JVP blames PM, UPFA of impeding 19A passage

Thursday, 30 April 2015 01:16 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake speaking at the JVP’s headquarters - Pic by Shehan Gunasekara By Chamodi Gunawardana The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) yesterday accused Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and certain United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) parliamentarians of trying to sabotage the implementation of the 19th Amendment. JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayaka at a media briefing in Colombo said that Wickremesinghe was dreaming of becoming the Prime Minister again after the forthcoming general election. “Ranil tried and wanted to abolish the executive presidency by implementing the 19th Amendment for his own interests. He even included a number of sentences to the 19th Amendment to make his dream a reality,” Dissanayaka stated. Commenting on the conduct of the UPFA members, Dissanayaka said that the UPFA was divided into two groups during the vote on Tuesday. “Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala de Silva, SLFP General Secretary Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and National Organiser Susil Premajayantha were backing President Maithripala Sirisena and wanted to keep the executive powers of the President with President Sirisena in order for them to gain an advantage,” Dissanayaka said. Dissanayaka also explained that certain members of the UPFA, who were backing former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, organised protests inside Parliament and tried to impede the implementation of the 19th Amendment. “Mahajana Eksath Peramuna Leader Dinesh Gunawardena, National Freedom Front Leader Wimal Weerawansa and Democratic Left Front General Secretary Vasudeva Nanayakkara did a great deal to remove the executive powers of the President and bestow these powers on the Prime Minister with the hope of making Rajapaksa the next PM. They even made useless arguments in Parliamentary during Tuesday’s debate with the guidance of Rajapaksa,” Dissanayaka added. Speaking further about the 19th Amendment, Dissanayaka explained that introducing a Constitutional Council was the most significant point of the 19th Amendment. “The newly appointed Constitutional Council has 10 members including seven MPs and three professionals and this council will act as an independent committee. As a result of implementing the Constitutional Council, public servants can work independently without following orders from higher authorities and they can freely obtain their promotions without favouritism. However, the posts of the Bribery Commissioner, Attorney General, Chief Justice, Inspector General of Police and Auditor General will be nominated by the Commission hereafter,” Dissanayaka added. Speaking about the forthcoming election, Dissanayaka said that although the 19th Amendment was passed they still believed that the executive presidency should be abolished completely and that they would organise the next election campaign while keeping this in mind and making it their theme. “However, at present we are focusing on getting the 20th Amendment implemented because if this Government fails to implement the 20th Amendment it will prove that they are useless,” Dissanayaka stated.