Wijedasa backs amiable solution

• Initiates talks between President and Speaker 
• Says dissolution taken before Judiciary lessens importance of P’ment
• Wants institutional independence protected, democracy restored  

By Ashwin Hemmathagama, Our Lobby Correspondent

UPFA MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe yesterday called on Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to bring an end to the Constitutional deadlock and re-establish democracy in the country by discussing the way forward with President Maithripala Sirisena.  Addressing the Parliament yesterday, MP Rajapakshe held that an amicable solution could be reached without putting the country in peril. “Dissolution and other matters are things that should not be taken to the Judiciary but to be discussed between the Executive and the Legislature. I request the Speaker to discuss with the President to re-establish democracy in the country,” he said. 

UPFA MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe – Pic by Shehan Gunasekara

Taking the House through a series of events that lead to the constitutional crisis despite the fact the Unity Government was able to deliver some of the important promises made to the public before the recent falling apart, MP Rajapakshe said: “We were able to reduce some of the powers of the Executive President by passing the 19 Amendment. It is not a foolproof Amendment. After the General Elections, we were able to have a Government to address issues.” 

“We had friction within the Government and within the political parties. However, with time, two sides were seen in the Government despite the fact of it being in a unity government. Both Ranil Wickremesinghe and President Maithripala Sirisena failed to control their sides. All in all, the trust between the two sides was lost. So, the President appointed a new Prime Minister and a Cabinet. The clashes between the two sides invited public criticism,” he added.

According to MP Rajapakshe, there are many reasons for the present political uncertainty in Sri Lanka. Blaming the politicians of yesteryear, MP Rajapakshe held that terrorism was something which held back the development of Sri Lanka for decades.

“With independence, we established three vital Institutions. Out of all these institutions, the Parliament has the key responsibility to maintain democracy, but due to decisions of politicians of the past, we had a long war. But, giving new hopes, we were able to establish the Unity Government,” he said.

Criticising certain events which took place during the former Government of MP Mahinda Rajapaksa, MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe expressed concern over human rights violations and certain threats on democracy. “Many Sri Lankans died during the war. During the peace time, human rights were violated. As a result, with the UNPers sacrificing the most, we were able to win the common candidate. So, we all should act to end this current conflict,” he proposed.