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Tuesday, 23 January 2018 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Text and pix by P.D. De Silva
“There are instances both locally and internationally that governments that failed to gain public support at referendums were toppled, and if the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) win a majority of Sri Lanka’s 341 LG institutions, we will ensure the present Government falls within three months,” said former Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dullas Alahapperuma.
He was addressing a meeting held at the Naimana Community Centre on 21 January in support of the candidature of SLPP’s Dasanayake Jayawickrema and Attorney-at-Law Danesha Liyanage for the Matara Pradeshiya Sabha.
Alahapperuma added: “It was 10 months ago that British Prime Minister David Cameron of the Conservative Party was forced to resign when his party failed to gain public support in favour of the Brexit referendum held to decide whether Britain should remain in the European Union. In Sri Lanka, it was a presidential election that was held on 8 January 2015, but after President Maithripala Sirisena was sworn in at 4.42 p.m. on 9 January 2015 he appointed United National Party’s Ranil Wickremesinghe as the new Prime Minister at 4.55 p.m.
“At that time the UNP held only 46 seats in Parliament. In accordance with our Constitution, a new Prime Minister can be appointed only on the demise of the incumbent PM, on his resignation, if Parliament rejects the Statement of Policy or Appropriation Bill, passes a vote of no confidence, or he ceases to be a Member of Parliament. Nothing of the aforesaid took place, and the reason given for the appointment was that the people had rejected the Government through their vote. Therefore if the forthcoming LG poll is considered as a referendum at which the people reject the present Government, then the same principle should apply.”
Alahapperuma added: “Let’s show the world that the verdict of the people given on 8 January 2015 and 17 August 2015 was reversed on 10 February 2018.”
Members of Parliament for Matara District Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Kanchana Wijesekera, Niroshan Premarathne and Provincial Councillor Aruna Gunerathna also addressed the constituents of Naimana.
