President’s executive powers helped eradicate terrorism - Deputy Minister

by Ananda KANNANGARA

Executive powers vested on the President by the Constitution helped to root out LTTE terrorism, Justice and Law Reforms Deputy Minister V. Puthrasigamoney told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

The Deputy Minister said it was his personal opinion that there was no need to abolish the Executive Presidency at this juncture, but amendments to the Constitution could be brought for the betterment of the people.

He said due to the executive powers vested on President Mahinda Rajapaksa, he was able to defeat the LTTE after taking various important decisions with military officials of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces.

“In any case, if the President did not hold executive powers he would not have been able to take important decisions and the LTTE would not have been defeated,” he said. Referring to various statements made by some political parties, calling upon the Government to abolish the executive presidency, the Deputy Minister said that political parties could simply make statements now that LTTE terrorism has been eradicated and there was a peaceful environment in the country.

Quoting the JVP’s repeated demands of abolishing the executive presidency, the Deputy Minister said even if a motion is submitted in Parliament to abolish the executive Presidency it would be defeated by the majority members. He said his party always stands for the rights of the minorities and therefore, the executive presidency had helped to solve some of their main problems during a short period. However, it was not wrong, if any political party submits any proposal to amend the Constitution for the betterment of the people, but the executive presidency should not be abolished, he said.

Asked whether the Government could hold a referendum and seek public opinion on the abolition of the executive presidency, the Deputy Minister said that there was no harm in holding a referendum on any matter.