Range Bandara justifies his call for referendum to extend President’s term

3 June 2024 12:20 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 52 Bookmark

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By Yohan Perera

Colombo, June 3 (Daily Mirror)- Justifying his call for a referendum to extend the terms of Parliament and the President, United National Party (UNP) General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara today requested other political parties to come up with their stand on this matter.

“I only talked of a Constitutional provision for a referendum as per the Constitution. I only referred to Article 86 and 87 of the Constitution which provides the President the power to submit to the people by referendum any matter which, in his opinion is of national importance. The referendum has to be conducted by the Commission of Elections while Parliament shall provide for all matters for the same,” Range Bandara said reading out the Constitutional provision.

“I only called upon Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, Anura Kumara Dissanayake and other political parties to state their stand on the matter. I also wanted the political parties to get together to avoid another economic downturn. However, no one has come out with their official stand yet,” he added.

“However, we are also ready for the Presidential election,” he added.

Comments - 52

Nimal Monday, 03 June 2024 12:28 PM

All Sri Lankans need to unite and get rid of these parasites once and for all for any chance of our country to prosper.

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Voter Monday, 03 June 2024 01:06 PM

I fullly endorse your view….think well before you exercise your franchise..

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Grace Monday, 03 June 2024 01:29 PM

There are millions of intelligent people who don't want prosperity but biryani, one bottle liquor and Rs.5000.

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Terrance Wilfred Monday, 03 June 2024 01:31 PM

100% I agree. All must unite and up-root the President and his good for nothing SLPP henchmen seated in the Parliament, wasting our public money which was robbed.

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Tissa Fernando Monday, 03 June 2024 03:43 PM

So you think that other parties are good. You are badly mistaken. If you want to go back to 88 89 type rule by subversives then vote for NPP, if you want to be ruled by another group of same but stupid lot then vote for SJB. If you want to have some stability them vote for Ranil. But all are parasites no matter to whom you vote.

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Social Media has destroyed our critical thinking abilities Monday, 03 June 2024 05:21 PM

We Sri Lankans are like no other! We love democracy! We love elections! We get very agitated when some nut job tries to delay elections! We vote and then blame all the problems of the country on the 226 whom we voted for and like to believe the country has so far suffered a 76 year curse! It is our vote that is supreme and it is us who needs to think more analytically. If we believe we are cursed, then we have always voted the wrong President and govt into power! At the next election we will call it the 81 year curse (even if AKD and JVP wins in 2024). So if RW is the right president, we don't want him! We always want the wrong president to rule over us!

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Eagle Club Monday, 03 June 2024 10:31 PM

Well said, your assessment of the lot is accurate.

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Ama Monday, 03 June 2024 12:30 PM

PRB is Mentally unsound.

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Deshan Ramanathan (Advocate from Jaffna) Monday, 03 June 2024 03:09 PM

Palitha now being a lunatic better to go to Angoda and be admitted before it is too late. Legal action also could be taken against you.

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D.M. Fernando Monday, 03 June 2024 05:18 PM

Who will care for this cheap SI fellow, whom had got Rs. 5000/- bribe from me for a Land issue with my brother, finally he did solve the problem and needed Foreign Whishky also from me. Such a 3rd class fellow he is.

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sam Monday, 03 June 2024 12:49 PM

All of you please get out

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BanduXX Monday, 03 June 2024 12:51 PM

No one has come out with their official stand simply because of the stupidity of the request.

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Bannis Mama Monday, 03 June 2024 05:09 PM

This stupid fellow is only a dishwasher to Ranil. Even others in the UNP, they never opened their mouths. Range Bandara should now know when all will get to gather and attack him only Ranil is there, and all will run away, I bet.

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Nalin Perera Monday, 03 June 2024 12:53 PM

Iam sure vast majority of people in the country will not stand by and watch if these rogues blatantly steal their democratic rights.

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Vote for a person who shares a 15 year plan Monday, 03 June 2024 05:37 PM

You mean our democratic right to once again elect the wrong President and Govt into power? X If we were Electing the right President and Govt into power why are we bankrupt? Do we know how to vote correctly? We vote X for the the wrong candidate - Hari da? Kathiray = Wrong da?

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Lala Monday, 03 June 2024 01:13 PM

Get brain washed.

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Iwazaru Monday, 03 June 2024 01:23 PM

A change in tune after throwing in the towel. He said he is forcing all 225 to support the extension of Ranil’s term and parliament by 2 years if 5 years is an issue.

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Sunil Mallee Monday, 03 June 2024 01:34 PM

Mr. Range Bandara, your name has been listed first by A-2 Team soon after the Elections.

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Kiris Mama Monday, 03 June 2024 01:36 PM

Range you hold a Referendum whether you will exist in 2025, then the masses will give you the best results.

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Lambert Sirisena Monday, 03 June 2024 01:41 PM

Again and again you are asking trouble from Sajith and Anura Kumara. Then better you go and hide in the forest.

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Rasheed Cader Monday, 03 June 2024 01:51 PM

This is all a plan. Ranil and the Rajapakses are involved. Hold onto power as long as they can? Remember after the Aragalaya they could not walk on the streets! Now they have come out of their holes and are making a lot of noise?

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FredSnR Monday, 03 June 2024 01:55 PM

Then why did the President say they are going to have an election even approx dates were given.Is it possible that the country is being used as an experimental lab by outside forces to see how much the people will take before they capitulate.All these contradictory statements by politicians , and unruly behaviour by others reported in the press. So strange with an election round the corner and you are eager to win votes

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Hgfhhjjjjjhbbb Monday, 03 June 2024 01:55 PM

PRB, I think you and your so call RW, is mentally ill, for your information RW needs to retire this October, people expect a system change, if he couldn't develop the country before how can hr possibly develop now, he does ot know the poor people's feeling, he's o lying enjoying him self as a president

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Lasa Perera Monday, 03 June 2024 01:57 PM

You and your RW's dates are numbered.......

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Justin Rosa Monday, 03 June 2024 05:01 PM

Already numbered, now it seems Palitha Ranga Bandara's wicket to be taken first then Ranil's.

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Practical Citizen Monday, 03 June 2024 02:11 PM

Definitely referendum will go favor RW because people do not like to experience another economic setback resulting to ques for anything

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PINA from Amsterdam Tuesday, 04 June 2024 04:54 PM

Day dreaming. Out of reality

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Lanka Monday, 03 June 2024 02:11 PM

you and your boss have done by now. All of you have committed political suicide and please go ahead with the referendum and people will teach you a good lesson. You do not have money to go to a general election and yet, you have for a referendum. do you think people are fools now? if you are defeated what is next? A general election? or Presidential election. Where do you get money for all this? You will have to find all looted money

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S.A. Gunaratne (IT specialist) Monday, 03 June 2024 02:48 PM

Mr. Range Bandara when you were in the Police you were getting Bribe and helped lot of thieves and womanizers. Shame of you, even now you got a Big bag from Ranil Rajapakshe (MR's money) and talking bull shit.

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Ravi Kumar Singh Monday, 03 June 2024 02:50 PM

This guy is spoiling Ranil's chances big time...

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Ashik Landerputen Monday, 03 June 2024 06:10 PM

Ranil does not have a chance as long as the intellectual capacity of a majority of our voters is not improved! One election the voters gave 38 seats to the JVP but at the next election the voters reduced it to 3! Even at LG level the voters gave the JVP Tissamaharama and at the next election the voters did not want them back! So if JVP is the right party and Ranil is the right president the voters will defeat them. Some ripper who gives a smart board, or a free university degree, or pats the back of a petti kaday mudalali might be voted in! :)

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Rip Winkle Monday, 03 June 2024 03:16 PM

This guy is just a retired cop. Nuff said.

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Grace Monday, 03 June 2024 03:24 PM

Range Bandara! Take a long walk.

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Malcom Monday, 03 June 2024 03:29 PM

Hay Range, you lost any way. Everything is finalized for the Presidential Election.

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T.M. Jayasena (attorney-at-law) Monday, 03 June 2024 05:13 PM

Range Bandara will fight until the end as he had received 13 million from Kaputa Basil. I got this news from a reliable SLPP office staff at Battaramulla.

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Buddhist Monday, 03 June 2024 03:40 PM

A guy and a party that could not win one single seat at the last general election is trying to extend the term of the Parliament. What do these guys drink? There should be a limit to this lunacy of UNP.

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A Supporter of UNP Monday, 03 June 2024 04:18 PM

Dear Mr. Range Bandara; Don't think Sri Lankan voters are idiots.

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blessme Monday, 03 June 2024 04:20 PM

This fool has got the taste of luxury which couldn't taste for nearly 3 years.Now brand new luxury vehicle any amount of fuel, fat salary plus entertainment allowances. This all we b lost soon and he will be in the political dust bin. So to avoid it, this is the ploy this fool has brought up.

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Ram Monday, 03 June 2024 05:17 PM

Range, You jolly well know that 80% of the voters are against postponing elections. You spoke like a kinder child and now trying to justify what you said. In the future guard your tongue from uttering sweet nothings

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E.A.M, Bandaranayake [Attorney-at-Law Monday, 03 June 2024 05:24 PM

I say Bandara, there is no provision constitutional right for a Referendum as you say. Once the period is over the President has to step down and hold a fresh election. Now Ranil's period is over and he must hold elections even dissolving the parliament. Don't conn and teach Law to us you waste Bandara.

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There is a hole in the bucket dear Thambi. Monday, 03 June 2024 05:26 PM

We live in a country where the likes of our 1.2million three wheel malliya's voted for Gota got screwed when the country ran out of fuel. Then the very same 3 wheel malliyas hijacked the petrol queues and sold fuel at black market prices of Rs3,000 a litre. Now the same 3W malliyas are very proudly proclaiming - May para moda api Malimawata in the back of their 3 wheelers! With brains like this people deserve the govt. they get.

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L.R. Chandrasiri [Principal] Monday, 03 June 2024 05:28 PM

No one is prepared to accept your self statement as we are not keeping flowers in our ears as you think. Those Kopi Period is over, now you cannot even cheat a schoolboy or a girl studying in Grade 10 as they know better Politics than you man.

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Prof. K.A. Ariyapala Monday, 03 June 2024 05:32 PM

Hay man Range Bandara - go and fly a kite without dreaming. Idiots like you and old blocks without wires connected in proper order never enter Politics. This applies mainly for UNP, SLPP rotters.

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Yohan Monday, 03 June 2024 07:13 PM

So this is the official unp statement. Otherwise he would be sacked by now.

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Namal Monday, 03 June 2024 07:29 PM

In 2022 the government had only USD 50 M US dollars in it's reserves. Now it has has USD 5500M in the reserves. We need to dollars to import as we do not produce a lot of the things we need. Ranil was able to turnaround the economy and the country has not still renegotiated the loans, and start paying loans. We need to tread carefully for the next five years. I suggest this, The president should be Ranil Wickramasinghe and the Prime minister Anura Dissanayake. In 2030, if AD has done a better job he will become the president of Sri Lanka.

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Patcitz Monday, 03 June 2024 07:52 PM

Mind it, Jangi Bandara, this is the legal term of Gotabaya Rajapaksa which was under the US-instigated ARAGALAYA resutled forcing out by them Ranil to hold as President, so, you have no right to conduct any REFERENDUM at all. Hold the election and get lost.

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Charles Jansz. Monday, 03 June 2024 08:11 PM

The puppet on a string with a scripted explanation that took some days, that holds no water but simply throws more egg on his face !

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Sambo Monday, 03 June 2024 08:28 PM

If he thinks the president has done a very good job to the country, why go for a referendum. Go for an election and all satisfied people will vote him in again.

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No point Tuesday, 04 June 2024 08:30 AM

Exactly. For RW, I do not see any difference either option will make. In a referendum if RW looses, there's no point in him standing in the following presidential election as he had been already rejected in the referendum.

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Abd Tuesday, 04 June 2024 06:11 AM

RB putting his effort to enjoy taste of political power for another two years,his nominee RW was in political dustbin since 2019 could not win a single seat but only one national list seat, He lost faith of nation after his part of masterminding CBSL bond scam,he just parachuted to poor thanks to Aragalaya and revenge seeking ex president Gota for chasing out with disgrace,if RW seeking to be in power further he should face presidential election

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Cherath Tuesday, 04 June 2024 09:05 AM

Range Bandara - You say a referendum instead of an election will save money. What if the verdict of the referendum is NOT to extend the tenure of this Presidency? Then you will have to spend for the Presidential election on top of the expenditure for the referendum. So you are advocating an enormous, unnecessary and additional amount for 2 elections!

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ROSH Tuesday, 04 June 2024 05:02 PM

Excellent news of unelected master debating president loves to extend his terminator on his back. He soon find out how well unelected president can work externally nonstop to develop on his back

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