• The present  President will have all powers, including the power to dismiss the Prime  Minister

 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.