People’s verdict will reign supreme

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. (Sunday Observer)