JVP putting flimsy slogans now - NFF leader

Lakshmi DE SILVA

The Executive Presidency and the preferential electoral system should be abolished all together - not only the presidency as the JVP was demanding, National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader Wimal Weerawansa said.

Addressing a press conference held at the Mahaweli centre yesterday, he said when the JVP agreed to support the People's Alliance government led by Chandrika Kumaratunga in 1994 they did not demand the abolition of Executive Presidency since they had stronger slogans and demands needing their support without asking for more stronger demands.

"The need is to formulate the first past the post electoral system to create a stable parliament so that the country could benefit, Weerawansa said.

In 1995 the JVP came to an agreement with President Chandrika Kumaratunga but did not demand the abolition of Executive Presidency but now they were demanding it for no apparent reason.

The proportional representation electoral system should be abolished if the abolition of Executive Presidency was to become meaningful, he noted.

The President who was also the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, the Defence Secretary and the Army Commander who defeated the LTTE were from the South and the people should respect that heritage and elect the UPFA with a record majority, he said.

The UNP was now in total disarray and a mass exodus to the government was imminent.

The dismal defeat it would face at the forthcoming provincial council elections will not only be a defeat of the party but the rejection by the people of Ranil Wickremesinghe and his coterie including Sajith Premadasa, Mangala Samaraweera and Vajira Abeywardene, he said.