UPFA claims its struggle is not over until 20A is also implemented

Thursday, 30 April 2015 01:21 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayanth (right) addressing yesterday’s media briefing. Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala de Silva looks on - Pic by Shehan Gunasekara By Jayashika Padmasiri The United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) yesterday announced that though the 19th Amendment was enacted, its struggle was not over yet as the 20th Amendment still remained to be implemented while also claiming that through the 19A the UPFA was able to prove that the party was united and not divided. Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala de Silva addressing a press conference yesterday said that the biggest obstacle standing between implementing the 20th Amendment was the impassive nature and lack of interest of the United National Party (UNP) concerning 20A. “Our struggle is not yet over because 20A should also be implemented while a new electoral system should be introduced to the country. However, if the UPFA and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) did not support the constitutional amendments, then 19A would not have been enacted. Nevertheless, we cannot go home and sleep because our struggle is not over yet. However, it is true that through the 19A the UPFA did achieve a great victory because it is as a result of our majority vote base in Parliament that 19A is implemented today,” Silva said. He added that 19A was also a good response for the people who were claiming that the UPFA was divided and were hoping for the party’s split. “Now it is clear to those people that the UPFA is not divided. Therefore now the UNP must be shivering in fright because our MPs acted in a manner in which peace and unity is secured in the UPFA and we won’t rest until 20A is also implemented,” Silva said. Meanwhile, UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha also addressing the media said that via 19A Parliament became more powerful and that the UPFA succeeded in performing its national duty while the world recognised President Maithripala Sirisena as a leader who keeps his promises. State Minister of Housing and Samurdhi Dilan Perera who was also present at the press briefing said that if the SLFP had not joined the coalition Government, 19A would not have been enacted while claiming that the intention of Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and many other UNPers was not to implement 20A or 19A but to go for a general election instead. “The PM’s recent behaviour is inexcusable as he has started to behave in Parliament in a manner similar to MP Wimal Weerawansa’s behaviour. However it is clear to us that Ranil did not want to pass or implement 19A and he tried to take it for ulterior political motives. Therefore it was the UPFA that succeed to bring 19A to the correct track as we were able to fulfil the promises the UNP failed to complete in 100 days within 100 hours. Nevertheless our duty has only been completed 75% and when we succeeded in completing it fully after 20A is also enacted, then the SLFP MPs in the coalition Government will go and sit in the Opposition. Nevertheless through 19A the UPFA was able to come together united and more strongly than before,” Perera said. Answering a question raised by the media Nimal Siripala de Silva stated that the SLFP would take action against MP Sarath Weerasekara who voted against 19A during Tuesday’s vote. However when the media questioned why the SLFP did not raise the issue regarding MP Basil Rajapaksa’s arrest in Parliament, Silva said that they could not raise questions in Parliament every time an MP was arrested. The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) yesterday said that it planned to hold its May Day rally at Hyde Park in Colombo at 2 p.m. on 1 May and that it hoped former President Mahinda Rajapaksa would join the rally as the party had invited him. When the media raised questions about speculation that former President Rajapaksa would be participating in a separate May Day rally organised by another set of politicians with a different political ideology, the SLFP said that as far as it was aware, former President Rajapaksa wold not take part in any other May Day rally other than the SLFP rally.

President thanks all for contributing towards passing 19A

The adoption of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution with a two-thirds majority was a historic victory for Sri Lankan society, President Maithripala Sirisena said. He added that the victory was the result of a 37-year-long struggle by all Sri Lankans. The President thanked all stakeholders who contributed to this effort, including the Maha Sangha, political parties and civil society groups, active citizens, who struggled, sustained and enriched dialogue on this amendment. The President thanked the Members of Parliament and political parties who supported this amendment. Though Presidential candidates promised to abolish the executive presidency at five previous occasions, it became a reality only on 28 April. This is a major step taken to strengthen democracy within the country as it was achieved constitutionally following the recommendations of the Supreme Court and with the consent of all political parties. Since the adoption of the Constitution in 1978, every amendment apart from the 13th and the 17th amendments bolstered the power of the Executive Presidency. The 18th Amendment was a reversal of the democratic achievements of the 17th Amendment and unprecedentedly embellished the powers of the Executive President. President Maithripala added that he believed this victory was significant for current and future generations of Sri Lankans.