Willing to work with President: Ranil

8 November 2018 03:51 pm - 18 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has said he is willing to work with President Maithripala Sirisena if, given a chance to prove his majority in Parliament, the Hindu reported today.

On whether he could still work with the President, Mr. Wickremesinghe said: “I’ll have no problem working with him, that’s a question you must ask him. The Constitution doesn’t make provision for personal prejudices,” he said on Tuesday in an interview to The Hindu at Temple Trees.

Amid the persisting political crisis, Mr. Wickremesinghe is optimistic about an early recall of Parliament.

“The Parliament’s power is supreme and that is what the Speaker has upheld,” he said, referring to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya’s statement on Monday, noting that Mr. Rajapaksa will not be recognised as PM until he wins a floor test.

“I am confident of having the numbers,” Mr. Wickremesinghe said, adding: “The fact that they are delaying the recall is because they don’t have the numbers.”

Mr. Sirisena, who earlier suspended Parliament until November 16, has recalled the House for November 14. “The delay worries me because it makes the country more unstable,” the ousted PM said.

Mr. Wikremesinghe has ruled out a court appeal on the matter, citing the Parliament’s “supreme judicial powers.” Reiterating the position, he said: “Even if you go to court they will send you back to parliament on this matter. We are different from yours [Indian context].”

On his strategy to stabilise to the country, should he prove his majority, Mr. Wickremesinghe said the cabinet might have to be reconstituted because some had left it, and joined the “new cabinet” that Mr. Sirisena has sworn in. “But the Speaker has very well said the status quo of [last] Friday stands. Unless they prove a majority that stands.”

Asked what if Mr. Rajapaksa won the floor test Mr. Wickremesinghe, even before the question was completed, said: “He won’t be able to prove a majority.” Pressed again for a response to such a hypothetical scenario, he said: “I don’t know about hypothesis, I am talking about the actual situation. He does not have the numbers.”

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Comments - 18

Poor Lankan Thursday, 08 November 2018 03:55 PM

Someone is begging now

unsubtle Thursday, 08 November 2018 10:30 PM

Did you read the article?

ANTON Thursday, 08 November 2018 04:00 PM

KAPANDA BARI ATHA IMBINDA YANAVA..........

Jayaratna Thursday, 08 November 2018 04:04 PM

Ayyo

max Thursday, 08 November 2018 04:10 PM

Make him too a 'samanalaya'. All the problems will be solved Mr. Wickremesinghe!

lkboy Thursday, 08 November 2018 04:10 PM

This guy never learns.

Aiyoo Thursday, 08 November 2018 04:22 PM

Mr. Bean is not a happy chappy...

Cheers Thursday, 08 November 2018 04:23 PM

No thanks this shows how greedy you are for power please go home and sleep now

Realist Thursday, 08 November 2018 10:34 PM

If this is greedy, what about MR?

Sid Thursday, 08 November 2018 07:12 PM

He has no other choice...if he doesn’t the “bond” will be an issue

Mahinda Sirisena Thursday, 08 November 2018 07:12 PM

Ooooo Nooooo....!!

Gayan Thursday, 08 November 2018 08:46 PM

Please give it to someone else from the party like Sajith or Karu and go home.

Ceylon Thursday, 08 November 2018 09:02 PM

Years had passed still government has not brought the defendants in full to the law. see the weakness of the Sri-Lankan politicians. what is the use of paying for many useless leader from the poor people's money? MR is also having many thieves within his family. but at least he had the brain to stop the LTTE menace. MS did the 100% right thing as a Leader to save the country.

S.P.RAMKUMAR Thursday, 08 November 2018 09:17 PM

Under constitution no personal matters can be taken up. I am asking you Mr. RANIL WHY DID YOU CHOOSE SRISENA.He has only grama niladhari mentality.

Moiez Thursday, 08 November 2018 09:32 PM

Mr.Prime minister why do you want to beg again, fight for your right , already MS told you about butterfly, so you show him that you are real lion.

D.E.M.O Krazy Thursday, 08 November 2018 10:07 PM

Mr. Wikremasinghe. If the president should agree to work with you,do not make deals like you have been doing all your political life. You are on your last leg. Kindly deliver to the common man the promises that were made in 2015, BRING ALL THE CROOKS TO JUSTICE and bow out like a gentleman who will be sopken well of and not ill of!

GH Thursday, 08 November 2018 10:37 PM

You may be willing to work with anyone but neither the President nor the general public wanted you as PM of Sri Lanka.

Rasheed Friday, 09 November 2018 03:32 PM

Willing to do anything, but not to give up the leadership.

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Willing to work with President: Ranil

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