UNP’s 225 stance stymies 20A, says SLFP

• Cabinet positions should be limited to 30 but MP numbers must increase
• Insists SLFP will back minority rights

By Chamodi Gunawardana

Refusal by the United National Party (UNP) to budge from its demand for 225 Parliamentary seats is threatening to derail the 20th Amendment reforms, charged Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) loyalists yesterday.

SLFP Vice Chairman and Minister S.B. Dissanayake insisted the UNP was continuously highlighting its stance over the number of MPs in Parliament and causing delays to the passing of the much-touted election reforms.

“The SLFP and the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) believe that 255 would be the best number of MPs in Parliament. However, the UNP’s opinion is different,” Dissanayake said, even though the SLFP and UPFA had agreed to 237 seats in the latest gazette version of the 20th Amendment proposals.

He asserted that having only 225 MPs in Parliament would not result in effective governance.

“Sri Lanka already has over a million voters and 225 MPs are insufficient to govern that many people. The number of Ministers in the Cabinet should be limited to 30, but MPs should increase,” Dissanayake explained.

Dissanayake added that the SLFP is dedicated to passing electoral reforms.

“The SLFP never backed racism and we expect to pass 20A with the same policy. We believe the drafted reforms would never create issues to any party which represents minority communities,” Dissanayake said.

Dissanayake went on to allege that Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayaka had made false comments about electoral reforms during the Parliamentary debate.

“Anura Kumara brought out some illogical statements into the debate, but he does not have any optional proposal for electoral reforms. We believe that he wants the current electoral system to remain, but he does not show his interest openly,” Dissanayake charged.

      

           –Pic by Shehan Gunasekara

​If MR made PM candidate, SLFP will lose: SB

SLFP Vice Chairman and Minister S.B. Dissanayake emphasised yesterday if former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was made SLFP prime ministerial candidate his party would be “definitely defeated” at the forthcoming election.

As Rajapaksa has already been rejected during the presidential election, Dissanayake insisted that while his support was important for the party, it would not be constructive to have him as the prime ministerial candidate.

“My opinion is we want Rajapaksa’s support to conduct election campaigns, but I do not want to see him as our PM candidate. However, I am pretty sure that Rajapaksa will never allow the party to be divided,” Dissanayake expressed.