MANGALA QUESTIONS SL GOVT’S ELIGIBILITY TO CHAIR CHOGM

Assurances regarding repealing of 18A not fulfilled

The Commonwealth Organisation would be endorsing a dictatorship if it allows the Sri Lanka government to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) without fulfiling the assurances it had given including repealing of the 18th Amendment to the constitution, the UNP said yesterday.

UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera said, the Commonwealth Organisation should urge the Sri Lanka government to repeal the 18th Amendment and reintroduce the 17th Amendment before holding the Northern Provincial Council elections.

“The North elections would not be free and fair if it is not held under an independent Police Commission, Elections Commission and a Public Service Commission. The Northern election would be similar to the District Council elections of 1981 without the independent commissions,” he said.

Mr. Samaraweera also questioned as to how Sri Lanka would be able to take over the chairmanship of the CHOGM when it had violated sixteen commonwealth values.

He said one should also take into consideration certain hit squads that are in existence today, which are state sponsored

Mr. Samaraweera said the Sri Lanka government should repeal the 18th Amendment as it had been recommended by the LLRC commission appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Mr. Samaraweera said the Parliament Select Committee should find a political solution to the national issue and the Government should heed the requests made by the TNA.

The North elections would not be free and fair if it is not held under an independent Police Commission, Elections Commission and a Public Service Commission