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Ranil stresses need to establish new Parliament

6 December 2018 01:26 am - 23     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday stressed the need to establish a new Parliament, scrapping the Executive Presidency through a referendum.

Mr. Wickremesinghe made these proposals at a seminar organised by the Professionals for Democracy held at the Galle Face Hotel last morning.

“The citizens of this country have spoken out against the childish behaviour of MPs in the House. I propose that a new Parliament is needed. We have to listen to the voice of the people and punish the MPs who misbehaved recently. The President seems to be ignoring the legislature. If that is the case we will scrap the executive presidency through a referendum. A new Parliament could help achieve this goal,” he added.

“We have moved towards preserving democracy and towards safeguarding the constitution. The judiciary has also moved towards the same. This is not sufficient as we have to move towards scrapping the executive presidency by a referendum. We need the support of all the professionals to achieve this,” he said.

Mr. Wickremesinghe said he offered to resign and go home when he head former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was appointed Prime Minister but remained following the advice of others. He said he realized that there was a great force backing him to fight for democracy.

Referring to the statement made by President Maithripala Sirisena that he will not appoint him as the Prime Minister even though all 225 MPs request him to do so, Mr. Wickremesinghe said he is not bothered by it as it was the President that will have to face the consequences and no one else.

Finally, he said he will respond to Mr. Sirisena though his culture. “I was ridiculed, criticized and scolded. I will reply to the President through my culture.

Akosha Bamuna once ridiculed and criticized the Buddha. Then Buddha asked him if he offers refreshment to a visitor and the latter refuses the food that is offered, then who does that food belong to. Akosha said that food belongs to him. Then Buddha answered him saying he will not accept the scolding and criticisms which Akosha made. You can have all that he told Akosha.

Likewise, I will also not accept the criticism and ridicule from President Sirisena. I will not scold him or criticise him and he can take back all that he has said thereafter,” Mr. Wickremesinghe said. (Yohan Perera)

 

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  Comments - 23

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  • Saman Thursday, 06 December 2018 06:38 AM

    Dear Mr. Wickramasinghe, Please establish democracy in your own party before preaching about democracy to the country!!!

    Anil Thursday, 06 December 2018 06:41 AM

    Dear Sir, Before talking about democracy in the country, you should introduce it to your own party. With your dictatorship, you and your friends have single handedly destroyed the most powerful political party in the country.

    Jude Thursday, 06 December 2018 11:47 AM

    Anil, you got it wrong!! You've been critical of RW apparently for no valid reason!! And you don't like RW, from same token am Notta fan of RW either!!

    Machan Thursday, 06 December 2018 01:58 PM

    Anil, most of us may not like RW. But this is not about him. This is about protecting the constitution of this country so it can function like a civilized society. That's not for anyone else but for our children so they can live like descent humans beings peacefully in our country.

    citizen Thursday, 06 December 2018 06:45 AM

    Well said. Our daily prayers to God is to forgive us our sins as we forgive others.

    Parliamentary democrasy Thursday, 06 December 2018 06:57 AM

    It is not scraping etc for a new parliament but change the ATTITUDE. We can't correct people including you or MR. PEOPLE OVER 60 yrs should not be leaders in the party/parliament.May be you could be advisers.

    Cluless Thursday, 06 December 2018 01:56 PM

    Whats wrong with people over 60? Then we could get a young Kimi.

    Look at MR, GLP RW etc Thursday, 06 December 2018 04:53 PM

    The old people have stale(old) ideas.

    ANTON Thursday, 06 December 2018 07:04 AM

    AMMATA UDU ......NALUVA VAGEY NE YAKO !!! YES SIR, WE DON'T WANT THAT MS ,,,,,

    Adrian Thursday, 06 December 2018 07:17 AM

    Its time for you to go as well.

    wirantha Thursday, 06 December 2018 09:06 AM

    U donkey Ranil u talking rubbish..its not about scraping the Presidency,,,its about highlighting the wrongful and illegal act of the President in relation to the constitution,,,simply that to explain in a childish way to,,constitution says he has to appoint a PM who commands the majority in parliament,he has violated that by appointing Mahinda who has a minority in parliament..secondly he cannot dissolve parliaiment for 4 and half years. that too he he has violated...its this which u must highlight and fight in courts,,,and safeguarding the rule of law as stipulated in the constitution,, u are talking nonsense,,koheda yanne malle pol..

    Ronnie Bugger Thursday, 06 December 2018 09:10 AM

    Ranil, if I am correct, you said that you were contemplating to be domiciled in a foreign land before M3 wanted you to join him to send MP home. After 3 and half years, the unity government is in a royal mess. There is a shut-down in the affairs of the state. Don't you think of reconsidering your options and gracefully fading from the political arena.

    IVJ Thursday, 06 December 2018 12:25 PM

    The problem is Mr.W, you all, the entire bunch of 225 useless, brainless and heartless morons are on the wrong side. Not a single person has the moral right to call yourselves clean. Our country needs a miracle to come out of where we are today. I hope one day all of you and descendants to come will pay for all the atrocious acts committed OR for not doing the right thing.

    Pradeep Thursday, 06 December 2018 03:39 PM

    There is quick solution.Make the Income Tax Department and Audtor General vry strong. Every politician has to submit annual income statement, including selling of vehicle licence. anybody found out of line, should be penalized.

    Ragula Thursday, 06 December 2018 12:34 PM

    New parliament with new leadership

    Jack Thursday, 06 December 2018 12:46 PM

    ... with new face / generation politicians

    A voter Thursday, 06 December 2018 01:22 PM

    Why was parliament used to postpone LG elections by two years and PC elections over a year ? Democracy is used to cover one self when not in power. But we have not forgotten these misdeeds

    Refrendum Thursday, 06 December 2018 03:26 PM

    Man proposes God disposes. You will never be a Presdent of this country. Bow down from politics after extending your Premiership upto next General election.

    Manu Thursday, 06 December 2018 03:31 PM

    This man not meant to lead SL. All he does is for his selfish good and UNP coons and not for the good of SL.

    Citizen Thursday, 06 December 2018 03:47 PM

    RW "offered to resign and go home"? Ha ha ha ha. Pigs will also fly.

    G m jayawardena Thursday, 06 December 2018 03:58 PM

    This may allow a group of people to dictate and rob the country.

    vithura Thursday, 06 December 2018 05:01 PM

    JR is the one who should be blamed for this mess for creating the model of Executive Presidential governance. He was not an intellectual anyway!

    GH Friday, 07 December 2018 05:50 PM

    First and foremost, please vacate and get-lost the TEMPLE TREES which is not your ancestor mansion.


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