The rights of 20 million people cannot be given to a single dictator

Abolish 20 and empower Parliament under 19

Dictatorial executive not required

Fulfill the demands of young protesters

Karu raises his voice in front of civil society activists

Karu greets young protesters

(Erandi Subasingha, Geeth Ttharuka, Heshan Sampath, Shehara Silva and Hilary Agaas)

President of the National Movement for a Just Society, Deshabandu Karu Jayasuriya, emphasizes that the rights of the country's 22 million people cannot be given to a single dictator.

Mr. Jayasuriya also pointed out that the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, which gave dictatorship to one person, and the executive presidency, which has unlimited powers, should be abolished immediately and the 19th Amendment should be enacted to strengthen the power of Parliament.

Deshabandu Karu Jayasuriya made these remarks at a special discussion with civil society activists organized by the National Movement for a Just Society at the Janaki Hotel in Colombo where he further expressed.

The National Movement for a Just Society extends its respect and admiration for all those who are fighting for the preservation of democracy, including the heroic youth who are dedicating their time to protest across the country, including the "Gall Face" field, with a sense of patriotism, to liberate us from the unfortunate situation in which we are today as a country.

Today we are facing a historic moment in the history of Sri Lanka. The youth today give the leadership to protect democracy, human rights going against corruption, repression, in order to create a just society where the people's representatives and civil society could not do anything so far.  The vast majority of the people in the country are with the new generation.

It is now being revealed how those in power have destroyed the country, plundered national resources including money, trampled democracy and human rights, and, above all, deceived the people by creating ethnic and religious divisions.

Even though a few attempts to create ethnic and religious divisions, the Sri Lankan people now understand the truth. That atmosphere is a comfort for us. That is, we can have hope for the future to create a better country.

Such uprisings take place when those in power and the few around them rule the country unjustly and plunder national resources. The great revolution takes place in the world in such an environment. We urge the government not to underestimate this youth awakening. What they ask is a better future. They can’t keep hopes for tomorrow. Their future has been robbed by a few. As elders, we must encourage this youth energy.

You who are present here representing civil society as well as us have a great role to play in building the country. There is no need to describe the plight of the people today. We can see that lament before our very eyes. Hear. We are deeply saddened by the plight of the helpless people who spend hours in queues without electricity and gas.

This is the perfect opportunity to bring about the constitutional amendments that the country needs, and thereby to create a new country where democracy and human rights can be upheld, and where every religion and nation can live in brotherhood in a corruption free atmosphere.  Such opportunities will not be available in the future. The contribution you make here is a strength.

The 20th Amendment, which empowers one person out of 22 million people, and the executive presidency, which has unlimited powers, must be abolished immediately. The 19th Amendment should be enforced to strengthen the power of Parliament. All independent commissions should be given non-political appointments. The Legislative Council should also include representatives of civil society. Together we urge the government to implement these reforms immediately.

We see that struggle as a national duty that we must fulfill on behalf of the young and the unborn generation. Our movement started objecting to the 20th Amendment from the very next day of the implementation. We forwarded proposals for a new Democratic Constitution.

The Hon. President and the Hon. Prime Minister have stated that they agree to a constitutional amendment and will submit those proposals in the future. Those amendments should be tabled as soon as possible in one step. Promises made in parts, like the Prevention of Terrorism Act, are not accepted today. It was reported that the Opposition too would soon submit its proposals. Here we propose to Parliament to bring these amendments with a common consensus. We see it as an honor to the people's struggle.