Statement of the New Democratic Marxist-Leninist Party on the 18th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka

Press Release

4th September 2010

The future will be bleaker than the present for all working people and oppressed nationalities. The Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution awaiting passage through Parliament seems a harbinger of that. Every aspect of the amendment seems designed to send to the grave the few freedoms and democratic rights that the people have enjoyed so far. At the same time, it paves the way for implementing a more fascistic dictatorship than what we have today. The indifference of the people who do not seem to realise the inherent dangers of the amendment will exact heavy price. Those who are at the forefront to reinforce such a dictatorship by an individual and their collaborators are knowingly betraying the country, the working people and oppressed nationalities. Hence the New-Democratic Marxist-Leninist Party urges that the people should understand the ulterior motives of the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution awaiting passage through Parliament, and oppose and reject it.
The General Secretary of the Party who expressed the above view on behalf of the Central Committee on behalf of the Politburo of the Party further added in his statement that all the constitutions that have been introduced during the colonial period and after have failed to reflect the aspirations of the people. They had as their basis the interests and needs of the affluent and wealthy classes and the forces of imperialism that sided with them. The present constitution allowing the practice of personal one-party dictatorship was introduced in the same manner by JR Jayawardane. During the past thirty-two years this country and its people have undergone continued suffering under it. The Eighteenth Amendment is being introduced in defiance of the expressed wish of the people that such a constitution should be rejected outright and with the ulterior motive of further reinforcing personal one-party dictatorship as well as prolonging the rule by a family.
Therefore everyone who cares for the working people and oppressed nationalities of the country should oppose the Amendment. The New-Democratic Marxist-Leninist Party in its statement also urged the genuine left, democratic and progressive forces to come forward to work in unity to secure and defend democracy and the welfare of the people along the path of totally transforming the present constitution.
SK Senthivel
General Secretary
New-Democratic Marxist-Leninist Party