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Bypassing
Parliament: Mangala denies, TNA insists He says “the said headline is inaccurate and may potentially mislead the readers and the public into believing that the President contemplates bypassing of Parliament through provisions of Section 33 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka with regard to the implementation of an interim self governing authority for the north and east.” Mr. Samaraweera also points out “on the contrary, the President's contention to the TNA parliamentary group was a re-iteration of her constantly articulated policy of an inclusive and transparent peace process that covers all stakeholders within and outside Parliament and address their concerns.” The Sunday Times spoke to other TNA parliamentarians on the report last week. This is what they had to say. Mr Joseph Pararajasingham, TNA MP for Batticaloa District: “The President on two occasions said that she should make use of clause 33 to bypass the legislature to take a final decision on the ISGA. She also said that she has to come to an agreement with the LTTE about the formation of the ISGA. “She said that she needed some time for this. “Mr. Samaraweera is now denying the statements made by the President as they may be embarrassed about it. Our members are standing by the fact such statement was, in fact, made”. Mr. Suresh Premachandran TNA MP Jaffna District: “I clearly remember the President saying that fortunately or unfortunately President J.R. Jayewardene introduced this clause (33), but he had not made use of it. Now I have the opportunity and if the need arises, to use this power. “It was the President who started the discussion, even before TNA members raised the ISGA the President started explaining her position”. Wanni District MP Sivanathan Kishore: “Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera was present at the meeting with the President along with two other Cabinet Ministers for nearly three hours. It is surprising that Mr. Samaraweera is making a mistake contradicting the President's position of what was later told by the TNA to the press. “The President on two occasions, during the discussions very clearly stated that she can use powers vested in clause 33 in the event of meeting any obstacles to resolve the ethnic problem. “The President went on to say that in 1995, if the LTTE had co-operated, she would have gone on to give the LTTE demands by using clause 33. At that time the only JVP member in Parliament wanted a discussion with me to clarify about the LTTE discussions and I did not even grant him an appointment, she told the TNA delegation”. |
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