President ready to call referendum: Lakshman Yapa

Lakshman Yapa – Pic by Sameera Wijesinghe

• Insists President has powers to uphold the people’s sovereignty
• Says MS and MR have discussed possibility of holding Provincial polls under old system  
• Considering giving vehicle permits to public officials but none to MPs 

By Nuwan Senarathna 

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) MP Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena yesterday said President Maithripala Sirisena is ready to call for a referendum if needed to get the people’s opinion on his decision to appoint Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Prime Minister. 

The Executive powers vested with the President allows him to call a referendum to seek people’s opinion over decisions taken by him, argued MP Abeywardena, addressing a press conference at the Prime Minister Office. However, under the 19th Amendment, Parliament can only be dissolved after four-and-a-half years have been completed.  

He said that Parliament would reconvene on 14 November and President Maithripala Sirisena had already gazetted the date.  Abeywardena insisted that Sirisena, through his Executive powers, has the right to uphold the sovereignty of the people by holding a referendum.

“Going for a referendum cannot be stopped by the law. The President has the right to seek a referendum on an issue that could affect the sovereignty of the people,” he said.  

According to Abeywardena, it is unlikely that a vote to decide the majority of the House would be taken on 14 November with the possibility of Parliament being postponed after the ceremonial address by President Sirisena still present. However, later in the day, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, releasing a statement, said that he would push for a vote to be taken when Parliament is convened on 14 November after the address by President Sirisena.  

Abeywardena said that during a meeting held by President Maithripala Sirisena with Finance Ministry officials, the President had given orders to reconsider the vehicle permits given to public officials. 

“Our feeling is that public officials should be given vehicle permits but we will not give permits to MPs.”

President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa had a special discussion with the Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya about the Provincial Council elections. “Mahinda Deshapriya was told that if holding the election under the mixed representation system would delay the polls, it would instead be held under the old system.”

“We have begun working as a Government and to discharge the duties of the State in making decisions. We have discussed the matters pertaining to salaries of Rajarata University lecturers and some other crucial decisions were also taken.”

Abeywardena said the new Ministers appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena would also assume duty in due course.

“We have already taken measures to reduce taxes to resolve salary issues of the public employees. The first task of the newly appointed Finance Minister was to scrap the fuel price formula, which has been one of the biggest concerns for the public.”