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Govt. and Opposition agree for an Executive P M answerable to Parliament

(Lanka-e-News, July 13, 2010, 2.00PM) At the special meeting held at the Temple trees on the 12th, between the President Mahinda Rajapakse and the representatives of the main opposition party led by Ranil Wickremesinghe, the President has agreed on principle to replace the Executive President post with Executive Prime Minister who will be answerable to the Parliament.

The UNP members attended this discussion at the invitation of the President.

The Opposition leader who addressed the media in the afternoon at the Cambridge place office after this meeting said, the President expressed that it is the Govt.’s wish to change the provincial council elections system. Instead of the preferential voting system to introduce the single vote and ratio basis election systems jointly together. It was decided at the 12 th meeting to hold further discussions next week regarding the trying out the new method at the PC elections, and arriving at a conclusion at the forthcoming discussions.

The Opposition leader stated this was a good opportunity to work out a constitution that is people friendly and benefitting ; move for the abolition of the Executive Presidency and replace it with a post of Executive P M answerable to the Parliament, as well as to implement the 17th amendment and establish good governance. In any case the protest campaign proposed by the UNP demanding the establishment of a people benefitting constitution, bringing down the cost of living burdens and solving the other main issues by the Govt., will be staged continuously even if discussions are begun, he pointed out.

The opposition leader emphasized the importance of the media to extend support in these campaigns.

Gampaha District UNP MP Joseph Michael Perera said, as the President has agreed to replace the Executive Presidency with Executive Premiership answerable to the Parliament, it can be hoped that the discussions can be continued.

UNP Gen. Secretary Tissa Attanayake, Joseph Michael Perera and UNP President Gamini Jayawickrema Perera participated at the discussions.

Ministers Maithripala Sirisena, Nimal Siripala De Silva, Susil Premajayantha, Dr. G L Peiris, Dullas Alahaperuma and Basil Rajapakse represented the Govt. at the discussions.

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Comments ( 4 ) | This Article Viewers ( 1406 ) | E-Mail This Article | Print This Article

Looks like they are having a laugh and how about sharing the that joke with the suffering people?People suffering with lack of food and medicine,etc They need cheering up and perhaps these jokers could amuse us a bit.Jokes apart;when are we going to have our leaders running the country properly? Perhaps our Hon Prez come down to the level of serving water at the street level.

Posted By: Nimal

We are not opposed to these moves. But, let us not lose sight of the various essential issues that have to be dealt with, if the government is sincere in its desire for real "democracy" and "human rights". Most of the opposition did not accept the results of the presidential elections and a judicial process has already been initiated challenging the results. Most of the opposition continues to agitate for the release of Gen. Fonseka (unfortunately it is done in fits and starts and in the meantime the govt. is piling up case after case to ensure continued detention of him - especially in the face of a seemingly dormant opposition) Permanent silencing of voices that disagree with the govt., abductions and disappearences continue unabted. To mention the most prominent of them - while no head-way has been made with regard to the assasination of Lasantha Wickrematunga, the issue of Prageeth Ekneligoda is gathering dust. The govt. is fast losing credibility with the international community - European Union resulting in loss of GSP + and the much hyped issue of defying the UN (a grossly overrated melodrama) resulting in serious damage to our image. A " suppresive Sword of Damocles" continuously hangs over the inalienable right of media freedom with several institutions and channels of communication - threatened, change track, shut-down, forced to abandon, ... In the context of this highly "oppressive socio-political atmosphere" could we agree that constitutional amendments are a priority issue ??? Why this change of heart when not so long ago (in fact days or weeks) MR was supposed to be riding the crest of popularity and mass appeal and very much able to steamroll himself into what ever role he decided to carve out for himself. Opposition - or what ever remains of it, watch your step. UNP alone cannot handle this situaion they need the endorsement of JVP and other minority parties. It is only a united opposition and concerted action based on intelligent assessment (not to mention selfless dedication) that could confront the machinations of this govt.

Posted By: Mervin de Silva

Horage Amma gen peina ahuwa wagai. Let the bad egg be a bad egg.

Posted By: nihal fernando

The Question is whether MR is genuine in these discussions. Or is he scared that Chandrika might come forward to contest him if he gets the Constitution changed for a third term?. If he is genuine he should implement the 17th Amendment to the Constitution forthwith and appoint the Constitution Council and Independent Commissions.

Posted By: Don Em