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Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe |
Basil Rajapaksa
|
Out-going MP Basil Rajapaksa yesterday staged an apparent broadside attack on Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe saying the latter’s appointment wasn’t right.
Speaking to the media after resigning as SLPP National List MP, Basil said that transferring the power of a President who secured 6.9 million votes to a Prime Minister who obtained less than 253,000 votes, was not right.
“The current Prime Minister is not someone who was appointed by the Parliament. Wickremesinghe was a mere appointment by the President,” Basil emphasised.
“I am in favour of strengthening the Parliament. I believe that SLPP MPs should be given another chance as they were elected by the people of the country,” Basil explained.
He also added that he was not in favour of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution.
“I do not know if the 21st Amendment will be passed or not. I personally will most likely vote against the 21st Amendment. However, as the ruling party, SLPP MPs must be allowed to cast their votes on the amendment based on their conscience and not on the party’s decision.
“I am also against the dual citizenship clause in the 21st Amendment to the Constitution. This was one of the key reasons for my decision to step down as an MP. However, I am in favour of certain factors, such as establishing independent commissions,” Basil pointed out. (CdeS)