Constitution of Sri Lanka:

No piecemeal changes

Ananda WEDAARACHCHI and Rafik JALALDEEN

The Government will not go for piecemeal tinkering with the Constitution but overhaul it with a two third majority secured at a general election.

Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena addressing a media briefing at his Ministry, said.

The government will give effect to whatever changes necessary, including constitutional changes as well after the Presidential election which will be won with a landslide majority, he said. We are ready to face any election as the government is readily assured of a comfortable victory.

The Minister stressed that the JVP has no right to talk about an agreement with President Mahinda Rajapaksa since they have observed it in the breach and withdrew support to the Government.

Referring to the Malabe IT student’s abduction and assault and Angulana double murder incidents, the Media Minister assured that the government has taken all the necessary steps to meet out justice to the aggrieved parties. President Mahinda Rajapaksa called for a further report on these incidents from the IGP yesterday.

All suspects will be arrested and produced in Courts to be dealt with according to the law of the land, he said.

The Media Minister said that 18 UNP Local Government and Provincial Council members will join the UPFA before the Southern Provincial Council election.

Two members of the Akurassa Pradeshiya Sabha namely D.S. Deepal and Nnanda Nanayakkara who had crossed over to the UPFA also addressed the media briefing.

They said that they joined the UPFA because of the great services rendered by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in eliminating terrorism and consolidating peace throughout the country.

Minister Abeywardana observed that the JVP is facing severe problems over nominating of a candidate to the presidential election after receiving humiliating defeats at the Provincial Council elections.

“Since the JVP is facing many problems and knowing that the Government will get a landslide victory at the general election is trying to put the blame on the Government with various allegations”, he added.

The UNP’s call to appoint an Independent Election Commission is meaningless without the party changing its manifesto and campaign strategies to win the hearts of the people and their votes.

”Former President J.R. Jayewardene obtained 5/6 majority while former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga obtained over 60 percent of electorate. To gain these landslide victories, they did not appoint an IEC”, the Minister said.