Maithripala to exploit SLFP vote to make Ranil PM

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga told a media briefing yesterday convened by Maithripala Sirisena that she could not abolish the Executive Presidency because of the UNP.

No sooner she became the Prime Minister in 1994 she forgot the pledge by the then Opposition Leader Gamini Dissanayake that he would extend support if she abolished the Presidency.

Maithripala Sirisena who also pledged to abolish the Executive Presidency said that he would contest the Presidential election on the SLFP ticket to make Ranil Wickremesinghe the Prime Minister.

Although Maithripala gave a 100-day deadline to abolish the Presidency he failed to explain as to how he would enlist the support of a two-thirds majority to do so. Kumaratunga botched to give reasons as to how she failed to keep her word with the JVP to abolish the Presidency.