Sri Lanka’s proposed drafting of a new constitution must include provisions for “strengthening democratic institutions, a comprehensive rights regime and substantive power-sharing arrangements involving all ethnic minorities,” said The Hindu.
Stating that the step is a “moment of great hope and some fear” the paper noted that it is “difficult to ignore the fear that yet another opportunity presented by history may fail owing to political opposition, ethnic extremism and an entrenched, if not systemic, resistance to change”.
“For those familiar with the peace and reform processes of the last quarter century, it may appear that all talk of national unity and a non-discriminatory system is not new,” it added. “It is a measure of how much the events of the recent years had turned the clock back on the discourse to resolve the national question that each time an incumbent President or Prime Minister spells out a new vision, it is accompanied by new hopes and fears.”
“In recent years, promoting good governance by strengthening democratic institutions, a comprehensive rights regime and substantive power-sharing arrangements involving all ethnic minorities have been understood to be necessary elements,” said The Hindu. “The path is clear, and the pitfalls are known.”
See the full text of the editorial here.
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