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Ministers opt for polls

by Chatura Vidyaratne

The Cabinet of Ministers have agreed to go for a General Election if the Supreme Court recommends a referendum to implement the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, political sources said yesterday.

They said the Ministers have conveyed this decision to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at the pre-Cabinet meeting last evening.

The Ministers have expressed confidence that the United National Front would be able to receive a stronger mandate at a General Election. Political stability is vital for peace and development, the Ministers have pointed out.

Several ministers have commented that they could not rely on the President's letter to the Speaker where she has promised not to dissolve Parliament after December 5, 2002. Such a letter has no legal binding, they said.

Lands Minister Rajitha Senaratne had outlined several courses of action which could lead to a General Election and a stronger UNF government.

A number of Ministers suggested the pruning down of Presidential allocations, saying that the President has acted contrary to the spirit of cohabitation. They urged the Prime Minister to consider the abolition of the Executive Presidency.

Meanwhile, President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has opposed a Cabinet proposal to abolish the Sri Lanka Press Council.

She has told the Cabinet that another body with similar powers should be established before the Press Council is abolished.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe has explained that this was a demand of journalists seeking greater media freedom. The Prime Minister had said the government planned to establish a Free Media Commission after abolishing the Press Council, but the President insisted that the Commission should be established before the Press Council is abolished.

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