UNP and SLFP(M) tie up, vow to �eradicate terrorism�, 19 July
2007
[TamilNet]
Announcing a tie-up Thursday, Sri Lanka�s main opposition United
National Party (UNP) and the SLFP-M, a splinter of the ruling Sri
Lanka Freedom Party promised to solve the island�s protracted ethnic
conflict �within 9 months� of coming to power. The UNP and SLFP-M
also vowed �a major offensive will be launched with the support of
all people who honour peace and with the support of the
international community to eradicate terrorism and separatism from
Sri Lanka if any party refuses to accept the solution that safe
guards the integrity of all, enforced on a majority decision of the
public.�
The agreement between the UNP and the SLFP-M (Mahajana Wing of
the SLFP) was signed by the two party leaders, Mr. Ranil
Wickramasinghe and Mr. Mangala Samaraweera, who also agreed to hold
the office of Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister respectively
in the event their electoral alliance � to be named the �National
Congress� - to come to power.
Out of a lengthy agreement published Thursday,
coinciding with the government�s celebration of the armed forces
capture of Thoppigala, only two paragraphs referred to finding a
solution to the ethnic conflict.
The two parties agreed �to find a solution within 09 months to the
ethnic conflict that has been dragged for decades with All Party
Conferences, Commissions and Committees by accelerating the process
of finding a solution that accepts wide sharing of power within an
undivided country in which every citizen, whether Sinhala, Tamil,
Muslim Burgher, Malay or any other Minority would be equally
accepted and treated and will enjoy equal fundamental and democratic
rights.
�The basic objective of this exercise will be to unite Sri Lanka and
a solution based on power sharing that could be agreed upon by all
sections of the society be submitted for public approval at a
national Referendum.�
In an implicit criticism of the 2002 Ceasefire Agreement which the
UNP itself, then in government, signed with the LTTE, the UNP-SLFP-M
agreement stated: �Both parties agree to strictly forbid any
opportunity to provide training, procure arms, assassinate
intelligence, military or Police officers and to engage in any other
terrorist activities.�
The second paragraph on ethnic conflict states:
�A major offensive will be launched with the support of all
people who honour peace and with the support of the
international community to eradicate terrorism and separatism
from Sri Lanka if any party refuses to accept the solution that
safe guards the integrity of all, enforced on a majority
decision of the public. It is envisaged to launch such an
offensive by providing the three forces with necessary modern
arms and equipment. They will be according to accepted
international norms and war regulations while agreeing to
refrain from carrying them out on mere political agendas.�
The two parties are �to form a broad front with all democratic
political parties and people's organisations who agree with the
[our] policies.�
The parties agreed to contest elections with
all political parties who agree to contest with them as a �broad
front� which will be called the "National Congress."
Full text of the agreement by UNP and SLFP-M follows:
As Sri Lanka has never before in its history experienced such a
grave catastrophe that compels steps to be taken with utmost
urgency to safe guard democracy and human rights, to eradicate
fraud and corruption, to establish good governance, to seek
redress to public grievances including the high cost of living,
to find an early solution to the ethnic conflict and to develop
Sri Lanka without delay,
As it is necessary to forge a
broad political front based on clear principles along with an
implementing plan while also maintaining the policies and
objectives of respective political parties to achieve the above,
As the party leadership and his brothers have taken control of
the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, having ousted those who strived to
work towards establishing good governance in the country and
internal democracy in the party by removing Members of
Parliament Mangala Samaraweera and Sripathy Sooriyarachchi who
worked within the party to maintain its middle path principles
whilst trying to safeguard the party constitution and the "Rata
Perata" (Take the Country Forward) policies, from their Cabinet
portfolios,
Agreement is reached herewith as necessary
to forge a broad front consisting of individuals, political
groups and political parties based on firm and clear principles
with a time frame for implementation that would go beyond those
Alliances and United Fronts which were established in Sri
Lanka's past history for the sole purpose of coming to power.
This agreement is reached between the United National Party, a
duly registered political party in Sri Lanka and the Mahajana
Wing (M) of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party that truly claims
allegiance to the constitution and the policies of the Sri Lanka
Freedom Party, a duly registered political party in Sri Lanka,
on the 19 th day of July, in the year 2007.
Both parties
to the agreement hereby agree to effect broad based
constitutional reforms that include the following basic
aspirations through a Constitutional Council within 03 months
from an election that provides a people's mandate to establish a
new Constitution.
1.1) Further strengthening of
Fundamental Rights. Priority will be given at all times in all
activities to treat Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher and other
minorities without any bias and with equality
1.2 )
Introduction of a Presidency elected by popular vote that would
have the present executive powers limited and then held
responsible to the parliament and to the judiciary.
Strengthening of powers and responsibilities of the Prime
Minister and the Cabinet of Ministers. The new Constitution to
provide for two (02) Vice Presidencies to be elected from among
the cabinet of ministers in consensus with the President.
1.3) It is agreed there would be a maximum of thirty two
(32) ministers sworn in to the cabinet and no other ministers
except the Deputy Ministers will be appointed. At no time will
the total of 32 Ministers and the Deputy Ministers together
exceed 1/3 rd of the total number of Members in Parliament. The
Constitution to define subjects and responsibilities of
Ministries to the best possible extent. While working under the
Minister, the Deputy Ministers to have their subjects and
responsibilities also defined. Gender representation in the
cabinet of ministers would be maximized. Provisions to be made
to include a maximum of three (03) persons who are not Members
of Parliament but with exceptional specialization, to the
cabinet of ministers. These three Ministers can be excluded from
the parliamentary majority.
1.4) Introduction of an
electoral system that would ensure a majority that would allow
for a comfortable government while also allowing representation
for minority ethnicities and small political parties. It is also
the basic objective of these reforms to provide for a member to
be elected from popular vote for all electorates that would be
demarcated after delimitation of electorates for the new
electoral system.
1.5) All effort would be taken to
introduce the system of by-elections and strict laws would be
introduced to bar Members from crossing over from the political
party from which he/she is elected from at an election, to
another political party.
1.6) Steps will be taken to introduce criteria for
nomination of Members from the National list and strict
regulations will be introduced to stop nomination of criminals,
underworld leaders, relatives or those who were unseated from
Membership to parliament by a court of law, as Members of
parliament from the National list.
1.7) A permanent
Select Committee comprising of all political parties
representing parliament will be established to monitor the
implementation of election promises and policies, while also
introducing laws that make handing over of election manifestos
to the Election Commissioner mandatory.
1.8) Steps will
be taken to make the judicial process a simple, more efficient,
less expensive and time conserving process with a high degree of
credibility and to provide for more independence in the
judiciary including the Supreme Court that has hitherto acted
with considerable independence when under undue pressures and
presently to hold Sri Lanka from being turned into a dictatorial
regime. The Attorney General's Department that has turned into a
political tool will be reformed into an independent institute.
1.9) The Police Department will be de-politicised and turned
into a strong and credible organization to establish law and
order in society that is presently burdened with insecurity,
fear and terror. A very concerted, major effort will be made to
eradicate drugs and illegal use of fire arms within six (06)
months from forming a government. Immediate steps will be taken
to investigate all abductions, involuntary disappearances, extra
judicial killings and extortions and bring the offenders in
front of the law. Also those Police Officers who have taken the
law unto their hands for political reasons will be severely
dealt with according to law.
1.10 ) Laws and regulations
necessary to curb corruption, fraud and bribery will be provided
for in the Constitution and existing law will be strengthened.
In this respect, the report submitted by the UNDP will be
positively amended for implementation. A Code of Ethics will be
introduced for Elected Representatives and Public Servants and
will have clear demarcations on agreements that could be entered
into with the State and agreements that can not be entered into
with the State.
1.11) It is agreed that tenders will be
called for all state work and for large projects while no
procurements, constructions or other projects would be
entertained on single proposals when no government is involved.
1.12) Immediate and special measures will be taken to bring
those who were involved in the Telecom deal, corrupt procurement
of arms and ammunition at a very high cost, acquiring of Mig 27
and Mig 29 aircrafts for very high prices, Licenses issued by
the Telecom Regulatory Commission, Licenses issued for Radio and
Television stations, Mihin Air Company, Lanka Logistics and
Technologies Company, enforcing heavy taxes on flour imports
while providing full tax concessions for Wheat imports and
enforcing a high price for bread to collect millions of rupees
as commissions monthly, Hingurana Sugar Factory, transfer of
valuable state land to relations and friends through illegal
means and at heavily under valued prices, issuing of permits for
refining of petroleum products on massive commissions, frauds in
importing of fertilizers, corruptions and frauds mentioned in
the COPE report and other major frauds and corruptions in front
of the law, effect judicial procedures and punish the offenders.
02. Finding early solutions to the Ethnic conflict
2.1) Agrees to find a solution within 09 months to the
ethnic conflict that has been dragged for decades with All Party
Conferences, Commissions and Committees by accelerating the
process of finding a solution that accepts wide sharing of power
within an undivided country in which every citizen, whether
Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim Burgher, Malay or any other Minority
would be equally accepted and treated and will enjoy equal
fundamental and democratic rights. The basic objective of this
exercise will be to unite Sri Lanka and a solution based on
power sharing that could be agreed upon by all sections of the
society be submitted for public approval at a national
Referendum. Both parties agree to strictly forbid any
opportunity to provide training, procure arms, assassinate
intelligence, military or Police officers and to engage in any
other terrorist activities.
2.2) A major offensive will
be launched with the support of all people who honour peace and
with the support of the international community to eradicate
terrorism and separatism from Sri Lanka if any party refuses to
accept the solution that safe guards the integrity of all,
enforced on a majority decision of the public. It is envisaged
to launch such an offensive by providing the three forces with
necessary modern arms and equipment. They will be according to
accepted international norms and war regulations while agreeing
to refrain from carrying them out on mere political agendas.
03. For economic development
3.1) Both parties agree
to appoint a main Committee and sub � Committees to draft a long
term national economic plan. Special emphasis will be given to
the following, within this national economic plan.
3.1.1) An accelerated programme to improve productivity and
production in all sectors of the economy.
3.1.2) Special
attention to be given to the energy sector with emphasis on
development of alternative sources of energy
3.1.3) Special concessions to be given to promote local
investors and to provide investing opportunities to all
citizens, while also finding efficient and simple methods in
promoting foreign investors. Reforming laws and regulations that
hinder private sector enterprises which contribute to the GNP in
a major way.
3.1.4) A well formulated plan to be drafted
for agriculture, fisheries, plantations, industries, small and
medium enterprises, construction, gems and minerals, jewellery,
forestry and Mahaweli to guide them in accelerated development
3.1.5) Allocate internationally accepted percentages on
social justice from the GNP for education, health, vocational
training, social services and Samurdhi and utilize those funds
on a well designed programme. In this respect special emphasis
will be given to children, youth and women. Post G.C.E O/L or
A/L youth will be inducted for voluntary work in nation
development. Also training programmes with international
acceptance for pre-school teaching, beauty culture, nursing and
the like will be introduced to promote foreign employment
instead of as house maids. A programme to teach English to all
children in the country will also be launched.
3.1.6)
Port, Fisheries harbours, urban housing, high ways, transport,
irrigation, post and telecommunications to be developed on a
long term basis taking into consideration the population and
world economic growth
3.1.7) A Steering Committee to be
given the responsibility to recapture tourism and related
services that we have by now lost
3.1.8) Implement wide ranging reforms that would
qualitatively improve productivity of both public and private
sector employees. The main focus of this will be to fill all
existing vacancies in the public sector, shift excess employees
into productive positions and to achieve employee satisfaction
through workers' welfare schemes.
3.1.9) Immediate steps
to be taken to introduce a simple tax scheme that is not tax
heavy and to reduce Bank interests to a single digit.
3.1.10) In designing the economic plan safe guarding and
developing local art, national heritage and bio-diversity will
be a prime need. Environmental conservation will be given
special consideration in economic development
3.1.11)
The essence of this economic policy is to launch an accelerated
development programme in Sri Lanka by effectively incorporating
past and present achievements and traditions of our motherland,
of our Asian region and the world that would provide for equal
distribution of development dividends among all citizens of Sri
Lanka
3.2) Agrees to provide Sri Lankan citizens
employed in internationally recognized foreign institutes as
Medical Doctors, Engineers, Scientists, IT Specialists and
Financial Experts with honourary citizenship and special
allowances to harness their expertise for speedy development of
Sri Lanka
3.3) A speedy programme to be designed to launch a state
fund to provide higher or further educational opportunities in
well reputed foreign universities like the Oxford, Cambridge,
Harvard and Yale to students who do exemplary well at G.C.E A/L
exams at district level and at final graduation exams.
3.4) Access international expertise or skills to reform and
rehabilitate state institutes considered economically extremely
important as productive and efficient organizations, instead of
privatizing them
3.5) Steps will be effectively taken to
stabilise the rupee value and consolidate prices in order to
curb the rising cost of living. A committee on cost of living
will meet weekly to maintain a cost of living that would be
bearable
3.6) Foreign relations that has hitherto been
affected will be duly rehabilitated and a foreign policy that
would uphold Sri Lanka's self respect and identity will be
adopted, while developing extremely friendly and mutually
respectful relationships with India and other SAARC region
countries, China, Japan, EU member nations, USA and all other
countries.
At least a minimum of two thirds (2/3) of all positions
in the foreign service will be invariably filled by career
diplomats. The Permanent Parliamentary Committee Monitoring
Election Manifesto and Promises will obtain reports to over see
the status of these appointments monthly
3.7 A definite
programme will be implemented to guarantee media freedom and to
stop all forms of media harassments that aim at covering fraud
and corruption using the war as a cover. Provide Constitutional
safety to deny future attempts at enabling the Criminal
Defamation law.
3.8 Although Non governmental
Organisations are being subjected to numerous allegations, they
contribute positively in social services and environmental
conservation sectors. Both parties agree to develop a programme
that would improve social contributions by non governmental
organizations and allow them to independently function while
contributing to the efforts of the government.
3.9)
Although a parliamentary select committee has been requested and
a complaint lodged with the Terrorism Investigation Unit against
Rs. 20 million given to the LTTE in order to block votes at the
2005 Presidential elections to ensure election victory and there
after on billions of rupees given through numerous methods, no
action have been taken to date and therefore a wide ranging
inquiry will be conducted to identify and punish the traitors
and culprits who are responsible for the deaths of security
personnel that is the result of purchase of arms, ammunition and
explosives by the terrorists from these monies.
04.) The
United National Party and the Mahajana Paarshawaya (People's
Faction) of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party as primary partners in
achieving the above, agree to form a broad front with all
democratic political parties and people's organisations who
agree with the above policies
05.) Both parties agree to
work tirelessly in bringing all other democratic political
parties and organisations into this National Congress, who
either agree to the above policies or who contribute positively
in developing the above policies, as we have arrived at the last
hour in saving Sri Lanka
06.) At any time when an
election is held in the future, the United National Party and
the Mahajana Paarshawaya (People's Faction) of the Sri Lanka
Freedom Party while agreeing both parties have a right to work
independently with their own identities, also agree to work as
follows.
6.1) To contest elections with all political
parties who agree to contest as a broad front
6.2) That
front will be called the "National Congress"
6.3) If necessary in any time in the future, the United
National Party and the Mahajana Paarshawaya (People's Faction)
of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party will nominate two (02) persons as
Joint Secretaries of the National Congress. At any time Ranil
Wickramasinghe holds the office of Prime Minister or the
President, the Secretary to be notified to the Elections
Commissioner will be nominated by the Mahajana Paarshawaya
(People's Faction) of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and at all
other times, the Secretary to be notified to the Elections
Commissioner will be nominated by the United National Party.
6.4) The Treasurer of the National Congress will be from any
other political party in the National Congress.
6.5) At
all elections the Mahajana Paarshawaya (People's Faction) of the
Sri Lanka Freedom Party has the right to nominate candidates to
districts as agreed. Also the Mahajana Paarshawaya (People's
Faction) of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party will be entitled to
nominate candidates to Local Government bodies as it suits them
6.6) Election campaigns will be managed by the President of the
United National Party Mr. Rukman Senanayake and by the Chief
Co-ordinator of the Mahajana Paarshawaya (People's Faction) of
the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Mr. Sripathy Sooriyarachchi.
6.7) At all elections, the final nomination board will be
constituted by Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe and Mr. Mangala
Samaraweera
6.8) Both parties further agree to conduct
themselves as follows after conclusion of parliamentary
elections.
6.8.1) Both parties agree that Mr. Ranil
Wickramasinghe will hold the office of Prime Minister while Mr.
Mangala Samaraweera will hold the office of Deputy Prime
Minister and in accordance with the additional agreement entered
into this day, agree to share the total 32 Cabinet portfolios,
the Deputy ministerial posts and the subjects while also
agreeing to discuss same with other political parties in the
future. Also the number of National List Members the National
Congress would have and other additional issues will be decided
among the two parties and the other political parties according
to the conditions agreed in the additional agreement.
6.8.2) It is agreed that a Ministry for Samurdhi and Social
Justice will be established and to eliminate what ever
deficiencies the Samurdhi Movement may have in order strengthen
it and help alleviate poverty.
6.8.3) It is agreed to
strengthen Local Development Committees with a broad development
programme that brings together all government Members of
Parliament in accelerating rural development within the above
mentioned economic development. Special allocations of monies
will be made for such programmes and it is agreed to implement
all rural development programmes through these Local Development
Committees. Ministers and Deputy Ministers will only be allowed
to hold the Chairmanship of the Local Development Committee of
his or her electorate. Other government members of Parliament
will hold Chairmanships of Development Committees of other
electorates / Divisional Secretariat areas, apart from the
Chairmanship in his or her own electorate.
6.8.4) In
coming to agreements with other political parties, both parties
agree to consent to such agreements. And both parties agree to
be flexible in such arrangements.
Both parties agree to
fully abide by this agreement and by the additional agreement
from the 19 th day
of July, 2007 and accordingly place
signatures to this agreement at the Parliamentary complex of the
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Ranil
Wickramasinghe
Leader
United National Leader
Mangala Samaraweera
Convenor
Mahajana Wing (M) of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party that truly
claim the right to the SLFP Party
Witnesses :
01. Rukman
Senanayake
President of United National Party
02. Sripathy
Sooriyarachchi
Chief Co-ordinator of Mahajana Wing (M) of the Sri Lanka
Freedom Party
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