JHU extends support to electoral reforms in national interest

Wednesday, 22 April 2015 01:22 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Minister of Power and Energy Patali Champika Ranawaka speaks at a JHU news conference last morning - Pic by Lasantha Kumara By Chamodi Gunawardana The General Secretary of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), Power and Energy Minister Champika Ranawaka, yesterday said that they would support electoral reforms in the national interest even if it placed the party at a disadvantage. “The current electoral system is the most effective and efficient system. It has presented so many advantages and benefits for us all over the past elections. But being a selfless party we can’t only consider our benefits but the national interest, hence we are extending our support to the proposed reforms,” he said. “We believe that the 19th Amendment was incomplete without these electoral reforms. After the changes it became complete. We are glad to say that the Supreme Court has considered all the clauses which could generate public criticism and confusion and they were removed. Especially clauses which have been included that create a dictatorial Prime Minister were cut off. Now we expect to vote for this 19th Amendment to the Constitution after these changes. It will be the 20th Amendment. The President, Prime Minister and Opposition Leader should work efficiently over this to pass the amendment in Parliament,” he added. Speaking further about former President Mahinda Rajapaksa being summoned to the Bribery Commission, Ranawaka said that the incident concerned the Elections Commissioner and not the Bribery Commissioner. “We believe that a group of conspirators wants to disrupt the parliamentary debate which was scheduled yesterday and that was why they were eager to bring the former President before the Bribery Commission. Some members of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) are taking advantage of this too,” he claimed.

President should be firm: JVP

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) yesterday insisted that President Maithripala Sirisena should act firmly in order to get the 19th Amendment to the Constitution passed. “The President should not allow SLFP MPs to act in the way they have acted up to now. He agrees when the MPs say they want to study the Bill and decides to postpone the debate,” JVP Propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath said. He said that President Sirisena should act firmly in getting the 19th Amendment passed in Parliament in accordance with the pledge given to the people and he is responsible for the situation that had arisen today. He said there are two fractions of SLFP MPs today. One fraction, he said wants to oppose every single bit of legislation, while others try to postpone the enactment of Bills such as the 19th Amendment citing various reasons while supporting other Bills. Herath said his party could see any valid reason for the postponement of the 19th Amendment.