ELECTORAL REFORM: Since the People's Alliance Government took over the reign of the country in 1994, there had been several attempts to bring about Electoral Reforms to suit the present day needs of the country.

There were also moves to re-write the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. One of the main reasons to rewrite the Constitution was to bring about a solution to the ethnic issue that emerged from the times of independence.

Tamils are the second biggest ethnic community and some of them were out to get the country divided during the early part of the Independent Sri Lanka like in India.

But saner minds saved the day. Yet the desire to clinch a portion of the country for their community did not die down but it surfaced with the 1972 Sri Lanka Republican Constitution.

The Tamils felt that they were hoodwinked, sidelined by the Sinhala majority community.

The Constitution of the Democratic and Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka of 1978 also did not give much room to the aspirations of the Sri Lanka Tamils and there were other issues some sections of the major community did not like to see in the Constitution. But with all that the country moved and the public cry also continued for reforms.

Whether one likes to accept it or not the stark and the naked truth is that Sri Lanka has become a multi ethnic, multi religious and multi cultural country. If we accept this proposition then we cannot run away or ignore from the stark reality.

That is, this country belongs to all and all have to be treated equally. There are no privileged classes or superior community. No language is superior to another or a religion favoured by the state above other religions. The State has to treat all alike.

Having considered all aspects of the issue the PA Government in power at the time came out with a Constitution which had included most of the views and proposals submitted by the then Opposition United National Party but the new Constitution drafted by the PA Government in consultation with other political parties and despite all efforts could not see the light of day.

The ethnic issue which needed a political solution has remains with no solution seen in the near future.

The media carried news in the recent past informing the public that the Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reforms has met and were concentrating on the setting up of a new electoral structure taking into consideration all criticisms levelled against the current constitution.

The Committee was set up to consider how should the electoral map be drawn and how many should represent the entire country as elected MPs on district, electoral and national basis.

This is one aspect of the issue. I am of the view that there is something important and co-relates to that issue. That is who should represent the people. I wish to draw the attention of the Minister in Charge of the Constitutional Reform to that aspect which I believe is very vital at this stage. It is about the selection of candidates at elections.

We read or hear from time to time that some of the Elected Members from one political party want to shift their allegiance to the ruling party and join the Government. Why ?

Some give answers which are ridiculous and ludicrous. They wanted to cross the floor as they do not wish to sit in the opposition for another six years. The present may be the last chance they are in Parliament. They grow old and might find unfit to contest at the next election.

Some give the impression they genuinely want to strengthen the Government in power to resolve issues in the country. They portray the picture that they are concerned of the well-being of the country and the constituency they represent.

But they ignore the fundamental truth that they were elected from a particular political party. The politicians who say the voters are supreme and are all powerful never give a thought to that fact.

If the people are supreme and all powerful, then the politicians should speak out his mind to the constituency and allow the people to decide. He should make way for the people to take the next course of action.

In Singapore MPs are not elected not on the basis of what the aspirants say during election campaigns. They look at the integrity of the man who seek public support.

It is said that from the time one enters the portals of education beginning from the kindergarten, the points one has received has its impact on the person's future and they heavily weigh the man on his past performances from his school days. If the person has not performed well and has not got the expected points from everything he has got involved, he stands no chance.

In Thailand there was an attempt to write into the Constitution a clause which empowers the public to ask for the resignation of a MP if he/she is found unfit to hold that position.

If 50 per cent of the voters in a certain constituency have reasons to believe that the person whom they elected failed to fulfil the expectations of those who voted him/her have the right to call for his/her resignation.

I have no information to say whether or not that clause was included in the Constitution that was amended in the 1990s but it is something worth considering.

Hence, while the Electoral Reforms are being considered it is of paramount importance to give thought to the right of the voter as well.

There should be Constitutional provision for the public to ask for the resignation of any MP, if that MP or the Minister holding power fails to respect the contract he/she has with his constituency.

If one has problems with the political party through which he/she entered the House of Parliament he/she should resign forthwith without crossing the floor as the public have not voted him/her for such selfish action.

The Constitution should prohibit by law the crossing from one political party to another while one is an elected member. Political Parties also should be requested to see that they nominate members of integrity irrespective of whatever the age group or sex they belong to. This will give meaning to the adage `the people are supreme'.

People also should be empowered to inquire into the conduct of the respective Members they elect to represent them. If the people are supreme and they have all powers, then the MPs remain Servants of the Masters.

But the reality is that the servants can do anything against the masters under the cover of Parliamentary privilege and the masters could do nothing against them until the next election.

This has to be changed if we put the country before anything else. The Constitutional provision should be there for the people to sack the MPs if they fail to abide by the contract.

Gamaya is of the belief that Minister D E W Gunasekera will give serious thought to the aspects annunciated here and do the needful to draw the attention of the Members of the Select Committee on Electoral Reform.