24 June 2022 08:39 am
By Yohan Perera
The Leader of Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya ( SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday alleged that the powers of the incumbent President will not be curtailed by the constitutional reforms that have been approved by the cabinet.
“The constitutional reforms will come to effect only when the term of the present President comes to an end. Therefore, the present President will have all powers, including the power to dismiss the Prime Minister. This is similar to what former President Chandrika Kumaratunga proposed in 2000. Her reforms were seen as good and acceptable reforms. However, the transitional period proposed by her came under fire that year. We are going to face a similar situation today,” he said.
Also, he said there will be a massive fall in businesses after June 30 as the debt moratorium given to them ends on that day.
Mr. Premadasa also criticised the suppression of Galle Face protesters. SJB MP Mujibur Rahman who elaborated on it during a press conference alleged that around 20 protesters have been arrested to date. “We have been told that Amnesty International had warned IMF that it has to think twice when helping Sri Lanka in the face of human rights violations,” he said.
Also, he said Qatar has refused to assist Sri Lanka to obtain fuel as one of its charity funds was frozen by the Sri Lankan government.