March 12, 2010: A forum on free and fair election under the theme 'Preserving faith in the democratic process' organized by the Peace Task Force Committee of Caritas Sri Lanka was held in Colombo yesterday.
This was held with the participation of members of the clergy, politicians and public representatives.
Addressing the forum, the UNP Deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya expressed these views:
“When you are talking about free and fair elections, can you anybody here say that the elections that are being held today are free and fair? Certainly not! Today, there is a necessity for the implementation of the 17th amendment.”
“We ask for a 2/3rd power to amend the Constitution,” said Susil Premajayantha, the Minister of Education addressing the forum.
“We are heading for General Elections. We asked for 2/3rd power. That is to amend the Constitution, amend the 17th Amendment to the Constitution. Because our election system is new but election law is old.
"That is why pasting posters and cut-outs become necessary to display the number. If a voter doesn’t mark or cross for a particular number, of course we will not be elected,” said the Minister Susil Premajayantha.
Meanwhile, addressing the gathering, Attorney At Law M. A. Sumanthiran said that conducting a free and fair election had nothing to do with the system that is in place.
“The conduct of free and fair election, I think, has nothing to do with the system that is in place. So I beg to disagree with the other eminent speaker who identified the present electoral system that we have for all our ills.
"I don’t think it is correct. I think it is the persons, people who participate in the system to be blamed if we don’t give sense of accountability, transparency and to ensure that whatever the system, when it is implemented it is free and fair," said M. A. Sumanthiran.
Furthermore addressing the gathering Professor Rajiva Wijesinghe expressed these views:
“My view is that if we were going to restore confidence we need to reform the electoral law. We have to realize that this whole business of posters is a dreadful waste of time. But what other recourse do they have if they can’t take full page adds. Our current electoral system benefits the rich. It is almost an invitation to corruption.”
Addressing the forum Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) leader Somawansa Amarasinghe said that: “Where there is no free and fair elections, strengthening faith in parliamentary democracy is impossible”.
“that is why thousands of voters for the first time in Sri Lanka since 1931 took to the streets reacting to the results of the Presidential Election. The struggle continues at the national and international level,” said Amarasinghe.
Archbishop of Colombo, Rev. Dr. Malcolm Ranjith said that it was sad to see at each election they have to shed more blood than the previous election.
“We Sri Lankans are supposed to be having a very strong religious culture and we boast about great culture and spiritual heritage. Therefore it is very sad to see at each election they have to shed more blood than the previous election.
"If all parties can get together and discuss the issues in the country the atmosphere will be much more healthy,” said the Archbishop of Colombo..
