Government Spokesman and State Minister of Investment Promotion Keheliya Rambukwella said yesterday Parliament is likely to be dissolved by the President on March 1 midnight or the following day.
According to the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, the President is empowered to dissolve Parliament after the completion of four-and-a-half years of its term. Thus, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is constitutionally permitted to dissolve Parliament and go for General Elections after March 1 midnight, State Minister Rambukwella told the Sunday Observer.
However, State Minister of Information and Communication Technology Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said the exact date on the dissolution of Parliament will be announced at a press conference on Tuesday (February 18) adding that a decision on the final date is yet to be taken.
Meanwhile, State Minister Rambukwella told a recent press briefing at the Prime Minister’s office that the Government can obtain a majority at the upcoming General Elections without the help of extremist politicians and parties. To implement the National Policy Framework “Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour”, a strong and solid foundation should be laid in Parliament. Therefore, the Government calls upon the public to ensure that the incumbent Government gets a two-thirds majority in Parliament, he said.
Government sources said if Parliament is likely to be dissolved on March 2, the General Elections can be held by the end of April. They said the Government is keen on fresh elections as early as possible. The sources said Government parliamentarians have already begun preliminary political work in view of the upcoming General Elections.
Leader of the House and Minister of Foreign Relations Dinesh Gunawardena told the media recently that the President has already received the Gazzette notification calling for the dissolution of Parliament. The Minister said that the President had only to place his signature.
The last three days of parliamentary sittings will be held from February 18 to 20 before the dissolution.
The Adjournment Debate on the Forensic Audit Report on the Central Bank Bond Issue will be held in Parliament on February 18 and 19. It will be moved by the JVP.
The Committee on Parliamentary Business chaired by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has decided to hold an Adjournment Debate on matters pertaining to the Airbus deal of SriLankan Airlines on February 20.
The Adjournment Motion moved by the UNP will be debated in Parliament on February 20 from 12.30 pm to 7.30 pm.
(Sunday Observer)