• Constitution shouldn’t be amended in an ad hoc manner- Sagara Kariyawasam   
• Executive powers needed very much to restore normalcy and revive economy - SB  
• Mr. Dissanayake said only authoritarian rulers had developed their  countries in recent history and cited examples from Singapore, China  and South Korea

By Kelum Bandara   

Fresh hurdles have emerged in the way of the enactment of 22nd Amendment to the Constitution after Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) which commands the majority support in Parliament objected to it in its present form, Daily Mirror learns .  

The bill which is listed for debate in Parliament today and tomorrow was taken up for discussion at the parliamentary group meeting of the government on Monday evening. It seeks to reduce powers of the president to be vested with Parliament.  

The ruling SLPP MPs expressed their opposition to the bill in the current format.   

Asked for a comment, SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam told Daily Mirror yesterday that his party had taken a consistent position that powers of executive presidency should be pruned only in a manner that protects the unitary character of the Constitution.  

Otherwise, he said the Constitution should not be amended in an ad hoc manner.  

“After the enactment of the 13th Amendment, the unitary nature of the country remains protected because of executive presidency with full authority. Therefore, the amendment of executive presidency has a bearing on the unitary character. We should look at overall changes to the Constitution rather than amending it in a piecemeal manner,” he said.  
However, he also said his party is not opposed to empowering Parliament.  

SLPP MP S. B. Dissanayake said executive presidential powers are needed today to maintain stability and revive economy at this juncture.  

“In 1988/89, the JVP unleashed terrific violence. With a warning on a small piece of paper, the JVP could ensure the closure of shops and doors of houses. The members of the police and the armoured forces were warned that their family members would be slaughtered unless they resigned from service. Then President R. Premadasa quelled the rebellion by killing more than 60,000 insurgents. Executive powers were helpful for him to bring back normalcy. Then, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa militarily crushed the LTTE, the most ruthless terrorist outfit, using executive powers,” he said.  

He said the country risks the resurgence of similar violence with  parties such as the JVP and the Frontline Socialist Party trying to create anarchy and therefore executive powers are needed to deal with any possibility.  

Mr. Dissanayake said only authoritarian rulers had developed their countries in recent history. He cited examples from Singapore, China and South Korea to drive home his point.