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Govt makes three demands from President: Snap poll likely if President does not accede

by Rodney Martinesz

The United National Front (UNF) yesterday decided to put forward several demands to the President seeking her consent for certain legislative measures aimed at facilitating the cohabitation agreement between the Government and the Executive.

The decision was taken at a meeting of UNF District organisers at Temple Trees attended by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Party sources said that if the President fails to agree to these demands then the Government was likely to call for a snap General election.

It is learnt that Prime Minister Wickremesinghe has expressed the view that if the cohabitation arrangement breaks down and obstructs the key goals of the UNF government, he would have no option but to go before the people.

He is reported to have told Ministers that if the conflict between the executive and the government continues in a manner that obstructs the peace process and economic development, the option of seeking a fresh mandate from the people would have to be considered.

The Temple Trees meeting of the District Organisers including Ministers and Provincial Leaders came amidst growing speculation that the Government was preparing for a snap general election in the wake of the present tug-of war between the Government and the President.

The meeting which lasted for over two hours focused on three major issues to be put forward to President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga for her consent. They are her support for the Conscience Bill, the reintroduction of the Executive Committee system and the forfeiture of her powers to arbitrarily dissolve Parliament.

It was decided that the Government should try to resolve these issues amicably with the President and only if unsuccessful, call for a poll.

"We will try to settle this issue amicably with the President. An election will be held only the last option" a participant at yesterday's meeting said. Minister Ravi Karunanayake told the Daily News that the Government was not in a hurry for an election and will have to consider this option only if the President proves intransigent.

Meanwhile, PA Parliamentarian W.D.J. Seneviratne said holding an election was inadvisable at this juncture, particularly when the Government was grappling with problems on several fronts.

He said the PA was ever willing to support the Government on all national issues if only it stops attacking the President and halt harassing PA supporters.

Asked whether the party was prepared for a snap poll, he said that they had no option if an election was forced on them.

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