Increase executive Powers
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By Kamal Suraweera-October 29, 2014
The powers vested with the Executive Presidency need to be increased, as the President is not able to take independent decisions due to the conditions envisaged in the present Constitution, Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne said.
He added there was nothing wrong with the Executive Presidential System and in order to develop the country the powers of the office needed to be increased. Jayaratne made this observation yesterday during the opening ceremony of the United People's Freedom Alliance's (UPFA) Kandy District office at William Gopallawa Mawatha.
He was the chief guest of the event.
"The presidential election will definitely take place in January. We will first arouse people's curiosity and then we will announce the date of the election. That is why we are delaying the declaration of the election day. Now, people are saying various things. Some claim that according to the Constitution a person cannot contest for the Executive President a third time. Don't these people still know that we changed the Constitution so that a person can contest a third time? Now anyone can contest as much as they want," he said.
Jayaratne said some charge the President can appoint anyone to any position. However, that allegation is false and the President cannot fill vacancies.
"The vacancies are filled by a committee. It is done with the approval of the Cabinet and Parliament. I assure you that the President has not appointed a single person going above the process," the Prime Minister said.
Jayaratne asked what is wrong with the Executive Presidency and how the 30-year war would have been ended without it. "We have a two-thirds majority in Parliament with the assistance of the United National Party (UNP). The government stands because the UNP MPs crossed over," he said.
The Prime Minister was also critical of those who recommend a parliamentary system led by a Prime minister. "With that system we will have to hold elections if one MP crosses over. Considering how people change parties these days, we will have to hold elections every day. There are wars in 14 countries in the world. Hundreds of people die because of these. This happens because these countries don't have strong leaders. Without power one can't rule," he said.
Jayaratne also commented on the common candidate stating that President Rajapaksa, who has the support of 14 political parties, is the true common candidate.
"Is there anyone else we can hand this country over to? Ranil Wickremesinghe can't even take a little shock, how can he rule a country? Can Ven. Sobhitha Thera rule a country? There were those who could have governed before, there will be leaders in the future too. But, there is no one else now. If so, we will need to get someone from abroad, give him a gun and ask that person to rule," he said.
By Kamal Suraweera-October 29, 2014The powers vested with the Executive Presidency need to be increased, as the President is not able to take independent decisions due to the conditions envisaged in the present Constitution, Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne said.
He added there was nothing wrong with the Executive Presidential System and in order to develop the country the powers of the office needed to be increased. Jayaratne made this observation yesterday during the opening ceremony of the United People's Freedom Alliance's (UPFA) Kandy District office at William Gopallawa Mawatha.
He was the chief guest of the event.
"The presidential election will definitely take place in January. We will first arouse people's curiosity and then we will announce the date of the election. That is why we are delaying the declaration of the election day. Now, people are saying various things. Some claim that according to the Constitution a person cannot contest for the Executive President a third time. Don't these people still know that we changed the Constitution so that a person can contest a third time? Now anyone can contest as much as they want," he said.
Jayaratne said some charge the President can appoint anyone to any position. However, that allegation is false and the President cannot fill vacancies.
"The vacancies are filled by a committee. It is done with the approval of the Cabinet and Parliament. I assure you that the President has not appointed a single person going above the process," the Prime Minister said.
Jayaratne asked what is wrong with the Executive Presidency and how the 30-year war would have been ended without it. "We have a two-thirds majority in Parliament with the assistance of the United National Party (UNP). The government stands because the UNP MPs crossed over," he said.
The Prime Minister was also critical of those who recommend a parliamentary system led by a Prime minister. "With that system we will have to hold elections if one MP crosses over. Considering how people change parties these days, we will have to hold elections every day. There are wars in 14 countries in the world. Hundreds of people die because of these. This happens because these countries don't have strong leaders. Without power one can't rule," he said.
Jayaratne also commented on the common candidate stating that President Rajapaksa, who has the support of 14 political parties, is the true common candidate.
"Is there anyone else we can hand this country over to? Ranil Wickremesinghe can't even take a little shock, how can he rule a country? Can Ven. Sobhitha Thera rule a country? There were those who could have governed before, there will be leaders in the future too. But, there is no one else now. If so, we will need to get someone from abroad, give him a gun and ask that person to rule," he said.
