Radical reforms through new Constitution
Nadira Gunatilleke
The Government will change the existing Constitution by introducing
radical reforms and introduce a new electoral system when it obtains a
two-thirds majority at the April 8 General Election, Constitutional
Reforms and National Integration Minister D.E.W. Gunasekara said. “It is
the Opposition that prevented this on three occasions,” he said.
Addressing the weekly UPFA press briefing at the Mahaweli Centre
yesterday, Minister Gunasekara said their Governments were always ready
to change the Constitution but the UNP did not extend its support in the
past.
The 17 th Amendment issue came to the surface during former President
Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga’s tenure in 2005 and not during the
time of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
“The Government does not need 150 seats in Parliament. One hundred
and forty nine seats will do.
The 150th seat can be obtained in due course,” he said.
According to Minister Gunasekara, international forces accused the
Government stating that the mandate obtained by the President is
illegitimate, the country violated human rights, there was no good
governance and criticized our foreign policy.
All conspiracies failed because the Sri Lankan Government had the
support of the majority of countries.
These foreign elements, INGOs and NGOs have started to sling mud at
the Government now, he said.
It is all about sovereignty, independence and the national dignity of
Sri Lanka. Therefore the people should determine to defeat the
conspiracy launched by foreign elements against the country.
“The people of Sri Lanka will answer them by giving a two-thirds
majority to the Government at the upcoming General Election. It will be
the best answer that can be given to them,” he said. |