| The Government has proposed a Senate or a second chamber under the existing Constitution among other matters to address grievances of the Tamil community.
A two-page blueprint outlining the proposal was given to the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) for study on Thursday when a delegation met Government representatives.
TNA President, R. Sampanthan, who received the document, expressed reservations on the proposal saying it does not make any reference to addressing Tamil grievances.
A copy of the proposal obtained by the Sunday Times reveals that the Alliance has been given several options to study.
The introduction to the proposal says that the Senate or the second chamber can serve a variety of purposes. They are “creating confidence building measures among communities, thus facilitating reconciliation and mutual trust amongst them, underscoring stability and sustainability of the constitutional framework relating to power sharing arrangements, functioning as a possible brake against hasty actions of Parliament, promoting reasonable oversight and reflection of exercise of legislative power and developing instruments and mechanisms which facilitate practices of good governance.”
The proposal has listed the following “salient features and options relating to the creation of the proposed Second Chamber.”
Option 1
The Second Chamber will consist of Members elected from the twenty-five administrative Districts of the country. These Members will be elected by the Members of the Provincial Councils representing the respective Districts. Each District will return three members, thus the total elected would be 75 members. The President will nominate 15 Members to the Second Chamber. Thus the total number of Members of the Chamber would be 90.
Option 2
The Second Chamber will consist of Members elected directly by the People, each Province electing 7 members, thus 63 members will be elected in this manner. The President will nominate 17 Members to the Senate. Altogether there will be 80 members in the Senate.
Option 3
The proposed Second Chamber will consist of Members elected by the Provincial Councils, each Provincial Council electing 7 Members, thus 63 Members will be elected in this manner. The President will nominate 17 members to the Senate. Altogether there will be 80 Members in the Senate.
Powers
The following powers are suggested as basis for discussion:
(i) the power to initiate legislation in respect of particular categories of subjects.
(ii) the power to amend legislation;
(iii) the power to delay legislation and to direct reference back to Parliament ;
(iv) the power to direct reference of legislation to Provincial Councils
(v) the power to play a role in resolving disputes between the Centre and a Provincial Council, or among Provincial Councils.
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), the Sunday Times learns, is not in favour of the proposal. |
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