• President is above the law as per the current constitution. This should be changed

 By Yohan Perera   

Whilst stating that he would reject the newly appointed Cabinet, Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith yesterday said he would stand up with the Mahanayaka Theras who have called for an interim government with a new Prime Minister. 

 “Government should heed the request made by the Mahanayaka Theras. They have called for the appointment of an interim government with a new Prime Minister. The current rulers of the nation should listen to this request,” Cardinal Ranjith said.   

He said the newly appointed Cabinet is not acceptable. “One cannot cure his headache by changing the pillow,” he said.   

The Cardinal also called for constitutional reforms under which legal immunity of the president should be removed. “President is above the law as per the current constitution. This should be changed,” he said.  Also he said the call by the protesters for the resignation of the incumbent President is also fair. “The call of the youth of the nation is fair.  Also we have been informed that plans are afoot to disperse the protest in Galle Face forcibly. This should not take place,” he said.