Radical reforms through new Constitution

Nadira Gunatilleke

The Government will change the existing Constitution by introducing radical reforms and introduce a new electoral system when it obtains a two-thirds majority at the April 8 General Election, Constitutional Reforms and National Integration Minister D.E.W. Gunasekara said. “It is the Opposition that prevented this on three occasions,” he said.

Addressing the weekly UPFA press briefing at the Mahaweli Centre yesterday, Minister Gunasekara said their Governments were always ready to change the Constitution but the UNP did not extend its support in the past.

The 17 th Amendment issue came to the surface during former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga’s tenure in 2005 and not during the time of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

“The Government does not need 150 seats in Parliament. One hundred and forty nine seats will do.

The 150th seat can be obtained in due course,” he said.

According to Minister Gunasekara, international forces accused the Government stating that the mandate obtained by the President is illegitimate, the country violated human rights, there was no good governance and criticized our foreign policy.

All conspiracies failed because the Sri Lankan Government had the support of the majority of countries.

These foreign elements, INGOs and NGOs have started to sling mud at the Government now, he said.

It is all about sovereignty, independence and the national dignity of Sri Lanka. Therefore the people should determine to defeat the conspiracy launched by foreign elements against the country.

“The people of Sri Lanka will answer them by giving a two-thirds majority to the Government at the upcoming General Election. It will be the best answer that can be given to them,” he said.