Positive response from President, SJB to BASL proposal for national unity Govt.

• BASL holds talks with President, PM, Opp. Leader, SLFP to build consensus
• President agrees to consider BASL’s 13-point plan to restore political, economic stability
• Sajith says willing to take up PM post if he gets support of 113 MPs
• Proposals include formation of national unity Govt., repeal of 20A and abolishing of Executive Presidency

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa

SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa

BASL President Saliya Peiris PC

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday said he would consider the proposals mooted by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) to restore political and economic stability which includes the setting up of a national unity Government. A delegation from BASL met with the President to discuss their 13-point plan to get the country out of the political impasse, and also met with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, former President Maithripala Sirisena and several others to come to a consensus on moving forward.

Positive...

The President’s Office said they had discussed the proposals which included the repeal of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution as well as the abolition of the Executive Presidency, at length. The President had reiterated the need to uphold the law while implementing such proposals. 

The Opposition Leader who spoke to the media after talks with the BASL officials said he is ready to take over the post of Prime Minister if he gets the support of 113 MPs in Parliament.

“We have a national responsibility at this time and we have to make necessary sacrifices on behalf of the people,” Premadasa said.

He also invited the BASL to be the facilitator in talks between the President and other parties but reiterated that the Executive Presidency must be abolished.

Meanwhile BASL said in a statement that its Management Committee during discussions with the President and the Prime Minister had drawn their attention to the urgent need to establish political stability in the country, and explained the BASL proposals including the formation of a Government of national unity.

BASL President Saliya Pieris PC had also informed the President that the BASL was concerned about the declaration of the state of emergency.

Before meeting the President, the BASL delegation met with representatives of the independent group of Members of Parliament (MPs) headed by former President Maithripala Sirisena and comprising MPs Nimal Siripala de Silva, Mahinda Amaraweera, Dayasiri Jayasekera, Udaya Gammanpila and Gevindu Kumarathunga, who were accompanied by President's Counsel Faiszer Musthapha.

Thereafter, the Management Committee met representatives of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB)  headed by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and comprising MPs Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Lakshman Kiriella, Rauff Hakeem, Mano Ganeshan, Kabir Hashim, Eran Wickramaratne and Thalatha Athukorale and former MP Ajith P. Perera accompanied by Thisath Wijegunawardena PC, Farman Cassim PC and Attorneys-at-Law Kamal Wijesiri, Suren Fernando and Ravi Jayewardena.

Foreign Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, and MPs Pavithra Wanniarachchi, C.B. Ratnayake and Premanath Dolawatte attended the meeting with the Prime Minister.

The BASL had explained the framework of its proposals and answered queries as to their implementation. All parties appreciated the role played by the BASL in respect of the present crisis. They also shared their concerns and presented their own proposals which have been submitted either to Parliament or to the President.

The proposals which were approved by the Bar Council of the BASL have already been endorsed by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC). They were presented by the BASL and the CCC to Joint Chambers of Commerce, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (ICASL), the Organisation of Professional Associations (OPA), and the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA).