The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) yesterday said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will hold on to power of the United National Party (UNP) and the Government even if Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa becomes the Executive President.
Speaking to media at the Opposition Leader’s office, Parliamentarian Susil Premajayantha said the governance framework would not be changed under a presidency of Sajith Premadasa. Quoting newspaper reports, he said any UNP attempt to abolish the executive presidency will not be supported by the SLPP at this stage.
“According to newspaper reports, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has agreed to nominate Minister Sajith Premadasa as the party’s presidential candidate on the condition that he agrees to abolish Executive Presidency, which we view as a smart move by the Ranil Wickremesinghe,” Premajayanth said.
Premajayantha argued if Sajith Premadasa becomes president and abolishes executive presidency, Ranil Wickremesinghe would be ‘Executive Prime Minister’, which will make him more powerful as Prime Minister. According to Premajayantha, if Ranil Wickremesinghe becomes ‘Executive Prime Minister’ he will hold the power to name the cabinet and summon the Cabinet, which will not be different from the current Cabinet.
“If current Cabinet appoints once again, there will not be any new policies or development projects. They will continue the current harmful economic policies. They will continue to sell public properties to foreign nations.”
He claimed Premadasa had also agreed to maximum power devolution to become UNP presidential candidate. Premajayantha argued if maximum power devolution implemented following the abolishment of the executive presidency would lead complexities in administrating Provincial Councils.
“If maximum devolution of power is implement without an executive presidency that may lead to unfortunate consequences. That may lead certain provinces to act as separate states. The executive presidency is the only thing that preventing from happening.”
He argued that SLPP would not back for the abolishment of executive presidency as that would lead to complexities in administrating Provincial Councils. The current electoral system and the 13th Amendment necessitates the need for an executive presidency to keep the country unitary, he opined.
(FT)