Abolition of 19th amendment will create dangerous situation: JVP’s Herath

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna frontliner Vijitha Herath says a dangerous situation will be created if the government abolishes the 19^th amendment.

In an exclusive interview with Timesonline, he said the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) won’t obtain a two-thirds majority at the election, but will buy over opposition politicians by dangling portfolios and other perks. But he said if the government used the two third’s majority to abolish the 19^th Amendment or amend it to undermine its democratic features, then it will be creating a dangerous situation.

Mr. Herath, whose party is contesting the August 5 general elections under the National People’s Power alliance, says postponing elections may not be a right decision to take in view of the current spike in Covid-19 cases in Sri Lanka because such a decision may not be good for the health of the country’s democracy.

He also said health guidelines the government issued to facilitate the safe conduct of the August 5 elections were inadequate as the gazette notification did not empower Public Health Inspectors to implement the guidelines. He says the failure on the part of Health Minister Pavitra Wanniarachchi to give implementing powers to PHIs was deliberate so that the ruling party could hold its political activities while showing scant regard to health guidelines.

With regard to criticism that the JVP has now been reduced to a 3 percent party after its dismal performance at the November 2019 presidential election, Mr. Herath said one cannot compare a general election with a presidential election as the issues and the circumstances are different. He expressed confidence the JVP will be able to increase its vote base and vowed the party will return more MPs to parliament at the upcoming polls.