Sri Lanka People's Front party presidential election candidate and former wartime defence chief Gotabaya Rajapaksa speaks during the final election campaign rally in Homagama, Sri Lanka November 13, 2019. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte
Colombo [Sri Lanka], May 11 (ANI): Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Wednesday announced that he is ready to abolish the executive presidency after discussing the issue with the Opposition regarding the formation of the new government.
Gotabaya said he is ready to abolish the executive presidency once the country stabilises and will also appoint a new PM and cabinet this week, Sri Lanka’s Newswire reported. He also said that he will empower the parliament, bringing back the 19th amendment.
This development comes after a meeting was held between UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and President Rajapaksa. Sri Lanka’s parliamentary group of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) last month had come up with a private member’s bill to scrap the 20th amendment and remove the powers of the executive presidency.
Sri Lankan MP Harshana Rajakaruna had said a constitutional amendment will be brought in to scrap the powers of the President. Sri Lanka’s economic situation will worsen if political stability is not achieved, the country’s Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe warned on Wednesday as the island nation continued to witness large-scale violence.
Addressing a media briefing in Colombo, Weerasinghe said he has conveyed to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and other political leaders that he would step down from the post, if the current political crisis is not solved in the coming weeks.
The central bank chief said that it was challenging to revive an economy in a country where law and order were not maintained. Sri Lanka Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned on Monday as violence erupted in the country. A number of violent incidents have taken place in the country after pro-government groups clashed with anti-government protesters on Monday, leaving eight people dead and over 200 others injured.
Sri Lanka has been suffering from the worst economic crisis in the country’s history. The economic situation was caused by shortages of foreign currency as tourist flows dried up during the COVID-19 pandemic, preventing the country from purchasing enough fuel.
New PM to be Appointed
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said on Wednesday that he will appoint a new prime minister within this week. He said in a televised speech that a person who has the trust of the majority of parliamentarians and the people will be selected as the prime minister. Rajapaksa said a new constitutional amendment that would empower the provisions of the 19th amendment will be brought in. The 19th amendment, passed in 2015, curbed the power of the president. It was replaced by the 20th amendment in 2020 which enhanced the president’s powers.
The president added that the new prime minister and the cabinet could present a plan to stabilize the country. “Some people have asked for the abolition of the executive presidency. I will also make room for that after discussing (it) with all stakeholders. The country is facing a serious crisis and I urge your support to keep the state machinery going,” said Rajapaksa.
The president also said that action will be taken against those who carried out the violence that left nine dead and about 300 injured. On Monday, violent incidents were reported after pro-government groups clashed with anti-government protesters. A nationwide curfew was then imposed until Wednesday and the military was deployed to maintain law and order. The curfew will be lifted Thursday morning and re-imposed at 2 p.m. local time on the same day until Friday morning. (ANI/Xinhua)
