Connect with us

News

Abolition of executive presidency should be tied to early general election – Opposition

Published

3 years ago

on

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Opposition is agreeable for the abolition of the executive presidency if parliamentary election could be held instead, top Opposition spokesperson Prof. G.L. Pieris said.

The former External Affairs Minister mentioned this when The Island asked whether the rebel SLPP group, styled as Nidahas Janatha Sabhawa, would seek a consensus with Opposition parties in that regard.

The presidential election is scheduled to be conducted by October next year and the parliamentary poll the following year.

Prof. Peiris said the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the JVP agreed that the abolition of the executive presidency and the next Parliamentary elections should be held simultaneously. “This is a very clear and emphatic stand.”

Prof. Peiris ruled out any agreement on the postponement of the presidential election, under any circumstances. Responding to another query, the top academic said that in terms of the Constitution President Ranil Wickremesinghe could call a general election any time after completion of half of the five-year term of a Parliament.

If the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government was genuinely interested in pursuing that option, the issues could be discussed and agreement reached on a formula acceptable to all to advance the general election and the simultaneous abolition of the executive presidency, the National List MP said.

The ex-Minister said that Wajira Abeywardena, in his capacity as lawmaker and Chairman of the UNP, recently called for the postponement of the presidential election on the basis the government lacked sufficient funds to meet basic public needs if funds were diverted for the conducting of the presidential poll.

Prof. Peiris asked the SLPP to disclose its stand on the UNP’s move. Having elected the UNP leader as the President, the SLPP couldn’t remain silent as the executive sought to deprive the people of their franchise, Prof. Peiris said.

“The bottom line is that MP Abeywardena wouldn’t have said so unless the top management decided on a particular strategy,” MP Pieris said, urging the government to accept their challenge.

JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the government seemed to be thinking of postponing presidential polls on some pretext till the parliamentary polls next year. Lawmaker Dissanayake, too, said that the abolition of executive presidency should be tied to having parliamentary polls.

Meanwhile, addressing the media at the rebel SLPP group’s Nawala Office on Monday (09), Prof. Peiris alleged that the so-called Online Safety Bill and the new Anti-Terrorism Law were meant to create an environment conducive for the government to contest whatever national election. Describing them as political tools, Prof. Peiris warned against moves to suppress political dissent. The ex-Minister vowed to press ahead with their campaign to have the long overdue Provincial Councils and Local Government polls.

Prof. Peiris said that the government should be ashamed over its failure to name a new IGP before the second extension granted to C.D. Wickremaratne expired on Monday (09) at a time the underworld was on a killing spree. The internationally renowned academic questioned the failure on the part of the President to pick a suitable person to head the Department amidst deepening turmoil.

The academic alleged that the government was obviously much more determined to suppress the parliamentary Opposition than eliminating the underworld. Almost daily shootings in Colombo, its suburbs and provinces indicated that law enforcement was on the verge of collapse while various government spokesmen boasted, both here and abroad, of what they were capable of.


Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest News

Heat Index at Caution Level in  the  Northern, North-central, North-western and Eastern provinces and in Hambantota and Monaragala districts during the day time

Published

2 hours ago

on

2026/05/5

By

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 04 May 2026, valid for 05 May 2026.

The Heat index, the temperature felt on the human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in  the  Northern, North-central, North-western and Eastern provinces and in Hambantota and Monaragala districts during the day time.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.


Effect of the heat index on the human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

Continue Reading

Latest News

Maldivian President plants a sapling to mark 60 years of Sri Lanka–Maldives Diplomatic Relations

Published

7 hours ago

on

2026/05/4

By

President of the Maldives, Dr Mohamed Muizzu, who is on a State Visit to Sri Lanka at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, planted a sapling this afternoon (04) at Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo to commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Upon arrival at the Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu was warmly received by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Children lined both sides of the pathway holding the national flags of the two countries and paid tribute to the visiting Maldivian President.

Among those present at the occasion were Deputy Speaker Rizvi Salih, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath and the Mayor of Colombo, Vraie Cally Balthazaar, along with several other dignitaries.

[President’s Media Division (PMD)]

Continue Reading

News

Sri Lanka and Maldives strengthen ties with productive bilateral talks

Published

7 hours ago

on

2026/05/4

By

Following the bilateral meeting between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives, who is currently on a State visit to Sri Lanka, official-level bilateral discussions between the delegations of the two countries were held this morning (04) at the Presidential Secretariat.

The discussions commenced after the formal welcome ceremony accorded to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu earlier this morning within the Presidential Secretariat premises.

Extending a warm welcome to the Maldivian President, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressed his appreciation for accepting the invitation to visit Sri Lanka.

President Dissanayake noted that President Muizzu’s visit, taking place as the two nations mark 61 years of diplomatic relations, reflects the strong partnership, mutual trust and longstanding friendship between Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The President further expressed confidence that the visit would mark a new phase in bilateral relations.

The two leaders engaged in extensive discussions on ways to further expand and diversify multifaceted cooperation, including economic, cultural and social ties, in a manner that delivers mutual benefits to the people of both countries.

Key areas of focus included tourism promotion, educational cooperation, youth and sports development, challenges faced by both nations in the fisheries sector within the Indian Ocean region, education and vocational training, as well as defence training and broader security cooperation.

Representing the Government of Sri Lanka were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Science and Technology, Krishantha Abeysena; Deputy Speaker Rizvie Salih, Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retired), Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (covering Europe, North America, East Asia and Oceania, Southeast Asia and Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and Legal Affairs) M. R. K. Lenagala, Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the Maldives, Mohamed Rizvi Hassan and Director (South Asia and SAARC) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Mahesha Jayawardena.

The Maldivian delegation included Minister of Foreign Affairs Iruthisham Adam, Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed, Minister of Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine Resources, Ahmed Shiyam, Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusaan, Chief of Staff to the President, Abdulla Fayaz, Principal Secretary to the President on Foreign Relations, Mohamed Naseer; Chief Government Spokesperson, Mohamed Hussain Shareef, High Commissioner of the Maldives to Sri Lanka,Masood Imad; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Chief of Protocol , Mohamed Shahudy, Deputy Minister at the President’s Office, Mr Mohamed Hassaan and Minister Counsellor at the Maldives High Commission in Sri Lanka, Mr. Ismail Mamdhooh.

[President’s Media Division (PMD)]

Continue Reading

Trending