Sajith calls for abolition of Executive Presidency

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa today called on Parliament to seize the moment and introduce legislation to abolish the Executive Presidency. 

Parliament should reflect the hearbeat of the 20 million of the country's population, whose pain, fears and hopes are now stated in the streets, Mr Premadasa said. "There can be no voice that runs counter to that voice reflected in the streets," he insisted. 

The hopes of 6.9 million that voted for the President have now been dashed, the Opposition Leader further said. "What is the slogan that is being heard in the streets? What are the people saying? They are telling this Government to go home. That is the truth."

Stating that the time has come to change the executive presidency, Mr Premadasa reminded the Prime Minister that during the vote on the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, he said that a Constitution should not be drafted with the aim of making strengthen the President by making the Prime Minister into a scarecrow or strengthen the Prime Minister by making the President a scarecrow. "There should be a system of checks and balances. When we spoke about that people on that side responded to us in filth."

Mr Premadasa said the House should reflect the view on the ground and the view on the ground is that the system needs to change. "The Government needs to change. This entire Government needs to resign, from the President downwards." 

He proposed that the Government take up the matter of abolishing the Executive Presidency within this week if possible.