PM’s resignation doubtful

By Sandun A Jayasekera 

General Secretary of the SLFP and former Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara expressed doubts about the proposed statement to be made by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday before his resignation as there was a move to stage a protest by a few former SLPP Pradeshiya Sabha members before the Presidential Secretariat demanding the premier not to resign.  

‘I have information that Prime Minister Rajapaksa had summoned a few selected number of former PS members to Temple Trees and told them to stage a protest. If this happens today, the modus operandi is to say that ‘How I can resign, (sic) when people ask me not to do so?’.  
Commenting on the talks between the SLFP led 11 party alliance and the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, Jayasekara said the talks were successful and held in a positive atmosphere.  
“Both parties agreed that the power of the executive President has to be curtailed through constitutional amendments and Parliamentary and Prime Minister’s power be further enhanced. President must be prevented from changing the composition of members of Parliament to strengthen his or ruling party’s power by unethical means,” Jayasekara noted. 
 
Both parties also agreed to retain the power of the executive President to dissolve or suspend a Provincial Council if and when the particular council acts in detriment to the interests of the national security in violation of the Constitution. The best example to this is the warning by then Chief Minister Vardharaja Perumal of the North- Eastern Provincial Council in 1990 to make a unilateral declaration of independence of the North – East .   There was also a consensus that the electoral system has to be amended to meet these constitutional requirements, Jayasekara added.