18 June 2019 09:41 am
The Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) yesterday said a future president would also enjoy the same power enjoyed by the incumbent President since only three powers had been pruned from the Executive.
PHU Leader Udaya Gammanpila expressed these views after visiting the Financial Crime Investigation Division (FCID) in Colombo to give a statement over the complaint they made against MP Rishad Bathiudeen.
He rejected the reports which said that there was no point in going for a presidential election utilising public funds, because the elect-president would have no power that he or she can exercise.
“Some news reports said a future president will not have a majority of powers. Therefore, those reports said there was no point in appointing a ceremonial president. This is completely false. The future president will also have the same power as the incumbent," he said.
The MP said only three powers of the incumbent president had been pruned by the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. "They are; appointing ministers on the recommendation of the prime minister, inability to dissolve parliament until four and half years had completed and inability to directly put forward a draft bill, which was rejected by parliament, to a referendum.
Only these three were changed," he said. Meanwhile, he said they have undergone difficulties thrice over the complaint made against MP Bathiudeen. “We are not certain whether the government is punishing the complainant or the accused as MP Rishad Bathideen remains unfazed while we are being hauled to various institutions," he said. (Lahiru Pothmulla)
Video by Damith