DEW moots home grown constitution

Uditha KUMARASINGHE, Irangika RANGE and Sandasen MARASINGHE

Constitutional Affairs and National Integration Minister D. E. W. Gunasekera told Parliament yesterday in order to abolish the Executive Presidency, both the electoral system and the Constitution should be changed.

"However, this should be endorsed by all political parties. Therefore all political parties should get together to form a home grown Constitution. But we have not been able to reach a consensus regarding this issue so far," he said.

The Minister was speaking at the adjournment motion moved by the JVP Parliamentarian Vijitha Herath.

The Minister said a special committee should be appointed to discuss ways and means to abolish the Executive Presidency as the present committee on electoral reforms is not sufficient to fulfill this task.

He said the electoral system does not suit our country. But we have been unable to reach a consensus to change this with a majority.

Since our independence our rulers did not come up with any common understanding. A proper place was not given to Tamil language. Therefore this led to a grave problem. We should come to sensible consensus regarding the future of the country.

"A golden opportunity has been created to reach a common consensus. We should evolve a solution which should not be hated by any community.

"If the UNP is willing to abolish the Executive Presidency, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe should make a statement in Parliament. Sometimes the UNP may demand to abolish the Executive Presidency at this juncture as they are unable to select a common candidate," the Minister said.

"As a policy I agree to abolish the Executive Presidency," he added.