President promises constitutional reforms

*Obliged to give franchise to North, East people

*Individual demonised, now in bosom of Opposition

*No more pistol gangs

*Assures violence free poll

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said on Wednesday he personally believed that the Executive President should be responsible to Parliament and that his Government would think of constitutional reforms during his next presidency.

Speaking to media heads and editors at Temple Trees, the President also said abolishing the Executive Presidency is a task which only he alone could accomplish since it is he who has the genuine desire to do so.

In response to a question that the JVP had deemed holding another Presidential election illegal, President Rajapaksa said the party could always seek a remedy before Courts if that was the case.

The President noted that the post Independent Sri Lanka saw many short lived governments which was a hindrance to progress and stability.

The Executive Presidency remedied this situation ensuring a degree of stability. He however cautioned against rushing into change saying reforms should be carefully introduced so that this stability would be preserved.

Besides he wished to give an opportunity to the people of the North and East a chance to elect their leader after being denied their franchise at the Presidential election in 2005. This is why he decided to hold the election two years ahead of the expiry of his tenure.

He said he felt it was his ethical responsibility to let all people including those in the North and East be given an opportunity to exercise their choice through the ballot. The President noted that the Opposition has taken to its bosom an individual whom it once accused of violence and misdemeanours and now hailing him as a protector of democracy.

This was like the Kabaragoya being turned to a Thalagoya to suit one’s palate. He said political stability is a sine qua non if the country is to achieve progress and prosperity and that politicians should not allow themselves to the manipulated by external forces or succumb to the lure of money.

The President also assured of a violent free election and said he would ensure that no pistol gangs roam the country.

“My main objective in the next term is lasting peace and expedited development the foundation for which has already been laid,” he said.

The President also said that even in the midst of a world economic crisis they were able to clear the economy in a way that cushioned its impact on the people. This is due to the success and practical approach spelt out in the Mahinda Chinthana.

The people should therefore be given an opportunity to endorse the maturity shown by the President in eradicating terrorism by winning the war and dealing with the economic crisis. What is left to do now is to take forward the development war, and building a righteous society by the elimination of waste and corruption. This is the opportune time to obtain the mandate of the people.