Gota loyalists to discuss governance till general elections

• Parties to meet today at Wijerama Mawatha residence of opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa

By Kelum Bandara    

The leaders of political parties that rooted for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will meet this evening to discuss options for governing the country until a general election is conducted.  

Already, five Cabinet Ministers, viz. Kabir Hashim, Mangala Samaraweera, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Malik Samarawickrama and Harin Fernando, have resigned from their posts in the aftermath of the defeat at the presidential election. Besides, non-Cabinet Minister Ajith P. Perera also resigned thus triggering a political crisis. 

On the one hand, several ministers urged Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to step down thereby making way for President Rajapaksa to appoint a new premier. On the other, Mr. Wickremesinghe said he would meet with party leaders and Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to explore the possibility of dissolving Parliament for a snap general election. 
Against this backdrop, the leaders of parties that worked for the President’s victory will meet at the Wijerama Mawatha residence of opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa to discuss what should be done next. 

According to the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, the President can dissolve Parliament only by March next year. It can be dissolved at any time before only with the adoption of a resolution by Parliament with two-thirds. 

According to 19A, Prez can dissolve Parliament only by March next year