Opposition raps Sri Lankan government for moving to amend Executive Presidency after pledging to abolish it

Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) Thursday condemned the government's move to amend the constitution by securing a two-thirds majority in parliament without taking steps to properly implement the 17th amendment to the Constitution.



The UNP said that the government's move to introduce constitutional amendments that were not presented to the people before the last Presidential and general election is a move to mislead the public.

UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya issuing a statement to the media said that the government has also gone back on its pledge to abolish the Executive Presidency.

He notes that the government since 1994 had promised to abolish the Executive Presidency.

"The incumbent President also made the same pledge in 2005, but did not honor it. However, at the last Presidential election, he made the same pledge without any embarrassment and now seems to be making arrangements not to honor it again," he said.

Jayasuriya noted that even the Tissa Vitharana committee appointed by the government had proposed the abolishing of the Executive Presidency.

He observed that the proposed amendment to extend the terms of office of the Executive President is cause for much concern given the threat on democracy and the dictatorial manner in which the current Executive Presidency is being used.