Archives

Chief Opposition Whip Mangala Samaraweera yesterday said the present drive by the Government to curtail the President's powers is directed at the upcoming peace talks since it is the President who is vested with the powers of sanctioning an interim administration.

"It is the President who has the powers to declare an Interim Administration, under the 154 2 of the Constitution." he told the PA's weekly media briefing. The PA believes that an Interim Administration should be formed only after core issues had been taken up, discussed and then successfully completed, he added.

He said an interim administration should be the means of implementing what had been agreed upon by both parties and that may be for a specified time.

" But we are completely opposing an Interim Administration being granted even before the core issues are to be discussed, he added.

Mr. Samaraweera said his party while in the Opposition and Government had clearly stated under what circumstances such an interim administration should be granted." Our stance has not changed."

Earlier, PA Media spokesman Dr. Sarath Amunugama said they will spark agitation in the country against the Government's tactics of spreading fear about a dissolution of Parliament.

" It is very clear that President has the power to dissolve Parliament, he noted. He added " As far as we are concerned this Parliament will remain and all these threats of dissolution is merely a part of phycological war fare to scare ceratin members of Parliament who naturally do not like to welcome an early dissolution of Parliament."

Referring to the letter sent to the Speaker by the President giving a pledge that she would not dissolve Parliament, Dr. Amunugama said; " The UNP has made a big song and dance that they will dissolve Parliament.But the fact of the matter had now been conceded and it is very clear that under this Constitution only the President has the right to dissolve Parliament."

He said President's Counsel H.L. de Silva in his address to the Centre for Social Democracy last Wednesday has stressed that piecemeal amendments regarding the President's powers is not possible under this Constitution. It will attract firstly a need for a two third majority and secondly a referendum.

Dr. Amunugama noted that the UNP Government seems to have arrogated to itself this power by saying that they will dissolve Parliament and go for referendum but this does not have a Constitutional validity.

" We have decided to take this issue to the public because once the President has given a pledged - it will be a sheer waste of money, energy, time etc to go for a referendum which in any case has to be declared by the President."

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager