Abolishing executive presidency will not solve problems: MR

Wednesday, 6 August 2014 01:34 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Abolishing the executive presidency is like changing pillows for a headache and will not bring solutions to the problems in the country, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday. He said the ruling party did not install a presidential form of government and it was wrong to say the executive presidency was the cause for all ills today. “Those who brought that change also could attend to any change if necessary,” he noted. He made these remarks during the breakfast meeting with the chiefs of print and electronic media yesterday at the Temple Trees. Responding to media queries, the President said Sri Lanka apologised to India for the derogatory article that was published in the Defence Ministry website and the apology has been delivered to India. Speaking of elections, President Rajapaksa said the elections could be held at any time the Opposition Leader wanted them to be held. Asked if the Vatican requested that the elections not be held in January 2015 as Pope Francis was to visit Sri Lanka, President said no request had been made not to hold elections. Responding to the queries on restrictions on NGOs, President said there had been no change in the policy towards the NGOs. He said whenever NGOs register in Sri Lanka, an agreement is signed specifying their mandate and the Government only brought that to the notice of the NGOs. He added that the Government plans to revise the NGO regulations after a thorough study. Clarifying the purpose of the advisory committee appointed by him, the President said the three-member Advisory Committee of eminent law scholars was appointed on the request of the Presidential Commission Investigating into Complaints Regarding Missing Persons to advise the Commission. He clarified that the three-member committee was an advisory body and it had no mandate for investigations and added that the Government was considering the possibility of expanding the Advisory Committee by adding three more members. Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris also participated in the discussion. No go for Gota? When asked about his brother Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s possible entry into politics, the President said he had not made such request from him for the moment. The President said that the Defence Secretary had rejected such requests from him previously. 3-member committee to advise the Commission, no investigative role: President President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday the 3-member Advisory Committee was appointed on the request of the Presidential Commission Investigating into Complaints Regarding Missing Persons to advise the Commission. Answering a question at the meeting with media editors at the Temple Trees, the President clarified that the 3-member committee is an advisory body and it has no mandate for investigations. He added that the Government is considering the possibility of expanding the Advisory Committee by adding three more members. Minister of External Affairs, Prof G.L. Peiris said that Sri Lanka out rightly rejected the Clause 10 of the UNHRC resolution which called for investigations into alleged war crimes. However we have agreed to the Clause 2 which called for an internal investigation, he pointed out. The Advisory Committee has been accordingly appointed to advise the Commission on Missing Persons. Asked about the possibility of abolishing the Executive Presidency, President Rajapaksa said those who brought that change also could attend to any change. “Who established the Executive Presidency?” he asked and pointed out that those who introduce it can revise it if necessary. Pointing out that the SLFP did not install a presidential form of Government; he said it was wrong to say the Executive Presidency is the cause for all ills today. When asked on restrictions on NGOs, President said there had been no change in the policy towards the NGOs. “Whenever NGOs register in Sri Lanka, an agreement is signed specifying their mandate. What the Government did was to bring that to the notice of the NGOs.” The Government plans to revise the NGO regulations and it will be done after a thorough study. On elections, he said the elections could be held at any time the Opposition Leader wants it to be held. Asked if the Vatican requested that the elections not be held in January 2015 as Pope Francis is to visit Sri Lanka, President said there was no such request. At the end of the media meeting, President Rajapaksa said that a group of senior doctors came in a delegation and urged him to appeal to the media not to sensationalise news of child suicides, especially suicides of school children, as that could result in a suicidal wave due to easily impressionable child mentality. President requested the media to give thought about this genuine concern. Presidential Commission on Missing Persons term extended The term of the Presidential Commission investigating alleged disappearances of persons in the Northern and Eastern Provinces has been extended to 15 February, 2015. The three-member commission, comprising Maxwell Parakrama Paranagama (Chairman), Suranjana Vidyaratne and Mano Ramanathan, was appointed in August 2013 and has been given the authority to conduct inquiries and investigations into complaints of missing persons, and submit a report to the President. In July of this year, President Mahinda Rajapaksa broadened the scope of the mandate of the Presidential Commission and appointed a three-member Advisory Council to advise the commission. The enhanced mandate of the commission, issued by Presidential Proclamation, and published under Gazette Notification 1871/18 dated 15 July, 2014, seeks to, inter alia, inquire into and report on several matters contained under paragraph 4.359 of the Report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), which the commission has deemed as requiring further inquiry. The Advisory Council, comprising three eminent international experts, has been entrusted to advise the commission on its enhanced mandate.