Cabinet meeting to rush 20A undermines democracy: SLPP

MP Keheliya Rabukwella - Pic by Sameera Wijesinghe  

• Says rushing 20A indicates UNP afraid of GR
• Claims UNP attempting to use 20A to side track from the tussle within the UNP for presidential candidacy  

By Nuwan Senarathna

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) yesterday criticised the attempt by the Government to seek approval for the 20th Amendment ahead of presidential elections, and said it was an attempt to undermine the democratic rights of the citizens.

A special Cabinet meeting was summoned on Thursday afternoon to obtain approval to expedite the passing of the 20th Amendment in Parliament. However, the effort was stopped after a group within the United National Party (UNP) and three minor parties opposed the move.

Speaking to media at the SLPP Head Office, spokesman MP Keheliya Rambukwella said the decision to rush the 20th Amendment was an attempt to hamper the Presidential Election by the United National Party (UNP). “They waited for 11th hour and tried their best to hamper the election. They have been postponing the Local Government Election two and a half years. Nobody knows when the Provincial Council Election will be held. Considering all these acts, I am not surprised at the UNP attempting to postpone the Presidential Election,” Rambukwella said. According to Rambukwella, the move to rush the 20th Amendment was an act by the UNP as they are afraid of Gotabaya Rajapaksa becoming the President. He argued that the UNP had already accepted the fact that the SLPP presidential candidate would have a better chance of winning the election.

“Nobody would be surprised that they are targeting to abolish the executive presidency because they are afraid of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. They have accepted the fact that he is going to be the victorious President.”

He claimed the public is aware of the attempt of the UNP and their response will be shown during the election. He pointed out that the attempt of the UNP to bring a Cabinet paper to expedite the proceedings of the 20th Amendment was a blow to democracy and franchise.

Meanwhile, MP Anura Priyadharshana Yapa said in a media briefing yesterday that the attempt of the Government to rush the 20th Amendment was an attempt to sidestep the presidential candidate tussle within the UNP. 

“The UNP cannot find their presidential candidate. One group wants Sajith Premadasa to be a presidential candidate but the Prime Minister wants someone else to be the presidential candidate. They have taken a shameful decision to control the internal conflict of the UNP,” he said.