People’s verdict will reign supreme
by Uditha KUMARASINGHE
But it is entirely up to the people to decide whether they re-elect
the incumbent President or not,” Chief Government Whip and Water Supply
and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told the Sunday Observer.
The Government is well poised to secure the two-third majority needed
to pass the 18th Amendment in the House, with more UNP MPs expressing
their support, in addition to the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) which
earlier pledged support.
“The right of the executive incumbent to recontest is not restricted
to person A or person B. This is for anyone who holds that office. Just
because this clause is there, it is not mandatory for the incumbent to
recontest,” Minister Gunawardena said.
According to new Constitutional Amendments, the Executive President
has to visit Parliament at least once every three months.
“This is indirectly a form of being answerable to Parliament and
participating in the affairs of the elected representatives.
The President as a people’s leader elected with an overwhelming
majority would work more closely with the elected representatives in
Parliament,” the Minister said.
Minister Gunawardena noted that the clause on two terms of the
President was not decided by the country’s people.
It was a model copied by the late President J.R. Jayewardene (from
Constitutions in certain countries) and “we have been asked to follow
it”.
Responding to the decision taken by Opposition Leader Ranil
Wickremesinghe to oppose the Constitutional amendments, the Minister
said Wickremesinghe has been voting against every good move for the
people and the Motherland.
“It is better for the UNP and its alliance to think of a fresh
approach for working with the Government, contributing towards its
efforts to achieve fast economic growth,” the Minister said. He said the
decision to conduct a full-day debate in Parliament on Wednesday on the
Constitutional Amendment Bill was a unanimous decision reached at the
Party Leaders’ meeting chaired by Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa. The Bill
will be debated in Parliament during the whole day on September 8 from
9.30 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. The vote on the Bill will take place at 7.00 p.m,
the Minister said.
The Opposition wanted more time to debate this Bill in Parliament.
Therefore, the Government agreed to start the debate at 9.30 a.m. and
continue until 7.00 p.m. Normally, Parliament sits at 1.00 p.m.
“We have accommodated all requests of different parties in
Parliament. Therefore, it was a unanimous decision reached at the Party
Leaders’ meeting chaired by Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa to summon
Parliament at 9.30 a.m. and continue until 7.00 p.m,” the Minister said.
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