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NPM, civil society group takes first steps in forming new political culture
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Speakers at the launch of Together We Can initiative by the National Peoples' Movement. Pix by Indika Handuwala
A movement to unify the civil society comprising professionals, scholars, youth, the business community and village communities got underway this week in Colombo with the objective of preparing for the upcoming elections.
The group calling itself the National Peoples’ Movement (NPM) launched its campaign with a panel discussion, and plan to have a series of events around the country to mobilise people.
Dr Vinya Ariyaratne
The group’s leader Dr Vinya Ariyaratne told the Sunday Times that, although they do not have plans to turn the movement into a political party, they may consider contesting future elections under a registered political party which has so far not been represented in Parliament.
“If we are in a position to contest the Presidential election we will carefully select our candidate after setting out the required criteria, and the candidate will be guided by the group. For Parliamentary elections, too, the candidates will have to meet certain criteria to be selected,” Dr Ariyaratne explained.
The NPM has already drawn up a broad framework of proposals under the theme, “Together We Can”. Copies of the proposals were distributed at the launch of the organisation.
The NPM says it will be an active force to empower citizens and build up a pragmatic national agenda, taking into consideration the culture and natural resources of the country.
Establishing a people-centric constitution through a consultative, participatory and transparent process is another objective of the group, Dr. Ariyarate said, adding that they plan to draft the constitution and place it before the public by October.
Promoting national unity, ethnic and religious harmony and reconciliation, developing a new political leadership and poltical culture to build the nation by identifying the most suitable individuals to run the country are among the plans of this new group.
At least 18 organisations have so far come forward to support the campaign, while other member organisations will sign MoUs with founder members to join the NPM.
The clergy (above) and others in the audience (right)
The NPM has already drawn up proposals on areas such as governance, the economy, public debt and investments, youth affairs, the environment, education, health, mass media, sustainable development, national security, women, children, international relations and commerce, peace and national reconciliation, transportation, updating the legal system, arts and culture and housing among others.
Under ‘governance’ the NPM has proposed that the people should be committed to one country, one nation and one law for all, limiting public debt, reducing government expenditure by 25 per cent, implementing the Audit Act expeditiously, abolishing the unsolicited tender system and limiting the cabinet to 20 members on a scientific basis.
