INSIDE ISSUES
completes this issue with another novel, albeit not completely new, governance idea. The United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designates World Heritage Sites to recognize and protect them as outstanding examples of human endeavour and nature. So far, only one Parliament carries this designation, the United Kingdom’s Palace of Westminster, and it shares it with two adjacent churches. Two Canadian provincial
legislative buildings, the homes of the Prince Edward Island Legislative Assembly in Charlottetown and the Nova Scotia Legislative Assembly in Halifax, were significant in the development of democracy in North America and the development of Canada as a country, so their Assemblies have applied to become World Heritage Sites. Mr Macnutt records the processes used and the justifications presented to support their applications. We join Mr Macnutt and the Parliaments concerned in encouraging Parliaments and Legislatures to seek UNESCO recognition to remind citizens of the enduring importance of their parliamentary legacy. The importance of Sri Lanka’s
democratic heritage, its ancient tradition of good governance and, more recently, of constitutional reform are a strong basis for the next step in its political development, writes the Speaker of its Parliament, Hon. Chamal Rajapaksa, MP. He opens a comprehensive Profile on the host of the 2012 Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference which provides a forthright and often critical self- assessment of Sri Lanka’s recent history, the war and the reconciliation and recovery programmes needed now. Former Prime Minister Hon. Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka,
MP, argues that Sri Lanka’s commitment to parliamentary democracy and its tradition of mature political debate will enable it to rebuild its society, and strengthen its Parliament. Sri Lanka’s Opposition Leader,
Hon. Ranil Wickremasinghe, MP, also stresses parliamen-tary strengthening and adds that respect for parliamentary values, human rights and the rule of law must be re-asserted to lead Sri Lanka successfully out of conflict. Hon. A.H.M. Fowzie, MP, a
senior Minister, writes that Sri Lanka is now a mature parliamentary democracy able to bring peace and prosperity to a long-suffering people tired of political instability, foreign irritants, attempted coups and terrorism. Prof. the Hon. Tissa
Vitharana, MP,Minister of Scientific Affairs and a leading academic, reports that his country is now able to respond not just to social and economic issues but also to the issue that he says has placed it unfairly under Commonwealth and international scrutiny. Another Senior Minister, Hon.
Dew Gunasekara, MP, examines a political history featuring repeated constitutional reforms, the creation of ethnic power blocs and an economy heavily reliant on agricultural exports. National Heritage Minister Hon.
Dr Jagath Balasuriya, MP, raises the issue of proportional representation and notes its unpopularity with most of the country’s Sinhalese majority. He argues for electoral reform. Two other Senior Ministers,
Hon. Vasudeva Nanayakkara, MP, and Hon. Nandimithra Ekanayake, MP, examine different aspects of the reconciliation process. They write separately about programmes to rebuild Sri Lanka as a united multicultural despite the efforts of those trying to perpetuate the conflict and undermine
86 | The Parliamentarian | 2012: Issue Two
rehabilitation through international propaganda. Opposition Chief Whip Hon.
John Amaratunga, MP, recalls Sri Lanka’s constitutional history in arguing for changes in governance to promote unity rather than dissension. The effects of conflict on
women should never be underestimated. It may be one reason why women are now prominent in all walks of Sri Lankan life except Parliament. This year’s President of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians, Hon. Dr Sudharshini Fernandopulle, MP, examines why she has relatively few CWP colleagues around her in her own Parliament. Hon. Wimal Weerawansa,
MP, a Minister and a party Leader in the governing coalition, writes on the political, trade and economic development issues which must be overcome not just for reconciliation but for the development of the entire society. In the area of parliamentary
reform, Hon. Eran Wickramaratne, MP, focuses on Sri Lanka’s parliamentary committees. As a senior economist and parliamentary newcomer, he advocates significant reforms to transform the committees into effective watchdogs of the government. A Sri Lankan MP whose
professional background is in evaluation systems, Hon. Kabir Hashim, MP, advocates that the introduction of specialized evaluation and management processes will make parliamentary scrutiny more effective. Hon. Dr Harsha de Silva,
MP, has another solution: adopting aspects of American congressional politics to the Sri Lankan Parliament to improve public input and parliamentary law- making. His recent experiences in
Washington, D.C., convinced him that his parliamentary colleagues need to emulate the performance
of American Congress men and women. A less enthusiastic perspective
on the American system is offered by Prof . Dr Rajiva Wijesinha, MP, who contends that combining the parliamentary and congressional systems of government has not worked for Sri Lanka. A measure already taken to
strengthen Parliament, the introduction of a new Parliamentary Council, will help Parliament to resist executive domination, says a Member of the Council with experience as both a government and opposition Parliamentarian, Hon. A.H.M. Azwer, MP. Hon. Thilanga
Sumathipala, MP, suggests that Sri Lanka should not rely only on its own experiences to move successfully out of conflict. Other Commonwealth parliamentary democracies could provide valuable pointers to the most effective routes to accountability, economic growth and the involvement of disaffected sections of the population. One of Sri Lanka’s young
Members, Hon. Udith Lokubandara, MP, agrees, noting that Sri Lanka has many strengths, and one of them is its membership in the community of those who adhere to the Commonwealth’s democratic values, including the right of all sovereign nations to develop along the paths they determine. Key to the advancement of
every Parliament is the contribution of its senior professional staff. Sri Lanka is fortunate to have a strong parliamentary service with constitutional protections. Mr Dhammika Dasanayake, the Secretary-General of Parliament, concludes the Sri Lankan Profile with an account of the work of the staff who supply the administrative and procedural services necessary for the success of Parliament, its Presiding Officers and all Members.
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