Abolishing executive presidency would definitely destabilise the country, MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera said yesterday.

Addressing a news briefing, he said it was a national crime to abolish executive presidency at this stage.

“The main reason as to why the cabinet paper was brought about by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at the eleventh hour was purely because of his power-hunger,” Rathana Thera said.

He said this was not the first time that Premier Wickremesinghe had brought in the proposal to do away with the executive presidency and that there had been several attempts by him to abolish the executive presidency.

“However, the attempts failed due to court orders,” he said.

Moreover, he said the unitary form of the country had been protected due to the powers of the executive presidency.

“This should not be done at this stage. If anyone wants to abolish the executive presidency, they should first abolish the electoral system. Otherwise, the country will be lead to instability,” he said. (Sheain Fernandopulle)