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The JVP Parliamentary group issuing a statement on the Draft Bill for the amendment of the Constitution (17th Amendment), which was passed with a two thirds majority on Monday night, described it as a historic triumph achieved by all forces who believed in true Parliamentary democracy, and said that it will mark a political watershed in the country.

The Full text of the JVP statement is as follows.

The 17th amendment to the Constitution which was agreed upon by the PA-and the JVP as a result of the joint accord signed between the JVP and the PA on September 5 to pave the way for the formation of the independent commissions was passed with a two thirds majority in the supreme legislature on Monday night.

This we believe is a historic triumph achieved by all forces who believed in true Parliamentary democracy in the country. The JVP entered into this one year joint accord with the PA government to win as many political and economic reforms as possible on behalf of the masses, at a time when almost all political parties were thinking of how to gain power from the political instability that had developed at that time in the country.

The JVP too could have acted with vested interests at that time if we solely believed in power and other perks and Ministerial posts which are entwined into the process.

But as a political party which has always been on the side of the masses the JVP through its political maturity and integrity was able to force the PA government to cancel the bogus referendum, reopen Parliament before September 7, and reduce the much maligned PA Cabinet to 20 members.

And with the passing of the Draft Bill for the 17th Amendment to the Constitution another epoch-making victory has been achieved by the people like never before.

It was the consensus among the majority of people that the Executive Presidency based on the 1977 Constitution was akin to a dictatorial Constitution which was forced on the people by the then UNP regime.

And what we have managed to do through this 17th amendment to the Constitution is to allocate most of the powers of the Executive Presidency to the four independent commissions and the Constitutional Council.

The setting up of the Independent Elections Commission, we believe, is a pragmatic step taken to ensure that a free and a fair election could be held henceforth.

Also the formation of the independent Police Commission will pave the way for the Police Department to act in a free and fair manner devoid of political interference and to maintain law and order in the country impartially as expected by all citizens in the country.

And the establishment of the other Independent Commissions such as the Public Service and the Judiciary will also make it impossible for the politicians to interfere with those two commissions, thus ensuring their independence.

The PA Government accommodated the Opposition amendment for the inclusion in the Constitutional Council, one member elected by members of Parliament belonging to political parties or independent groups other than those presented by the Prime Minister or the Leader of the Opposition.

The Constitutional Council will comprise five members jointly nominated by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition which will include three members from the minority communities, a nominee of the President and a nominee of the small parties in Parliament.

The Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition and the Speaker will act as ex-officio members. Therefore, it would be no exaggeration to describe these political reforms, as the finest reforms ever achieved by the people in the post-independent political history of this country.

The setting up of these reforms have clearly underscored the possibility to achieve what is constructive and progressive, to the people if all politicians and their parties are prepared to work irrespective of petty differences and the craze to gain power, Ministerial posts and other perks which are necessarily associated with it.

It is rather poignant that we as JVPers recall the services rendered by several of our comrades of the past including our founder late Rohana Wijeweera and others who by their supreme sacrifices have enabled us to tread this path of Parliamentary democracy and gain these valuable reforms on behalf of the people.

We also would like to take this opportunity to express our deep gratitude to the PA government, the UNP, and all other political parties and groups in the legislature for joining hands with us to pass the Draft Bill for the 17th amendment to the Constitution which we believe will mark a watershed in our political history.

We also take this chance to express our thanks and appreciation to the people who stood with the JVP right through this process despite efforts made by the reactionary forces to sling mud at us with a view to scuttling it.

The JVP would like to urge all progressive political forces to join hands with us to ensure the effectiveness of these reforms and to maintain its solidity and independence with the hope of ushering in a new political culture in Sri Lanka."

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