JVP to hold talks with all parties concerning abolishment of Executive Presidency

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has decided to hold official talks with all parties in Parliament concerning the abolishment of the executive presidency.

Addressing a press briefing today (Feb 28), JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake pointed out that it has been almost six months since a draft for a revision to the 20th amendment which included a proposal to abolish the executive presidency was submitted to Parliament.

"This topic has to be discussed at the Parliamentary party leaders meeting, included in the order paper and then taken up for a debate in Parliament" Mr. Dissanayake insisted.

Speaking further, he said that he hopes to hold talks with Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa next week since his faction is important in determining the two-thirds majority.

"We have already held informal discussions with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in this regard," the JVP leader said adding that his party would organise a discussion with the United National Party (UNP) as well.

On the same lines he added that similar discussions would take place along with the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), and the parties represented by Ministers Rishard Bathiudeen and Mano Ganesan.

Further, he recounted that it was Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who was campaigning for the abolishment of the executive presidency during the presidential polls 2015 when compared to President Maithripala Sirisena.

Mr. Dissanayake also stressed the need for a broad discussion to take place among the public circles regarding the executive presidency.

"The 52-day crisis which erupted after October 26 last year proved that this system of presidency was absurd," he said adding that the platform for discussions concerning the executive presidency was set-up within the public circles at that time.

He reiterated that these discussions must keep continuing in the days to come.