Basil leaves for US for ‘medical treatment’!

 Wednesday, 06 November 2013

Economic development minister Basil Rajapaksa has left for the US to obtain medical treatment, say ministry sources. Mr. Rajapaksa had been warded at Lanka Hospital for more than one week recently.

After his illness worsened, doctors had advised him to immediately go overseas for treatment. Following the advice, he has left behind all his work and departed for the US, said the sources.

The president, who had ordered all government politicians not to go overseas for the duration of CHOGM, has given special permission to minister Rajapkasa in view of his illness. He had initially asked the minister to stay until the conclusion of CHOGM, and the minister agreed. But, his illness has prevented him from doing so, said ministry sources.

However, opposition sources say minister Rajapaksa, citing a non-existent health condition, has left the country in order to show his objections to the Rajapaksa family’s struggle for power. Also, that he had dodged responsibilities of CHOGM, placing everything on the shoulders of the president with the intention of seeing the event a failure.

Minister Rajapaksa remained silent for the entire duration of the casino controversy, an opposition activist also noted.
He said this confirms an astrological opinion that within 2014, the president will be abandoned by one of his brothers.

Mahinda exploring possibilities of holding Presidential election

Wednesday, 06 November 2013

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is currently exploring the possibility of holding a Presidential election without completing his second term in office.

Initially, the President looked at the option of introducing another constitutional amendment enabling him to call for a Presidential election after completing four years in office. However, given the current internal clashed in the government, Rajapaksa is trying to look at another option that would enable him to hold Presidential elections before completing the full term.

Accordingly, the Supreme Court has been asked to give an interpretation on the 18th Amendment to the Constitution on the holding of a Presidential election.

The government will seek an interpretation on the holding of a presidential election during the second term of office of an incumbent President.

The government will seek Supreme Court assistance since the 18th Amendment that removes the two term limit for a President to hold office has not stipulated the time period to hold a presidential election during the second term of office of a President.

The law earlier permitted a President to call for a presidential election after completing four years in office for his second term.