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Ranil calls for 'Governance Charter'

With a view to maintaining discipline among parliamentarians, Prime Minister Ranil Wickreme-singhe has called upon all political party leaders to adopt a 'Governance Charter' before the next election, aimed at minimising waste and corruption.

The Prime Minister made this suggestion to party leaders of all political parties in parliament when he met them at the party leaders' meeting last week. He made references to the forthcoming provincial council elections that are scheduled for February next year and the presidential election in 2005 and told them they should avoid getting involved in malpractices.

The Premier pointed out that the charter would help parliamentarians monitor their own conduct and behaviour especially during and after elections are held.

He said that the charter would also help parliamentarians to be accountable and not waste public property for the sake of winning elections.

The general behaviour of the members of parliament, the funds that are used for their campaigns and their involvement in maintaining a free and fair election in the country are some of the areas that the Governance Charter would cover.

"This is purely to bring discipline among parliamentarians who some times get carried away emotionally. So the charter will remind them of their ill conduct and especially indicate to them that they are accountable," the Prime Minister told the party leaders.

Further explaining the objectives of the charter, Constitutional Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris said this charter is also to ensure that the candidates nominated by respective political party leaders to represent the people possess a sound track record. He told them individuals with criminal track records should not be nominated by respective party leaders to represent people in parliament.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Wickremesinghe emphasised the need for the MPs to accept the suggested charter in principle and start acting from now onwards for a better administration.

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