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Pipe dream, says Chief Govt Whip: PA targets 113 MPs to form govt

People's Alliance media spokesman Dr.Sarath Amunugama yesterday said the PA would form a Government no sooner it could muster 113 MPs in Parliament.

However Chief Government Whip Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe dismissed the comment as a pipe dream adding that all minority parties were solidly behind the Government.

On the contrary several PA MPs have expressed willingness to cooperate with the Government in its forward plans especially the peace process.

"I like to tell the Hon.Amunugama 'keep on dreaming' Samarasinghe said.

Amunugama speaking to the media yesterday said that the PA was seeking to muster 113 MPs on to its side but was non-committal on how or when this would be achieved. "How we do this is our business. We will reveal our strategy after we get these 113 votes," he told a media briefing yesterday. This will be done in a constitutional and democratic manner, since in terms of Parliamentary traditions the concern of any Opposition is to become the ruling party at the earliest possible time as is also emphasised in the history of British Parliamentary tradition.

"Our target is to get 113 votes in Parliament," Amunugama said adding that there was no rift or confusion within the PA ranks and that they were confident of achieving success. Speaking to the Daily News, Minister Samarasinghe said that the Government had no objection of the PA trying to muster a majority in Parliament as long as it does not resort to "coups" which is outside the democratic framework.

Dr.Amunugama said according to an analyst of the Times Group, 75 per cent of people of the country are disenchanted with the economic mismanagement of the Government. Only 25 per cent of the people have any confidence in the Government. This shows that 80 per cent of the people are fed up with the Government.

He said the so called Conscience Bill of Minister Prof.G.L.Peiris is now "dead as a dodo" as the SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem had stated that they will not support this Bill. Therefore the Government has no ability to obtain the required two thirds majority in Parliament to pass any constitutional amendments.

The other minor political parties too will also take a similar stand. This situation has prevented the Government from buying over Opposition MPs, he said."At present the Government has brought a "teeny weeny demand" by requesting the President to withdraw the executive power she has to dissolve Parliament after one year.

It is crystal clear that the Prime Minister has no power to dissolve Parliament. But the President has no intention whatsoever to dissolve the Parliament," he emphasised. Responding to this Minister Samarasinghe referred Dr.Amunugama to article 70(1) (A) of the Constitution where its clearly states that the Parliament has powers to dissolve itself.

Amunugama questioned whether the Government had lost the people's trust. "If not why are they scared to dissolve Parliament ? Although the Government promised to pass 35 bills in Parliament this month, only five bills have been introduced so far.

Commenting on the refusal of air time for the President by the SLRC, Dr.Amunugama said when the Head of the State requested an opportunity to address the nation, the SLRC refused to give her time saying that the times asked cannot be provided as it would hamper the telecast of sponsored programs. But the SLRC provided the opportunity to Prime Minister and Finance Minister to deliver lengthily speeches during prime time.

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