Reforms fair

2 September 2010 12:10 pm - 11 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The proposed Constitutional Amendment is brought not just to have the Presidential term extended as claimed by the UNP but to remove the obstacles that prevent a person who held Presidency for two terms from contesting again, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said today.

The President was speaking at the 59th National Convention of SLFP at Temple Trees where the party endorsed the proposed constitutional reforms.

“In Section 92 of the Constitution, what is mentioned is that those who have mental disorders cannot contest at the Presidential Elections. He said a person who served as the President for two terms should not be put in the category meant for insane people,” he said.

The President said the constitutional amendments would provide anyone to contest the Presidential Election any number of times and the people of Sri Lanka will get the opportunity to elect whoever they liked.

Therefore, he asked the people not to entertain what he said were baseless arguments of the UNP. Commenting on the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, the President said it would re-instate the powers that prevailed before 1978 to Parliament and the Cabinet. “There is nothing wrong in consulting members elected to the Parliament when making appointments,” he said.

The Prime Minister, The Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition, and two proposed by the ruling party and the opposition are to be included in the proposed parliamentary council, the President said. “The appointment of a Tamil and a Muslim representative each to the Parliamentary Council shall be treated as mandatory,” he said.

“How can empowering the parliament be wrong?” asked the President and said that the dangers as shown by the opposition are actually non existent.

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Comments - 11

Dheen Thursday, 02 September 2010 12:17 PM

A new definition.

Geronimo Thursday, 02 September 2010 12:29 PM

Ha Ha. He can tell it to the Marines!!!!

Jif Thursday, 02 September 2010 12:47 PM

With the powers bestowed on the President, and removing the 2 terms limitations is as good as a President for life.

All the Executive Presidents from JR to MR have won their re-elections, by using their powers they had. You can be guaranteed that MR will not only serve 3rd term but 4th term as well.

Smart Aleck Thursday, 02 September 2010 01:05 PM

Mr. President, you would not say that if you heard the arguments in the Supreme Court.

Anver Thursday, 02 September 2010 01:48 PM

Past history has taught those who grab power get doomed with the same power.

amitha S Thursday, 02 September 2010 01:54 PM

I do not why you are worried about how many times a president can be nominated. If the people in sri lanka votes and they want him to continue, I see no reason why any one should object. If they do not vote for him he can be thrown out. What we should worry is that we have a fair and free election and not how many times some one can contest.

Babanis Thursday, 02 September 2010 03:10 PM

I totally agree with MR on the issue. There is no need to have a limit to the terms one can serve as president of Sri Lanka. In the good old day where there was no president, and there was the prime minister, there were no such limits. As long as the president is elected by the people in a true democratic process, any one should be able to be the president any number of times.

Smart Aleck Friday, 03 September 2010 12:01 AM

What did the Supreme Court say about the Draft Bill? The Public would like to know!

Jake Friday, 03 September 2010 02:11 AM

But exactly how this solves our country's issues is beyond me? "There is nothing wrong in consulting members elected to the Parliament when making appointments." Alright. But what was wrong with the earlier system? Politicians having less influence to put their "favourites" into the public service? I still support MR for whatever good he does, but on this issue, I'm not on his side.

Geronimo Friday, 03 September 2010 03:12 AM

You may be right but nobody wants a T-Rex or a Velociraptor to have more that its share of terms, would they?????

kumar Friday, 03 September 2010 05:20 AM

council with the members of the people's representative is much more democratic

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Reforms fair

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