Amend the constitution before poll, or face consequences: Rathana Thero

October 15, 2014
Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero MP said that the government must implement the proposals for the 19th Amendment to the Constitution before the Presidential elections or they will take every possible measure to defeat President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The observation was made by Rathana Thero at a function held at the BMICH to release the proposal for the 19th Amendment which was prepared by The National Council for Better Tomorrow (Pivithuru Hetak Udesa Jathika Sabhawa). 

Politicians representing all the parties including opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Minister Rajitha Senaratne and Sunil Hadunneththi MP were attended the event.

Eight recommendations for the Constitution drafted by the NCBT including to abolish the executive presidency before precedential polls was presented at the event.

“The Government should move towards scrapping the Executive Presidency without holding a Presidential Election. I confess to that it was a wrong decision we contributed and voted for the 18th Amendment. We strongly recommend that the Government must hold the Presidential election after implementing the proposals for the 19th Amendment, or there will be consequences,” Thero added.

Rathana Thero also pointed out that the election should be held based on the terms of the Constitution of the country and not on anyone’s personal horoscopes.