VEN. RATHANA THERA WANTS A NEW GOVT. BEFORE POLLS TO PASS 20A
Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera, who spearheads the organization called National Council for a Clean Tomorrow (NCCT) yesterday called for the formation of a new government to enact the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, prior to the dissolution of Parliament.
The current government was appointed to fulfil a set of promises including the 20 Amendment. Now, the UNP is keen on the dissolution of Parliament instead of passing the 20th Amendment
Ven. Rathana Thera said the United National Party (UNP), the main ally of the government, was insisting on the dissolution of Parliament and not willing to function further to enact electoral reforms in the form of the 20th Amendment.
“The UNP’s calls for the dissolution of Parliament mean that they can’t retain the power. The current government was appointed to fulfil a set of promises including the 20 Amendment. Now, the UNP is keen on the dissolution of Parliament instead of passing the 20th Amendment.
“Therefore, a new government should be formed forthwith to deliver the promises given during the Presidential Election,” the Thera told a news conference yesterday.
He said if the government had taken action in accordance with the promises, it would have been able to pass the 20A to go for Parliamentary elections by now. “It was the government, which failed to fulfil the promises, delaying the election,” he said. The Thera said both President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had a special responsibility to deliver the promises and said if they continue to fail, the movement would rally people and organisations against the government. “We are not against the House dissolution. However, we want at least 20A to be passed before the dissolution,” the Thera said.
Ven. Rathana Thera also charged Parliament was going astray today due to the lack of discipline of members and the trend of bringing in frequent no-faith motions.
Meanwhile, Ashoka Abegunawardena, a member of the draft committee of 20A said all the parties should get together to pass the 20th Amendment before heading for an election.