The Karu Jayasuriya led National Movement of Social Justice (NMSJ) last week urged the government to abolish the 20th Amendment to the Constitution saying that the proposed Constitution should be one presented by the people and Parliament. It should not be a Constitution drafted by government-appointed representatives as a majority in the country is not agreeable to the formation of a new Constitution through this process.

Among other points made in the statement signed by Jayasuriya was that the proposed constitution, as they had previously requested, should be presented to the people by Feb. 4 and further delay will not be favourable.”

Describing the foreign exchange crisis confronting the country, it stressed that the lack of foreign exchange had disrupted the lives of the people but the government had failed to do anything about a problem causing great harm.

“If we are not able to solve this dilemma within the next few days, it must be pointed out that public life, the economy and the production process will collapse,” the statement said.

“Instead of allowing two ministries to engage in a game of tug-of-war to secure foreign exchange, the government must take the lead to bring about a solution to the issue. The government cannot leave it to the ministries and wash their hands off the matter. The Minister of Finance in particular has a great responsibility to bear in this situation,” Jayasuriya said.

The statement further called on the government to reappoint the chairpersons of parliamentary committees dissolved by the prorogation saying that the watchdog committees, COPE, COPA and COPF have acted in an exemplary manner in the recent past. It called on the reappointment of Professors Charitha Herath, Tissa Vitarana and Anura Priyadharashana Yapa to the positions they held.

The statement concluded by calling for a presidential pardon for ex-MP Ranjan Ramanayake jailed for a contempt of court conviction.