![Gossip - Lanka News [English]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMdjdmkZNNmQMdiyVyjHG0DAsid1JQzX2Wn_k0MMWpx93YaFp4Hv9rnCw1uuJZY1H60dquhLJCfg_uJg-gEz_FRlG07NUtWUslmZMhWhnOnm3dUim4hjUuNto_KPJrByj4iyXdSXuctY/s1600-r/GOSSIP-LANKA+LOGO.png)
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The SA included three political parties represented in parliament namely the CP, LSSP and DLF (Democratic Left Front).
Asked whether the SLFP was concerned about various constituent members of the ruling UPFA pulling in different directions ahead of Uva Provincial Council polls, Minister Premjayantha told The Island that the decision making SLFP Central Committee had authorised a special committee to engage the SA. Responding to another query, Minister Premjayantha said that the SLFP wanted to reach an understanding with the left parties before the Uva PC polls.
Deputy Elections Commissioner M. M. Mohamed yesterday said that now that the Uva PC had been dissolved, the poll would take place before the end of the first week of October.
CP General Secretary and Senior Minister Dew Gunasekera yesterday told The Island that the SA wouldn’t change its position on the executive presidency under any circumstances. "Unlike others, we have been opposed to the executive presidency since the then President JRJ introduced it in 1978. We’ll remain committed to our original decision." The veteran politician dismissed moves to diminish presidential powers as a political gimmick.
Minister Premjayantha said that the SLFP had discussed constitutional reforms among other issues with the National Freedom Front (NFF), another constituent of the SLFP led UPFA. However, there hadn’t been a special dialogue with Ven. Athureliye Rathana thera, MP, pushing for an urgent amendment to dilute presidential powers ahead of the next presidential poll.
Many an eyebrow was raised last week when NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa invited Ven.
Ven. Atureliye Rathana thera told The Island that the JHU strongly believed that President Mahinda Rajapaksa could bring in the required constitutional amendment needed to dilute the presidential powers ahead of the next presidential poll. The outspoken monk said that the ruling coalition had the required two thirds in parliament to push the amendment through. Ven. Rathana went to the extent of meeting the UNP leadership.
Responding to a query, Ven. Rathana said that his proposal was different than the one proposed by the UNP. The UNP, according to legal expert, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, MP, would take measures to abolish the executive presidency after winning the next presidential poll. MP Rajapakshe said that the party had set up a time frame for the project to abolish the executive presidency.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
www.island.lk
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