UPFA MPs should vote against any new Constitution: NUTA

National University Teachers’ Association (NUTA) yesterday called on all United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) parliamentarians to vote against any new Constitution as it was in line with the mandate they were given in 2015. 

“People cast their vote for you in 2015 to protect the country. Therefore we hope you will respect the people’s mandate and stand against any new Constitution,” NUTA said in a letter sent to all UPFA MPs, which was signed by NUTA General Secretary Prof. Channa Jayasumana.

According to Prof. Jayasumana a new Constitution would abolish the Executive Presidency. “We were informed that under the new Constitution there are suggestions to merge both the North and Eastern Province and name it as the homeland for the Tamil community,” the letter stated.

In the letter Prof. Jayasumana claimed the Government has started a campaign to find 150 votes in Parliament to pass a draft of the new Constitution. “According to reports the Government is trying to buy MPs at a price common people can’t even dream of,” Prof. Jayasumana charged.

He went onto claim that attempts were being made to include clauses in a possible new Constitution that would require approval from all Provincial Councils before amendments are made. However, none of these details have been announced by any Parliamentarians linked to discussions of a new Constitution and a draft of the new Constitution is yet to be completed.   

Prof. Jaysumana also stated the Government was pursuing a new Constitution to fulfill demands made by foreign nations. He charged that therefore the Constitution is being drafted based on the interests of foreign nations. Despite Prof. Jayasumana’s claims he did not mentioned any particular nation in the letter.

“If anyone votes in favour of a new Constitution it would be an unpatriotic act against our motherland. Therefore as MPs who were elected by the people who love this nation you must stand against any such effort,” he further stated in the letter.