Professional Documents
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for Reflection
the governments vulnerability in terms of ideas. It is not yet too late for
the government leaders tobegin communicatingto the people a few
substantial and inspiring political messages about its vision for
constitutional reform. The communication can begin by inviting all citizens
across ethnic and social divisions, political parties and actors to be
partners in an understanding that after decades of war, violence and
authoritarianism, people of this country legitimately deserve (a) a better
and more democratic political future; (b) a state which all citizens from all
corners of the country, and irrespective of their ethnic, cultural, social,
gender differences, can be proud of, because it offers a shared political
future to all citizens, based on shared values and normative goals. These
values and normative goals should include equality, social and
redistributive justice, rule of law, inclusive and pluralist democracy, peace,
non-domination, non-discrimination, right to development, human dignity,
and a decent society.The government can also promise the citizens that
the new political order will be one with the capacity and political resources
to resolve social and ethnic conflicts through democratic engagement and
reform rather than by means of internal war and violence.
v. A new covenant: A new constitution should be more than a legalpolitical document. It should be a covenant among citizens on one hand
and the citizens and the rulers on the other. Although covenant is an old
liberal concept, it still encapsulates the democratic essence of the state as
a political association of citizens who continuously aspire and struggle to
be free and equal citizens in a democratic political order. The metaphor of
a new covenant will also inspire people to think that new constitutional
initiative is really the beginning of a new political life for the country.
vi. Renewal of political life: Thus, a new constitution should mark a
renewal of the political life of citizens, with a break with the past and with
positive hopes for a better political future. A constitution can acquire this
quality only if it enshrines a set of collective normative goals, as suggested
above, that all citizens can share, subscribe to, defend, and be proud of,
thereby giving a new meaning and substance to the idea of patriotism.
Thus, a new constitution should be one that enables a political value based
love of the country. When each of our citizens, from Point Pedro to
Devinuwara and Kattankudy to Negombo can say, "I love my country
because I love my countrys Constitution," it would be the day of greatest
political fulfillment for Sri Lanka.
Who should drive and champion a course of action, designed around these
pre-requisites? None other than the President and the Prime Minister. The
new constitution is their promise to the citizens of Sri Lanka. They should