SL upholds democratic values amidst global turmoil – President

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has said that despite the adverse impact of world wars and internal conflicts, Sri Lanka has steadfastly upheld its democratic value of ensuring the functioning of both the government and the Opposition without interruption.

“Only two countries in the entirety of Asia and Africa have achieved this feat: Sri Lanka and Mauritius. In Europe, only Great Britain, Ireland, Switzerland, and Sweden have consistently upheld democracy. The majority of countries that now advocate for democracy fell under the rule of Adolf Hitler,” the President said addressing the inaugural session of First National Student Parliament met at the Presidential Secretariat on March 26.

Wickremesinghe told student parliamentarians that they might find it worthwhile to explore ways and means of sustaining this system. Moreover, there could be individuals here with a keen interest in politics. I am confident that the National Student Parliament will serve as a foundation for nurturing such interests,” he said.

“Democracy in our country evolved gradually during the colonial era. The establishment of the Legislative Assembly in 1833 marked a significant milestone, although no voting took place on that occasion. Instead, the governor appointed several Lankans for the assembly. It wasn’t until 1912 that a Lankan was given the chance to elect a Member of Parliament. However, women were not granted voting rights at that time. Approximately five thousand individuals, primarily based on property and education, were eligible to vote.

In 1931, Sri Lanka achieved universal suffrage, making history as the first country in Asia where both men and women over the age of 21 were granted the right to vote. Subsequently, under the Donoughmore system, Sri Lanka acquired seven ministerial roles, three ministries were initially held by English. Over time, Lankans assumed these positions. The council also appointed seven committees, each with its chairperson, functioning akin to ministries. Notably, political parties were absent during this period. Amidst World War conditions, all non-military affairs were delegated to Sri Lanka as it engaged with Britain, America, and the Soviet Union.

Following the Soulbury Constitution, we attained freedom. The very building you are currently in was constructed for the convening of the Constituent Assembly. Both the Senate and the House of Commons were also housed in this location.

Upon Sri Lanka’s transition to a republic in 1972, this institution evolved into the National State Council. In 1977, I commenced my tenure in the National Assembly. Four individuals who served in the National Assembly remain active members of Parliament to this day. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Vasudeva Nanayakkara were elected in 1970, while R. Sampanthan and I also entered Parliament in 1977. The year 1977 marked the country’s adoption of the executive presidential system. Subsequently, following our relocation to the new Parliament premises in 1982, this edifice was re-purposed as the President’s Office.”

The National Student Parliament comprises two representatives elected from each of the zonal student parliaments established in 100 regions, spanning across the nine provinces of the island, selected based on receiving the highest number of votes.

In an election conducted on March (26) by the Election Commission under the auspices of the Co-curricular Guidance and Counselling Branch of the Ministry of Education, the National Student Parliament appointed individuals to various positions, including speaker, prime minister, deputy speaker, ten ministers, and ten deputy ministers.

Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake, Secretary of the Ministry of Education Wasantha Perera, Assistant Director of the Presidential Secretariat Major Nadika Dangolla, Chief of Staff and Deputy General Secretary of the Parliament, Chaminda Kularatne, Assistant Secretary General of the Parliament, Hansa Abeyratne, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister, Harsha Wijewardena, former Chairman of the Election Commission, Mahinda Deshapriya, along with additional secretaries, provincial secretaries, principals, and teachers were present at this event.