Dr. Paranavitana writes......

COLOMBO: Dr. K. D Paranavitana of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka with reference to our news item under the heading 'Defeated Royal Asiatic Society Head refuses to step down' which appeared on the 16th instant inter alia states:

A major part of the news item is devoted to justify the view of one party without even referring to the constitution of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka (RASSL). Calling for special general meeting of the Society on the 3rd September is a gross violation of the constitution.

The issue in question is on the Portuguese Encounter which was a research project established by the RASSL in 2004 and towards the end of 2005 it was hijacked by its Convener, Dr. Susantha Goonetileka on his own without obtaining the approval of the RASSL Council. Now it is a private project of the Convener who subsequently financed through his personal funds.

It is in this context that the two resolutions have been instituted against the President and the Treasurer by utilising some prejudiced members who were involved in this matter. It appears that Dr. Susantha Goonetileka had instigated to by pass the RASSL constitution contemplating two hijack an activity of the RASSL.

There were to council meetings held at the RASSL on two occasions in this regard. vice-President, Olcott Gunasekera should be aware of the fact that many members objected these resolutions being taken to the General Meeting as they were ultra vires the RASSL constitution. Consequently, amidst objection many members could not attend the meeting as it was held under the control of Dr. Susantha Goonetileka and Gaston Perera.

It must be recalled that the Special General Meeting held on 3rd September was objected by several eminent lawyers, professors and academics of the country who were present at the meeting on grounds of the violation of the RASSL constitution. They requested the Vice President as the provisional Chairman, Olcott Gunasekera, who however, ruled out the objections and continued the proceedings ignoring the strong objections. This is the main cause of the present crisis.

It is very clear in this respect whatever resolutions passed at this unconstitutional meeting are out of order and against the RASSL constitution which has a history of 162 years. I should emphasise that this is also being contested at the District Court of Colombo.

Individual members cannot takeover the powers of the Council into their hands like that happened in Kangaroo Courts and force the Council to arrive at a decision they want.

To us in our society what matters is the constitution which we should abide by at all times and any other points are irrelevant.

When this matter was taken up at the Council meeting held on September 11 it was deemed that the so-called Special General Meeting was ultra vires the Constitution and the members cannot rid of rules of the RASSL leave alone its Council Members including its President and the Treasurer prior to an inquiry as it is mandatory.