G.L claims efforts underway to expel MR and loyalist MPs

• Gives no cause but insists removal to pave way for new Constitution

The Government is looking for ways to expel Opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa and 47 MPs who support him from Parliament to pave the way for a new Constitution, charged Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Chairman Prof. GL Peiris yesterday.

“The Government hopes to appoint their own loyalists to these parliament seats and get their support to pass the new constitution. We will try our best to prevent the Government from passing the draft Constitution, which is harmful to the county,” Peiris told reporters at SLPP headquarters.

He said the draft Constitution was not presented to constitution assembly and it was prepared without their knowledge. “They are trying to bring a draft Constitution to Parliament prepared by an expert committee which is contrary to procedure that was agreed upon in Parliament,” he added.

Peiris said the Government doesn’t have enough seats in Parliament to pass the draft Constitution. Therefore they were looking at new ways to pass it. However, he failed to explain based on what facts the Government is trying to expel the Opposition leader and MPs who support him. 

“This whole enterprise is fundamentally unacceptable and people have rejected a new Constitution. The Government is thinking of various undemocratic and illegal methods of forcing it down the throats of the people.”

He said only a limited number of people are aware of the composition of the draft Constitution. He charged that it is being drafted behind closed doors. “All these things had been done behind the backs of the people of Sri Lanka because they know they would not endorse this new Constitution,” he said.

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