Sunday Times 2
100-day Plan: What should be the priorities?
The Sri Lankan population, especially the voter population, recovering from the recent Presidential election would be eagerly waiting for the outcome of various statements and promises made on election platforms before the next national election.
Executive Presidency
The most common concern is the status of the presidency – i.e. complete abolition, reduced powers or continuation of the present system? There has already been much deliberation and opinions expressed. This should now result in Parliamentarians taking the final decision as agreed, before it is too late.
Crossovers
A feature which was much detested by many but liked by those who benefitted at the recent elections was the “crossovers” from party to party, though it did exist from the early days for various other acceptable reasons. It has been the general consensus that crossovers should not be permitted and for this purpose legislation has to be enacted or re-enacted.
Electoral reforms
While there is much voice expressed on electoral reforms, proportionate representations, minority representations and preferential voting to make the “House of Representatives” truly representative there needs to be legislative amendments before the next national elections lest we repeat the same scenario with all its shortcomings.
Peripheral issues
Of course, as peripheral issues there are large amounts of issues pertaining to allegations, misconduct, defamation, misappropriations, corruption etc from all quarters, in addition to continuation or commencement of development work and review of development projects. While finality on all these would be impossible within the 100-day period these matters could be only at least initiated and should not take precedence or delay the earlier mentioned crucial and more urgent issues.