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| Tuesday, 13 May 2003 |
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| UNP calls for discussion and consensus on national issues UNP Media Spokesman Gayantha Karunatilleke, MP yesterday stressed the importance of resolving the issue relating to the take over of the Development Lotteries Board by the President through discussion and consensus. In a communique issued yesterday Karunatilleke said President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga's unilateral decision to take over the Development Lotteries Board which was a subject under the purview of Minister Milinda Moragoda has precipitated a crisis which may weaken the Government during the peace talks and disrupt the Tokyo Donor Conference scheduled in June. The communique added that when the PA government was elected to power in 1994 Mrs. Kumaratunga and President D. B. Wijetunge acted on a policy of political cohabitation. According to the policy adopted by President Wijetunge all decisions pertaining to the powers and functions of Ministers were taken in consultation and agreement with the Prime Minister. When the UNP led United National Front won a majority of seats in parliament under the mandate received at the 2001 general election President Kumaratunga too followed this policy in dealing with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. But the sudden unilateral decision taken by President Kumaratunga to take over the Development Lotteries Board, a subject which had been under the purview of Minister Milinda Moragoda has precipitated a crisis. This crisis may weaken the hands of the Government at the peace talks and even disrupt the International Donor Conference scheduled in June. Therefore it is more appropriate to solve this problem through discussion and consensus. "We therefore emphasise the importance of acting according to the previous arrangement in this matter too." The communique said the UNP has launched a programme to educate its members on the significance of carrying forward the cohabitation procedure in future too. |
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