Abolishing Executive Presidency not a priority for govt. right now

Colombo, June 1 (Daily Mirror) - The introduction of a new Constitution including the abolishing of the Executive Presidency is not a priority for the government at the moment though it was an election promise, a senior government source said yesterday.

The National People’s Power (NPP), in its election manifesto titled 'A thriving nation, a beautiful life', pledged to repeal the current constitution in place of a new one scrapping the Executive Presidency.

Meanwhile, Public Administration, Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister Chandana Abayaratne, in response to a query by the Daily Mirror, also confirmed that the government had given mind to the enactment of a new Constitution, but it was not a priority at the moment.

"It is one of our electoral promises. Yet, we cannot prioritize it at the moment, " he said.

The current Constitution was introduced in 1978. Since 1994, the successive governments pledged to introduce a new Constitution by abolishing the Executive Presidency. Yet, it never became a reality except amendments made here and there.

The Minister, however, said that the Parliamentary Select Committee chaired by him would submit final recommendations for the change of parliamentary and presidential electoral systems within a year.

Asked how the government intends to change the criteria, he said, "It all depends on the views of other parties and organizations. We, as the ruling party, have not put forward our own proposals. We remain open to the proposals from all others concerned and evolve recommendations. The whole process will be completed in a year, he said.