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US envoy Sison, NMSJ’s Ven Sobitha Thera discuss abolishing executive presidency
The United States (U.S.) has shown interest in a four-month-old 10-point proposal by the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) for reforms, including the abolition of the Executive Presidency. US Ambassador Michele J. Sison met with the movement’s convenor Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera for details during an hour-long discussion at the Sri Naga Vihare, Kotte, where the prelate is the Chief Incumbent. Ven. Sobitha told the Sunday Times the meeting took place at the request of the U.S. embassy.
“One of the main points stressed was to call upon the President to abolish the Executive Presidency. The President himself had promised in the Mahinda Chinthanaya (Thoughts of Mahinda), or the UPFA election manifesto, to abolish the presidential system.
He said the 10 points discussed were abolition of the Executive Presidency, re-activate the 17th Amendment to the Constitution including reactivating the Constitutional Council and the Independent Commissions, abolition of the 18th Amendment, scrapping the Preferential Voting System, creating an Independent Judiciary, Right to Information, implementing the LLRC, Protecting Human rights, establishing Good Governance and creating a Just Society.
He said he also explained the NMSJ’s plans towards achieving this, and how they were briefing various political and social groups and other personalities regarding their campaign launched in April.
He said the Ambassador had said it was good that a local group was showing concern about the issues that impact the people of the country, which, if a foreign country had raised, there could have been allegations of interference in the affairs of another country.
The NMSJ has suggested that the President should be elected by Parliament, and that the President should appoint as Prime Minister, the MP, who, in his opinion, commands majority support within Parliament.
The Movement also proposes that two Vice Presidents be elected by Parliament from communities other than the one to which the President belongs. The Movement also proposes the appointment of a caretaker government during Parliamentary elections, while restricting the Cabinet to 25 ministers.
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