Parliament made powerless by Executive Presidency- JVP

(October 26, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The parliament has been made powerless by the executive presidency, says Anura Kumara Dissanayake, JVP parliamentary group leader. Addressing a media briefing in Colombo yesterday, Anura said that the Cabinet was no longer a body of the government that took collective decisions.

“This is because the cabinet has become an institution that has fallen under the sole administration of the president. It has never rejected a proposal presented by the President.

“The parliament has evolved into an institution where there is no exchange of ideas or debates when a bill is proposed. It has evolved into a body with minimal powers although it is considered the supreme-most institution of a democracy,” the MP said.

He also commented on the abolition of the executive presidency.

“The JVP will not join any coalition of the UNP. This form of presidency is not at all conducive for the country. It should be abolished. If they are not ready to abolish the executive presidency, there are various ways to do it. There are a number of open options available.

“General Fonseka could come forward. There could be many other Saraths, many other alliances and many other methods.

“When that happens, there are certain people who bring about conspiracy theories. Some are already talking about conspiracies hatched with international assistance.

“The President can stop these conspiracies. If this is a conspiracy, all the President needs to do is to abolish the executive presidency,” Dissanayake said.

-Sri Lanka Guardian