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No scientific survey on presidency, my personal views are of no value: Sajith
Minister Sajith Premadasa said today there has been no scientific survey done on the maintainability or the abolition of the executive presidency and his personal views are of no value.
Addressing a press conference early morning at the official residence of Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Minister Premadasa said that he is willing to listen to the people of the country and it is their decision. “My personal views are of no value. My views are based on peoples views and opinions. I have no monopoly on articulating and formulating policy,” he said.
When the journalist who raised the question said that it sounds ‘wishy-washy,’ Minister Premadasa responded that although it may sound ‘wishy-washy’ to the journalist it sounds ‘very coherent’ to him.
“As far as the executive presidency is concerned, in 2015 we made a pledge and certain drastic steps have been taken to reduce the powers of the presidency. Right now we are in the process of discussing, consulting and having initial discussions as to where the presidency should be placed. Whether it should be maintained or whether it should be abolished,” Minister Premadasa said.
“Everyone is coming up with their personal ideas and trying to place them as the highest position in the national political agenda. If I may say so. Some of the surveys that I have seen prioritise the cost of living as the most important subject in the national political agenda,” he said.
Then the journalist questioned: “But then where is the leadership? You are supposed to give leadership.”
Minister Premadasa replied: “I am willing to give democratic leadership, not autocratic leadership. For your information, I don’t want to become an elected dictatorship to coin a word of Lord Hailsham.”
Minister Premadasa was flanked by Ministers Mangala Samaraweera, Malik Samarawickrema, Kabir Hashim, Ranjith Madduma Bandara and Chandrani Bandara at the press conference.
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