PM participated in talks at President’s invitation: Ravi

UNP Assistant Leader and Minister Ravi Karunanayake yesterday said that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe participated in a discussion on the enactment of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution for abolishing the executive presidency only at the invitation of President Maithripala Sirisena.

He said President Sirisena wanted to meet him with the Prime Minister at the Presidential Secretariat after the cabinet meeting. He also said that the President requested the Prime Minister to support the President in order to abolish the executive presidential system after passing the 20th Amendment.

Mr. Karunanayake said this in response to a question about such a meeting.

In addition, he said the approval of the leaders of political parties in parliament is needed to abolish this system, according to the views of the Prime Minister.

The President has said that he was ready to call for a meeting of party leaders to take a decision to abolish the executive presidency. (Nimala Kodithuwakku)