13 February 2024 12:00 am Views - 88
By Yohan Perera
In what appeared to be a last-ditch attempt to postpone the Presidential Election, public discussion has been initiated by some politicians on the need to scrap the executive presidency to vest more powers with the parliamentary system.
Politicians such as Dr. Rajitha Senaratne who was elected to Parliament on the ticket of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) insist that it should be scrapped forthwith. He made such remarks at a function to launch the campaign for new electoral reforms by the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ).
The programme is meant to create awareness for electoral reforms, including the abolition of the executive presidency.
Currently, the broader proposals for electoral reforms are backed by the parties across the political spectrum. Earlier, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) leader former President Maithripala Sirisena said his party supports such a move aimed at abolishing the executive presidency.
However, some parties are skeptical whether this is a move to postpone the election, though NMSJ Chairman former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya asserted that he would never lobby for the postponement of any election.
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) is yet to come out with its official stand in this regard.
The Presidential Election is scheduled for the last quarter of the year, in terms of the Constitution. The SJB, the main opposition, argues that such an exercise for the abolition of the executive presidency should be made only after the elections.
However, Dr. Senaratne, at yesterday’s event, said it should be scrapped forthwith without conducting the Presidential Election this year.
SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara who was at the same meeting countered Dr. Senaratne that the election should be held first to uphold people’s right to franchise.