing the district councils within the region for the proper execution of all works within the district for which funds have been allocated by the Regional Council or provided for by the Executive Council in addition to its important duty of evaluating and where necessary suggesting amendments, approving and confirming the legislative enactments forwarded by the Legislative Council.

D. District councils would be responsible for initiating the necessary planning for the execution and administration of all works within the district initiated either by it or by the Executive Council and other functions allocated to it by the Regional Council. These councils would be the executive wings of the Regional Council.

E. Divisional Councils would be responsible for the supervision and monitoring the progress of all works being implemented by the District Councils within its (Divisional Council’s) area.

F. Sub-Divisional Councils would be responsible for coordinating with the Grass-Root councils in the preparation and evaluation of all proposals for the development of its area and for submission to the District Councils for approval and implementation.

G. Grass-Root Councils would be responsible for the preparation of proposals for the development of its area and evaluating any proposal submitted by any other body for the development of its area and submitting these to the Sub-Divisional Councils for further scrutiny, acceptance and onward transmission for necessary action. All development proposals that have either an impact or in respect of its area must have its approval.

Election and Composition of members of the various Councils would be from among those residing within that area on “first passed the post” basis subject to gender and age group conditions being fulfilled and where necessary and possible trade, political ideologies and ethnicity being considered. The number of members of any one gender or age group shall be a minimum of 20% of the total to be elected from an area to a Council and at least one member from an ethnic minority if they form more than 10% of the eligible voters. The members so elected would be considered as independents even if nominated or supported by a political party. The number of elected members in a given Council – other than the Legislative and Executive Councils – would vary from Region to Region depending on the number of sub-administrative areas in that region.

A. Legislative council would consist of ten members elected from each District Council area, plus hundred members elected on trade basis from among those who are in and practicing that trade. (one member for each trade or group of trades, to be defined) plus fifty members appointed by the respective political parties in proportion to the total number of votes received by each candidate supported by that party without any cut-off points making a total of four hundred members.

B. Executive council would consist of fifteen members elected collectively by the members of the various Councils within that Regional Council area from among those residing within that area and not having stood for election to any Council, making a total of 60 (4 x 15) members.

C. Regional councils would consist of four members elected from each Divisional Council area within that Region.

D. District councils would consist of three members elected from each of the Sub-Divisional Council areas within that District Council area.

E. Divisional Council would consist of two members elected from each of the Grass-Root Council areas within that Divisional Council area.

F. Sub-Divisional Councils would consist of three members elected from each of the Grass-Root Council areas within that Sub-Divisional Council area.

G. Grass-Root Councils would consist of five members elected from among those residing within its area.

The Heads and Deputy Heads of the Councils to be elected as described below. The Head and the Deputy Head shall not be of the same gender, age or ethnic group in any Council provided there are more than 10% of eligible voters of any one ethnic group within that area. The Deputy Head has to be assigned sufficient powers and duties to make that office meaningful and would act for the Head in his/her absence. Their actions shall have the prior approval of the respective Councils.

A. Legislative Council: by the members of the Legislative Council from among them-selves and would be known as the Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively.

B. Executive Council: elected by the members of the Executive Council from among its members and would be known as the President and Vice-President respectively. The President with the concurrence of the Vice-President would appoint the Council of National Ministers from among its members. All actions of the President would be in consultation with the Vice-President. The National Ministers – in equal numbers for each Region and not exceeding five for a Region – shall be fairly distributed among the regions. The Ministers for the different ministries shall be changed every year and be filled by members of another Region, in rotation. The President and in his absence the Vice-President would preside at all meetings of the Executive Council and the Council of Ministers.

C. Regional Councils: collectively elected by the members of the various Councils in the Region together with the members elected to the Legislative Council from that Region and would be known as the Governor and Deputy Governor of the Region respectively. An Assistant Governor has to be elected to act for the Deputy Governor in his/her absence and who shall not belong to the same ethnic group as that of the Deputy Governor and where possible, different from the ethnicity of the Governor as well. The Governor in consultation with the Deputy Governor and Assistant Governor would appoint the Council of Regional Ministers – minimum of one and a maximum of two from a District – from among members of the Regional Council. All actions of the Governor would be in consultation with the Deputy Governor and Assistant Governor.

D. District council: collectively by the members elected directly to that District Council and members of the Regional council and Legislative Council elected from that District Council area and would be known as Chairman and Deputy Chairman respectively.

E. Divisional Council: collectively by the members elected directly to that Divisional Council and members of the members of the Regional Council who have been elected from that Divisional Council area and would be known as Chairman and Deputy Chairman respectively.

F. Sub-Divisional Council : collectively by the members elected directly to that Sub-Divisional Council and the members who have been elected to the District Council from that Sub-Divisional Council area. They would be known as the Coordinator and Assistant Coordinator respectively.

G. Grass-Root Council: directly elected by the voters of that Grama Sevaka area in addition to the members of that Council. They would be known as the Head and Deputy Head.

The Head of State: The Governor of one Region will act as the Head of State with the Deputy Governor of another Region as the Deputy Head of State for a period one year with the Governors and Deputy/Assistant Governors of the other Regions taking their turns in rotation. If the Deputy Governor of one Region happens to belong to the same ethnic group as that of the Governor who is acting as the Head of State then the Assistant Governor of that Region would act as the Deputy Head of State. The Head of State and his/her Deputy would be guided by the Legislative Council in their actions and would have the powers and responsibilities similar to that of a Head of State of a country where the Parliament is supreme. (India and Malaysia might be quoted as examples.). The Head of State is accountable to the Legislative Council.

Salaries/ Allowances to the members elected to the various Councils

From the above it would be seen that there would be
1 No. Legislative Council with 250+100+50= 400 Members
1 No. Executive Council with 4x15 = 60 Members
4 Nos. Regional Councils with 324x4+12 = 1308 Members
25 Nos. District Council with about 7500+ members and in addition a further number of Councils – Divisional Councils, Sub-Divisional Councils and Grass-Root Councils – with a large number of members (168,000), the grand total of which would be a staggering figure (about 177,000+), which would naturally raise the immediate question of a payment of a large sum of money by way of salary, allowances etc. considering the present way of payment to M.PP. It is suggested that these members be not paid any salary since they had come forward to serve the people and not to earn or make money. They may be reimbursed the actual expenditure incurred by them monthly, which shall not exceed the maximum salary drawn by a SLAS Class 1 officer for the National Minister, and the others substantially lower. In the case of the Heads and Deputy Heads of the Councils, the reimbursements shall not exceed the salary of a Class 1 officer in the judicial service for the Heads of the Legislative Council, Executive Council and the Regional Councils and substantially lower for the Heads of other Councils. No traveling allowances are payable except the actual ordinary bus-fares, if there are no train services available. Foreign trips, if it becomes absolutely necessary, only economy class airfare on the national carrier plus 50% of the most economical travel fare that might have been actually incurred within that country shall be provided. All other expenses including board and lodging shall be borne by the persons concerned.

No person shall be eligible to contest or to become a member of a Council if he had been a member of that council within the last two years immediately preceding the date of election. He shall be eligible to contest to any other Council. This clause shall apply to all members of his/her immediate family and only one member of a family can seek election to any of the councils at any one time

The term (period) of all councils shall be four years and elections should be held only once in every four years and dates to be fixed in the constitution itself as in the U.S.A. It is suggested that nominations be called in the month of August and elections be held in the month of September, and the new members assuming office in the month of October with a minimum of seven days for transition, as there are no significant religious events in these months. A line of succession shall be formulated as in the U.S.A. to fill in any vacancies in the offices of Heads or Deputy heads of Councils or Assistant Governors that might occur in between election dates. The person who was next in line in the last election shall fill in the vacancies caused by persons directly elected by the voters.

To preserve the continuity of the Councils, a system of retiring by rotation, as in the Board of Directors of limited liability companies may be considered, as that system might be more beneficial to the country.

The responsibilities, function and duties of the National Executive Council would be defined as those that cannot be properly distributed exclusively to a particular region such as Postal, Railway, Currency, National Budget, Import, Export, Immigration and Emigration, Foreign, Affairs etc, etc,. All other functions such as education, police, land, ports of entry etc., etc., shall be entrusted to the Regional Councils. But all development works within the area of the District Council concerned shall be entrusted to that District Council for execution.

Other suggestions

Articles for the following purposes have to be incorporated into the Constitution (a) that the environment is the foundation of economic growth and poverty reduction, and that the government is legally responsible for providing a clean and healthy environment for its citizens, (b) provision for public interest litigations on the lines that is available in India against any body or personally against any official of a body for actions taken or not taken or delaying to take action that would adversely affect the interest of anyone, during the course of his/her duty, even if done in good faith, if it could have been avoided had he/she taken an alternative course of action (c) a “Right to information Act” similar to what is available in India be enacted to enable the ordinary person to obtain any information that he/she wants which shall include photo copies of minute sheets or the like provided such information will not hamper the security of the country (d) discrimination on any grounds by anyone shall be made a punishable penal offence similar to what is available in Canada and a greater punishment if that person happens to be a public servant (e) for controlling the exploitation of our natural resources including fishing on the high seas within our boundary, by the multinational companies as is being done in China (f) devolving the decision-making powers over the use and management of natural resources to the local communities – Sub-Divisional Councils – as it would create greater food security and more equal power relationship, (g) civil society organizations that represent public interest to be given the due place in legislative and budget policy debates and where necessary in other matters as well.

a. No Law shall be initiated, amended or repealed by the Legislative Council and the
Regional Councils and become operative until a 2/3 majority in all the four regional councils has accepted it.

b. No laws, motions, byelaws, regulations that affects it’s minority shall be deemed to have been accepted by a Regional Council unless a three-fourth majority of the minority members in that Regional Council supports it.

c. No loan can be negotiated by the Executive Council for any purpose without the prior approval of all four Regional Councils.

d. Regional Councils shall not be permitted to obtain loans except from the Executive Council but be permitted to negotiate directly with foreign institutions to obtain aids and grants for the development of their Regions.

The District Councils would be responsible for the submissions of development proposals for its area to the Regional Council, in consultation with the Sub-Divisional Councils within its area, for consideration and if approved request for the allocation of necessary funds for the implementation of same.

The Regional Councils would be responsible for the submissions of the proposals for the development of their Region to the Executive Council for approval stating the source of funds through which it is intended to be executed be it allocation, loan, aid, or grants.

A person while holding a ‘post’ in the government or government controlled institutions or public limited liability companies quoted in the Colombo Stock Exchange shall not be eligible to seek election to any Council.

Three months before the date fixed for election in the constitution, canvassing of any nature shall be forbidden including the announcement of any beneficial programs and the incumbents in any Council shall not in any way assist the contestants for any Council or in the alternative if the date of election is not fixed in the constitution and the incumbents are permitted to contest, then a caretaker government shall be in office on the Pakistan and Bangladesh model – consisting of persons not directly involved in party politics, with the Chief Justice as the Head of the State and elections be concluded within a period of six months at the maximum

Independent Commissions shall be appointed for the administration and control of the various services that have to function independently according to laid down procedures. These commissions are accountable and answerable to the Head of State. No interference of any kind by anyone including the Head of State, Heads of Councils or any member of any Council shall be permitted.. Every commission shall consist of one member from each of the Regions elected jointly by the members of the Regional and District Councils of each Region. The members of the Executive and Legislative Councils shall elect the 5th member of any Commission, who shall be the Chairman, jointly.
a. The administrative set-up would be region-wise in all matters save and except that cannot be entrusted to a particular region due to its particular national character and are of concern to the entire country – e.g. postal, railway etc.
b. Regional Councils and other Councils would have the freedom to interact and formulate policies on matters assigned to the Regions or to the Executive Council or for any other purpose they deem necessary thus preserving the indivisible nature of the country.
c, When a voter becomes ineligible to contest an election by having been a member of a Council during the preceding two years then that ineligibility shall also apply to his/her immediate family, his/her parents immediate family including their grand parents and grand children

It is earnestly requested that the learned persons who are advising the government in drafting amendments to the constitution, take into consideration the main basic suggestions – the system of governance and mode of representation – contained herein and build on it in the wider interest of the country at large. It is accepted that many other important issues have not been given thought to or mentioned herein due to the length of these suggestions and my limited capacity.

Comments, constructive criticisms of any defects in this proposed system, and where possible with any suitable remedies to overcome them, are most welcome and may please be addressed to the undersigned.

Sie.Kathiravel
Postal address : 217, Station Road, Vavuniya,

Telephone : 024-2220524

E-mail address : < eskayvavuniya@yahoo.co.uk >
I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything but I can do something.
And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something I can do.
What I can do, I should do. And what I should do, by the Grace of God, I will do.

– Edward Everett Hale (1822 – 1909)









If undelivered please return to:
Sie. Kathieravelu,
217, Station Road, Vavuniya







An Urgent and earnest appeal due to the escalation of hostilities
that is causing immense hardship to the ordinary people

From: Sie. Kathieravelu of 217, Station Road, Vavuniya (an ordinary person)

To : The Chairman and other members of the Board of Directors,

Respected Sir/Madam,

Requesting an appointment to explain
the possibility of a lasting and positive peace

Please accept my (a member of the public) Salutations, Greetings and best wishes for a better future to you and all others.

Please pardon me for disturbing you in the midst of your business activities, but the dire necessity compels me to make this earnest appeal to you in all sincerity, for an opportunity to meet you and others concerned and explain some of my ideas that would help to end the turmoil in this country in the interest of everyone.

It is happy to recollect the lead given by the business community in initiating the project “Sri Lanka First” to make the people of this country and the international community aware of the problems faced and the necessity to bring in ‘peace at any cost’. In my humble opinion it was only phase 1 of the project to make the people aware of the current situation in the country. This has to be followed by phase 2, initiating action to invite suggestions for ways of bringing in peace (one way is given in the attachment for your kind perusal and comments), Phase 3, promoting discussion to narrow down the differences of opinion, phase 4, adoption of a resolution for a system of governance through consensus, phase 5, exploring the ways and means for implementing the accepted resolution, phase 6, finalizing the mode of implementation and finally phase 7, to take necessary steps for the implementation of the accepted system, for peace and prosperity of the entire country and happiness to every individual, the need of everyone.

In this context it is proper to draw the kind attention of the business community to the thoughts of various persons as outlined in the LMD journal dated December 2006, and also to what is asserted by Ms. Manique Mendis of BPA on page 77 of the LMD journal dated October 2006 that ‘the BPA’s proposal is for a power-sharing solution, because war is not the answer’ which means that the business community is already on phase 2 of the project that was initiated by it.

Peace in the country can only be achieved through a system of good governance with checks and balances and with safeguards to all groups of persons as proposed in the P-Toms (please refer pages 40-42 in LMD of July 2005) and in these suggestions.

The suggestions included in this proposal would help to cause the eradication of the various problems the country is facing today – such as the ever rising cost of living, bribery, corruption, violence, discrimination, injustice, unemployment and the wastage of public funds – just to mention a few.

The First basic suggestion is the expansion of the present parliament of one chamber into seven chambers through the formation a set of ‘councils’ at six different levels with different and distinct functions of the present parliament that would link all councils (chambers) thus enabling the formation of an inter-linked chain parliament to govern the whole country with transparency and accountability.

The second basic suggestion is the mode of electing the representatives to these ‘councils’, which is based on the UN principle of one representative to an administrative area (country) irrespective of the density of population or its size. In this suggestion it is equal representation from similar administrative areas to the same/similar ‘council’ which is a great deviation from the present practice. (Colombo and Monaragala districts, would have the same number of representatives in the suggested Legislative Council, irrespective of the vast difference in size and the density of population, since each of these districts are similar administrative areas).

It is earnestly appealed, that the business community, which has the capacity and the resources needed to reach the ordinary people, would consider the above alternative way of thinking and create awareness among the ordinary people in the interest of the country – as part of their CSR – to make the people realize the importance of installing a truly democratic system of good governance with transparency and accountability that would benefit everybody and the country as a whole.

In this context it is worth quoting the words of the former Prime Minister of Malaysia while on a visit to this country. He said, “If the majority community wants to grab power, the country will not grow – and in the process, it will not enjoy”. He added “If power is shared, the country will grow – and so will the majority community’s share. It is better to grow together than not grow at all” It has to be noted that some 50 years ago, Malaysia, India and this country had comparable economies but today we are worlds apart. Malaysia and India are tapping the doors of the First World while we are stuck in the second half of the Third World. The simple reason for this situation is our incorrect attitude towards our fellow citizens, the lack of exposure to the trends and experiences in the governance of other countries and the will to make a bold political decision to reverse the trend of degradation. With the help of the powerful forces of the world that are standing by to help us and the resources available in our country, we can surpass Malaysia, India and even Switzerland if only; we are prepared to help ourselves.

Please give due consideration to this request to meet you and others as coming, not from an insignificant individual but, from and on behalf of a vast majority of the people who are suffering due to the on going conflict, which is not their making.

Thanking you in advance in anticipation of an early response, in the interest of ending the turmoil in this country and thus creating a better image internationally.

Yours in Service,
Telephone : 024 2220524
e-mail to : eskayvavuniya@yahoo.co.uk Sie. Kathieravelu


I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything but I can do something.
And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something I can do.
What I can do, I should do. And what I should do, by the Grace of God, I will do.
– Edward Everett Hale (1822 – 1909)







Email to:
An urgent and earnest appeal due to the escalation of hostilities
that is causing immense hardship to the ordinary people

From: Sie.Kathieravelu of 217, Station Road, Vavuniya.(an ordinary individual)

To : His Excellency


Your Excellency,

Requesting for an appointment to explain further
on the ideas for a lasting and positive peace in this country

With Your Excellency’s kind permission, I (as a member of the public) wish to convey my humble Salutations, Greetings and best wishes for a better future, to Your Excellency, Your Excellency’s country and the people.

Please pardon me for interrupting Your Excellency’s’ day-to-day work with a humble prayer for an opportunity to meet Your Excellency to explain the ideas that might lead towards a lasting and positive peace in this country in which Your Excellency’s country and the International community is interested.

It is my firm belief that Peace can be brought about only through negotiations and that for this purpose a proposal or a set of suggestions must be placed before the parties concerned to read, digest and make their observations, modifications or alternative suggestions to arrive at a amicable solution with justice and dignity to all, without just discarding the suggestions placed before them without giving any reason.

It is my considered opinion that there is no reason to totally reject the ideas that are being suggested. The First suggestion is the expansion of the present parliament of one chamber to seven chambers at six different levels linked with different and distinct functions of the present parliament to form a chain parliament that would govern the country as a whole with transparency and accountability. The Second suggestion is the basis of representation to these chambers (councils), which is based on the UN principle of one representative for one country (administrative area). In these suggestions it is an equal number of representatives from similar administrative areas to the same or similar ‘council’ irrespective of the size or density of population of the area, which is a great deviation from the present system of representation.

It is my considered opinion that these two suggestions are vital for the efficient functioning of the emerging democratic system in the developing world, and our country in particular, which is yet to get the full taste of democracy in its true form. India, a secular state in the developing world, with a majority Hindu population, can boast of its advanced form of democracy by having a Muslim as its President and a Sikh as its Prime Minister. Malaysia too, another developing country- calling itself a Muslim country, can boast of having many Tamils as MP’s and Ministers, though the Tamils are a minority in each and every constituency from which they are elected.

The above, together with other suggestions, have been included in the proposal with a view to help to eradicate the root causes to the various problems faced by the country today – such as the rising cost of living, corruption, bribery, discrimination, violence, injustice, unemployment, the greed for power for pecuniary reasons and the wastage of public funds – just to mention a few.

Please give due consideration to this urgent request, as not from an insignificant individual but, from and on behalf of the vast majority of the people who are suffering due to the ongoing conflict, which is not their making.

Your Excellency’s kind assistance is humbly solicited in restoring peace and harmony to this country along with good governance in the spirit of true democracy with transparency that would create happiness and prosperity that would go a long way in creating a better image of this country in the eyes of the international community.

Thanking Your Excellency in advance, in anticipation of an early response to my humble request of an opportunity to meet Your Excellency and explain my ideas for a lasting and positive peace in our country,

Yours in Service,

Sie.Kathieravelu

Postal address: 217, Station Road, Vavuniya.
Telephone : 024 2220524
email address : eskayvavuniya@yahoo.co.uk



I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything but I can do something.
And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something I can do.
What I can do, I should do. And what I should do, by the Grace of God, I will do.

– Edward Everett Hale (1822 – 1909)
































For Peace to prevail, please consider my humble request for an appointment

An Urgent and Earnest Appeal
for a better future to the country.

From: Sie.Kathieravelu of 217, Station Road, Vavuniya

To: The Chairman and other members of the Board of Directors

Respected Sir/Madam,

Requesting an appointment to explain
the possibilities for a Lasting and Positive Peace

Salutations, Greetings and Best wishes for a better future to everyone.

The silent majority of the civil society expects the business community to continue with the project ‘Sri Lanka First’ that was initiated by it with good intentions, as part of its CSR, for a better future to everyone and the country itself.

The two attachments – one a request for an appointment together with the salient features of a proposal for a lasting and positive peace and the other, an outline of the proposal – are submitted for your kind perusal and comments please.

It is humbly requested that you be good enough to give me an opportunity to meet you and others with the view of further explaining the benefits arising from the suggestions contained therein for the future of this country and in incorporating your views to perfect those ideas for an ideal constitution that will satisfy the aspirations of all the people and allow them to live happily.

Thanking you in advance in anticipation of an early response,

Yours in Service,

Sie.Kathieravelu



I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything but I can do something.
And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something I can do.
What I can do, I should do. And what I should do, by the Grace of God, I will do.
– Edward Everett Hale (1822 – 1909)










For your perusal please

Sri Lanka, “Where every prospect pleases, but…..”

The devastation and destruction that has overtaken this once peaceful and beautiful country. sad to say, is the creation of man. Why is this happening? This blessed land, home to people of various faiths and races, where in the words of Bishop Herbert where every prospect pleases, and only man is vile, could not be further from the truth in the context of what is taking place today.
Where is all this leading to. And how and when, could we expect a change for the better? Whilst selfishness and avarice overrides all else, whence could we find common sense to prevail? Is this not the reason for the wanton destruction of the environment? It is brought about by sand mining and felling of trees for timber, as anything has to be done in keeping with nature’s laws. There is a methodology, and procedure if one wants to get the best results in protection the environment. To those who bring about this. causing hardship to the people, it is a sign of selfishness from an unwanted crisis.
Floods and earth slips are the result of man’s misdeeds, his hunger for power, self aggrandizement and avarice has led to this major crisis. Description of our once beautiful highways in the hill country and railroads too, has brought much inconvenience to all concerned. What ate the authorities concerned doing about this?
As things are, compassion and caring for fellow beings does not exist among the human fraternity. Why should this be so? For man was created way above God’s other creations and endowed with the faculty to think, and reason. Attitudes have changed in peoples conduct, resulting in deterioration in relationship among them. There are those who believe they are superior and look down on fellow beings, by virtue of their status and wealth.
Conduct of people in public places, as also in the precincts of the prestigious institution of the country, the house of Parliament, is found wanting: what could we expect of the rest, when those whom we send to deliberate the affairs of the country in the high office of state are found waiting in their conduct.
Honesty and fair play are a far cry from the real situation, whether it is Parliament or for that matter any institution where people meet, there is much to be desired in respect of how those in such places conduct themselves and fraternize with members of the public who go there to meet them.
Today, most people live in a world of their own, whereby that sense of compassion does not exist. Whichever angle one looks at it whether it be culture digitally or whatever, it is very evident that the deterioration in the standard of conduct is the cause of much hurt and animosity among people today.
In a world where values are more endearing and should be in keeping with social requirements it is unbecoming for any one to resort to egoistic values. Humility and a more realistic attitude is what we should strive to maintain in our relationship with others: there is much we could do to live amicably and create better relationships among ourselves. We all come into this world the same way and depart too likewise.
What accrues to us, and we take with us on that final journey is the good and evil we indulge in during our sojourn in this world. Wealth and power: name and fame will not accrue to us on that final journey that takes to our creator: whatever heights man achieves in this world, he is answerable for his every action. Humility is the key to whatever we hope to achieve for ourselves.
We have to also keep in mind that whatever heights we strive to achieve should be in keeping with the laws of the land the stepping to all that we hope and aspire in all our endeavours.
We should strive to acquire knowledge, for the sake of widening our horizons, and doing our best to follow the path our Lord and creator decreed for us.
Remembering the goal of knowledge is action. Remembrance that God is the cornerstone on which our hopes and aspirations are built on. That leads us to the path of righteousness. After independence, those who took over did so with the intention of carrying on from the colonial leaders who had maintained the roads and countryside. The many ways they contributed to the development of the country were possible with the Gal-Oya project and the Senanayake Samudra, in a bid to enhance the agriculture sector is something we can never overlook, which brought prosperity to the Tea, Rubber and Coconut plantations that were the major production sectors.
The important road network was an asset to the tourism sector among which were the Ramboda Pass, and the Ginigathena Pass. However, we are today seeing as to what extent the roads have gone down the precipice of destruction to vandalism and neglect of these valuable land marks.
Today’s politicians and so called leaders are only concerned with their welfare. Feathering their own nests, they publicize their activities with much fan fare, under the guise of implementing their policies, via the media and T.V Cameras.
That is as far as they carry out there polices, and then leave it to its fate, despite how much it costs. Is it any wonder that the country is facing disaster upon disaster? Today, so called leaders call on the people (who are undergoing untold hardship and suffering) to put the country before self, whilst they revel in the best possible way. They who were sent to take the country for ward are only pushing it back-wards down the slopes to an abyss, from where we could never resurre ourselves.
We find at every turn corruption at its worst: those who indulge in this kind of dishonesty are the ones whom the people put their trust in and put them in power. When those at the helm of affairs resort to such low tactics, how can the country progress?
Let us recall those leaders of the past, who took the country forward no matter what they had to face. It was the Father of Free Education’, the late C.W.W.Kannangara who at the time of stepping down had nothing to himself where parliament had to approve of a living allowance for him.
This was the state of those dedicated leaders who put country before self.
We now see the majority of those in the top rings of society, our so called leaders, who serve themselves to the benefits they are not entitled to. What price honesty and civic consciousness?
Globe trotting politicians, who make the best use of all that goes with it, have also made it a family affair at the expense of public funds.
Do they know or do they care where all this leads to and that they are answerable for all their actions, if not in this world, at least in the here-after?

Ayesha Yusuf, Colombo.

The necessity and reasons,

The necessity and reasons
for an alternative democratic system of governance
for the restoration of peace, prosperity and happiness

Respected Sir/Madam,

May you be pleased to permit me to submit a small brief on the necessity and reasons that prompted me in devising a system of governance that is truly democratic and that would certainly go a long way in integrating all the people of this country who are being kept apart by persons who have their own hidden agendas to serve their own personal interests.

These suggestions are being submitted in the long-term interest of the country as a whole. It is believed that these suggestions, if incorporated into the constitution, might serve as a tool for an alternative method or a way for a resolution of the current disorder in this country by allowing the ordinary people to continuously participate in the governance of the country.

It is my humble opinion that the cause of the various conflicts and disorders since independence that are now being tainted as ethnic are not purely ethnic but created and branded as such by interested groups – big or small – of different political ideologies for their own benefit by misguiding the common man. If the political grievances of the Tamils was the one and only problem in this country, then it would have been suggested to either sincerely implement all the laws that have been enacted since 1956 to solve the ethnic problem or study and follow the way Canada tackled the ethnic problem in Quebec. But here we have to tackle many a problem (some of them being the root causes for the so called ethnic problem) such as the ever rising cost of living, discrimination, bribery, corruption, injustice, the problems caused to the public by the arrogance of some of our public servants, environmental problems created by our planners in the name of development by disrupting and polluting mother nature, the problems of the workers with their employers, the unfair trade principles that are being practiced by some traders and so on and so forth – an unending list of problems. The recent spate of actions taken by the Nepalese government in creating a cordial atmosphere among the various sections in the country to tackle the unrest in their country due to some of the causes mentioned above is commendable and could be replicated by us to create a cordial atmosphere in the country.

The most vital component in maintaining the sovereignty of a nation is the execution of its (nation’s) power with justice to the entire populace. Execution of power with justice to the entire people would only be possible if the social and political minorities are represented in a substantial proportion in the ‘cabinet of ministers’ which is actually the policy making body of the government and thus share executive power. But the constitution of this country does not provide for such an arrangement, which in my humble opinion is the primary cause of all the sufferings the country has undergone and is undergoing from 1948 to this date.

In this connection we may take note of the constitution of South Africa, which compels the induction of the various racial groups – big or small – constitutionally into the Cabinet of Ministers thus ensuring the distribution of power to all. It has to be noted that in this country, persons of different races, religions and diverse political ideologies have shown and are showing the capacity to serve in a single Cabinet of Ministers from independence to date – may be for the sake of their own personal benefits.

Experiences have proved that it is mainly through political empowerment that different groups, which have even mouthed ethnic and religious slogans, could be inducted into the main stream politics and thus officially weaned away from the “gun culture” if the democratic system is put into practice, in the spirit it was intended to be implemented. The factor of crucial significance then, is the quality of the much advocated ‘democracy’ that has to be practiced in this country of ours taking into consideration the prevailing ground situation. The so-called democratic institutions that have been installed are only there to create a false image in the eyes of everyone including the international community.

A former M.P. of Vavuniya and a one-time cabinet minister, the Hon. C.Suntharalingam had repeatedly said in parliament that “ democracy is counting of heads up to a certain point and then it becomes the breaking of heads”.

We must try to evolve a system that will be instrumental in reducing our problems by incorporating the good things found in the constitutions of other countries with modifications where necessary, without attempting to blindly copy the systems adopted in other countries, which have a different political and cultural climate.

In this country the Buddhist identity is accorded a pride of place as being the pre-eminent civilization and tradition that occupies a distinctive position in the historic evolution and formation of this country. Let us and the millions of followers of Lord Gauthama Buddha world-wide think for one moment as to what the feelings of Lord Gauthama Buddha would be if He were to witness the current turmoil in this country which embraced His teachings. “Suffering is the result of craving” is a saying by Lord Gauthama Buddha.

It has to be sincerely emphasized that the suggestions contained herein have been expressed (by a person who has suffered a lot and continues to suffer due to the ongoing turmoil) with a view of creating a just, fair and harmonious society that will be humane by not allowing any citizen of this country to be discriminated or subordinated on grounds of race, caste, creed, social, political, economical, or on any other ground. The suggestions made are to allow every individual to live in harmony with others in any part of this country and that it is not even vaguely motivated by any sectional/group interests. It is worthwhile mentioning that through these proposals the voters do not surrender/hand-over any of their rights/powers to any single elected member or political party since the rights/powers inherent in the people have been separated and distributed among the elected bodies at seven different levels – Legislative, Executive, Regional, District, Divisional, Village Headman and Grama Sevaka. All these bodies are inter-dependant and have to interact to achieve an objective in keeping with the laid down policies This system of governance, with a different mode of representation, would also help to curb many of our ills including bribery, corruption, violence (elimination being difficult) and prohibit or discourage any tendency towards dictatorship in any form.

It is said that the democratic system is the best form of Government. It is being defined as a government elected by the majority of the people (with the consent of the minority?). But in my humble opinion this type of democratic system fails if a majority of its citizens based on gender, age or trade (professionals, workers and peasants) and the small and very small groups that are different and distinct on the basis of politics, ethnicity or religious, – are denied participation in the governance of the country. It is this denial, to participate in the governance of the country by all concerned, that is being used by interested groups to create disorders and conflicts in this country which in turn leads to economical ruin and from there gun-culture begins. It is believed that the makers of the constitution of South Africa have taken this factor into consideration in the interest of that country. In a democratic system the mode of representation of the people in the elected bodies is an important factor that has to be given very careful consideration. It is with this end in view that an entirely different approach has been taken with regard to the mode of representations in the elected bodies at different levels – from the tiny village level unto the national level – based on the UN principle of one representative for one country – here equal representation from similar administrative areas to the same or similar Councils.

The framework outlined below is a way of safeguarding the territorial integrity and the unitary character of the country while guaranteeing the continuous participation of the people in the governance of the country and allow them to live in harmony and dignity in any part of this country. The suggestions of distributing powers from the grass-root level to the national level would strengthen the territorial integrity and unitary character of the country as a whole and create a harmonious atmosphere ensuring political stability and economic prosperity with moral and spiritual happiness to the entire populace.

A proposal incorporating the ideas outlined above is submitted for the perusal of the politically motivated intellectual community. It is most humbly requested that the politically motivated intellectual community be good enough to spare a few hours – in the interest of the country – to study this proposal with an open and unbiased mind and suggest suitable amendments, where necessary, that would benefit the country as a whole with justice being meted out to each and everyone without any discrimination that will allow the people to live in harmony and achieve prosperity and happiness. The suggested amendments could then be discussed to arrive at a solution that could be presented to the country either directly or through the political parties.

To summarize the above suggestions in a nut-shell, Grass Root Councils–proposing the needs of the people of the area, the Sub-Divisional Councils–confirming their needs, the District Councils– implementing their needs, the Divisional Councils – supervising the implementation process and progress – the Regional Councils – releasing the necessary funds and framing regulations for the purpose, the Executive Council – collecting and allocating the necessary funds for expenditure and the Legislative Council – enacting the necessary laws for good governance, with the people always having a direct and indirect control over the entire system of governance for the benefit of the people. Further, this system while not encouraging dictatorial attitude of a single or group of persons is people-friendly and concentrates on the development of the country as a whole.

The prevalence of good governance with transparency and accountability is a must for the meaningful progress of the country in all spheres – economical, political, social, spiritual and moral – and this must be the primary object of each and every political party. The political parties are most humbly requested to shed their petty differences in their way of approach in bringing peace and prosperity to this country. There is no doubt that every political party is striving hard to bring in peace and prosperity with dignity to all in their own way with priority to the well being of their party first, outdoing their main competitors. On behalf of the people of this country who are longing for peace and harmony, it is humbly requested that all the political parties shed their petty differences and change their attitudes in their way of approach to serve the people and the country, in the interest of the country.

Political parties must resolve to give
Priority of interest to the Country as a whole first with
Personal and party interests coming afterwards.

Thanking you in advance in anticipation of an early response that would give first place to the interest of the people of this country and second or third place or no-place to the interest of the political parties

N.B. The said suggestions are appended below for your valuable comments please.

Yours, in Service,


(Sie. Kathieravelu)