President Maithripala Sirisena today hit out at those who criticize his government's attempts to introduce a new constitution by insisting that "we strive for something you do not understand".

Speaking at the national celebration to mark his first year in Presidency, Sirisena said that certain people were making unsubstantiated claims at the constitutional reform programme. He insisted that the special status to Buddhism will not be changed and national security will not be compromised by the proposed constitutional change.

Some MPs of the 'Joint Opposition' have claimed that the new constitution will change the provisions on Buddhism and devolution of power.

Sirisena insisted that the government was seeking changes that people do not see at once. They are intangible, but extremely necessary changes, to ensure lasting reconciliation and peace, the President said.

He insisted that he was ready to embrace any challenge in fulfilling the difficult tasks ahead of him.

President Maithripala Sirisena today raised concerns about the new generation of Bhikkhus, saying that the lay society was having serious doubts about some of them.

Speaking at the event to mark the 100th birthday of Amarapura Nikaya Chief Prelate Davuldena Gnanissara Thera, Sirisena said that the lay society follows the guidance of distinguished religious leaders such as Gnanissara Thera.

However, recent developments indicate that some new Bhikkhus do not follow the guidance of learned senior monks, Sirisena argued.

The President's comments come days after he lashed out at the organisers of 'Enrique Iglesias Live in Colombo' concert, saying that they should be whipped for organising an uncivilized concert. He later responded to criticism leveled at him by saying that he was trying to protect local values and customs. The President stressed that no amount of criticism will change his stance.

Several days after his scathing remarks on the Enrique Live in Colombo concert, President Maithripala Sirisena reiterated that he would not allow the country's culture to be destroyed by those who have been misled.

"People cannot just walk around naked, I cannot allow that" he said, addressing a gathering at 'Ape Gama' today.

Sirisena said that he was being severely criticised on the internet for urging for the protection of local culture and values. However, no amount of criticism will make him change his stance, the President insisted.

"I act according to our values and the understanding of the good and the bad", the President said.

President Sirisena recently lashed out at the organizers of Enrique Live in Colombo concert, adding that such concerts were damaging to the culture of the country. He also referred to the incident where a girl threw her bra at the singer who was performing on the stage.

Sirisena said that the organisers of such indecent shows should be 'whipped'. Legendary Sri Lankan cricketers Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena were among the organisers of the show as they owned the company 'Live Events' which hosted the event. 

In his Christmas message, President Maithripala Sirisena urged the Sri Lankans to reach out for the people affected by the war to make their lives better, keeping in mind the Christmas spirit of giving, sharing, forgiving and taking care of others.

Full text of President Sirisena's message is given below:

Christmas symbolizes the birth of Jesus Christ who assumed a powerful voice, teaching us lessons of kindness and charity that have lasted for more than 2000 years. The Christian message of humanity, love to all beings and humility is seen in the birth of Christ taking place in a stable shared by animals and his first worshipers being humble shepherds.

The philosophy of Jesus is both eternal and universal. Irrespective of one's faith, we all have a sense of duty to ourselves and to one another to make a difference in the world that is genuine and lasting.

Keeping in mind the spirit of Christmas and its embedded human values of giving, sharing, forgiving and taking care of others, let us reach out today to people who were affected during the 30 years of war in Sri Lanka and lend our hands to make their life better.

The birth of Jesus Christ paved the way for the liberation of humankind with the new teaching of universal love, tolerance and understanding that he gave to the world. As the ringing of church bells and the singing of festive hymns mark this festival, enjoyed in freedom today, I extend my warmest greetings for a Happy Christmas full of Peace and Joy to all Christians of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka’s President, Maithripala Sirisena, on Saturday said foreign companies would not be allowed to enter gem mining industry in the country.

Sri Lankan gem industrialists had requested Sirisena to take steps to stop mining by foreign firms during his election campaign last year.

Sirisena said though the demand for the nation’s tea and rubber has declined in the international market, the demand for gems was on the rise. He emphasised that the gem industry had a “special role” to play in increasing the country’s earnings through exports.

Exports

The exports of gems, diamonds and jewellery, fetched $ 393.6 million last year as against $ 445.5 million in 2013, according to provisional data released by the 2014 Annual Report of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. The share of the segment in the overall exports went down from 4.3 per cent in 2013 to 3.5 per cent.

He also recounted his meeting with Queen Elizabeth in March this year, during which the Queen had showed to him her jewellery, many of which were made of gems from Sri Lanka.

The trend of decline in export earnings from the segment continued during January-October 2015, according to Ministry of Finance document published in November.

(The Hindu)

By Taylor Dibbert

There was another high-level U.S. visit to Sri Lanka this week. State Department Counselor Thomas Shannon visited the island nation from December 14-16. The highlight of his trip seems to have been the formal announcement that the first “U.S.-Sri Lanka Partnership Dialogue” will be held in Washington this February. The dialogue will focus on four broad areas: governance, development cooperation, and people-to-people ties; both economic and security cooperation; and global and regional affairs.

Shannon’s remarks after his meeting with Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister, Mangala Samaraweera, were very optimistic. Here’s part of what he said:

"Sri Lanka’s contributions to the development of a regional consciousness – one that promotes the values of democratic governance and respect for human rights, freedom of navigation, sustainable development, and environmental stewardship are noteworthy.

We welcome Sri Lanka’s contributions to global peacekeeping and humanitarian disaster assistance and believe that your armed forces can also play a constructive role in ensuring a bright future.

In May, Secretary Kerry and the Foreign Minister announced that our two governments would launch a Partnership Dialogue to build on that history of exchange and to intensify our cooperation across the board and to further enhance our relationship".

On December 15 in Trincomalee, Shannon spoke about development assistance and the work of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). On December 16 in Colombo, he had more words of praise for Sri Lanka. Here’s a paragraph from that speech:

"Sri Lanka is an example of the power of citizens to reinvigorate their democracy, to retake control – through the ballot box – of their country’s trajectory, and to set a course to a brighter future.  We now look to Sri Lanka to also provide inspiration to others around the world, to show them how justice and compassion can overcome a difficult past and help create a stable and prosperous future, and strengthen a nation’s security, prosperity, and prestige".

In his December 16 speech, Shannon made a fleeting reference to accountability for wartime abuses and the recently passed UN Human Rights Council resolution on Sri Lanka. Yet, quite clearly, the focus of his trip was elsewhere.

With each passing month, U.S. support for Sri Lanka appears to be getting stronger and the prospects of the Barack Obama administration applying more sustained diplomatic pressure on Colombo (regarding accountability for wartime abuses, ongoing human rights abuses, and other difficult, unresolved subjects) looks increasingly unlikely. Indeed, this slobbering love affair seems be in full swing.

The possibility of Obama visiting Sri Lanka has been on the table for some time and Shannon’s visit would suggest that the president certainly hasn’t ruled out such a trip. Given the way U.S.-Sri Lanka ties have been evolving, one could even imagine Obama visiting both Myanmar and Sri Lanka next year, perhaps even on the same trip – talking human rights, improved governance and successful democracy promotion efforts. We’d likely hear about “historic moments” and U.S. “engagement.” We’d probably be reminded of the importance of trade, aid, and free elections, while linking it all to America’s pivot to Asia. An outgoing U.S. president, quite conveniently, would have a pair of foreign affairs success stories; those seem to be in short supply these days.

(The Diplomat)

On January 9 when Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena will begin his second year in office, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will move a resolution in Parliament for converting the House into a Constitutional Assembly, marking the formal inauguration of the process of making a new Constitution in the place of the 1978 Constitution.

As per the draft text of the resolution that has been hosted on the website of Prime Minister’s Office, the proposed Assembly, comprising all Members of Parliament, would seek the views and advice of the people on a fresh Constitution and prepare a draft one.  Once the Parliament adopts the draft Constitution Bill with two-thirds majority, the Bill will be sent to Provincial Councils for opinion and eventually, tested through referendum for the approval of people.

Asked how long it would take for the new Constitution to be adopted, Rajitha Senaratne, Cabinet spokesperson, replied that “we have promised that the present system [Constitution] will continue till the present President is there [in office]. Before he exits, we have to change the Constitution.”  To a query whether this meant that the process would go on for four years?  Dr. Senaratne’s answer was: “You can’t say that. If people respond positively, then there is no problem.”

Panel of 24 to get submissions

He added that the Cabinet, at its meeting on Wednesday, decided to have a committee of 24 persons to get submissions from the people all over the country.  The committee would be split into eight teams of three persons so that each team visited three districts. There would be another committee for obtaining the views of the public, using the print and electronic media.

Public consultation

The Cabinet spokesperson added that “for the first time [in Sri Lanka], a Constitution is going to be framed with the consultation of people.”

Though the country adopted Constitutions twice — 1972 and 1978 — many experts including Jayampathy Wickramaratne are of the view that the public participation was negligible on both occasions. Dr. Wickramaratne, in his talk on the occasion of Constitution Day of India recently, said the 1972 and 1978 Constitutions were “imposed” by the political formation in power. While the Sri Lanka Freedom Party-led United Front had two-thirds majority in the Parliament in 1972, the United National Party had five-sixths majority six years later, he added.

Growing clamour

A survey taken by the Centre for Policy Alternatives among during October-December revealed that 53.4 per cent of Sri Lankans agreed that the Constitution should be changed to produce a political solution to the country’s ethnic problem. Two years ago, only 39.9 per cent of the people favoured the change.

(The Hindu)

President Maithripala Sirisena left for Malta to participate in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Minister Sagala Rathnayake have already left to Malta to participate in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Foreign Ministers’ Conference and the Financial Conference respectively.

President Maithripala Sirisena is the current chairperson of the Commonwealth. The President is due to hand over the position of the Chair  to the Prime Minister of Malta Joseph Muscat on Friday, November 27.

Cabinet approval was granted this morning to President Maithripala Sirisena's proposal to abolish the executive presidency and amend the electoral system.

The President gave a pledge to carry out these reforms on the day of Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera's funeral.

Powers of executive presidency were curtailed through the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.

Sobithe Thera had been urging for the abolishment of the executive presidency through the National Movement for Social Justice during the last few years.

President Maithripala Sirisena has called for a Sri Lanka Freedom Party Central Committee meeting for tomorrow.

The meeting is to take place at the President's Official Residence.

It is expected that the meeting will focus on the local government elections and other future plans of the party.

Meanwhile, the SLFP All Island Committee Meeting is to be held later in the week.

The meeting is expected to be held on Friday.