Opposition Leader, Mahinda Rajapaksa is in favour of abolishing the Executive Presidency through the proposed 20th Amendment to the Constitution, said Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) frontliner K.D Lalkantha. He said that Rajapaksa was agreeable to the idea.
“Nevertheless, he is unable to support the proposal due to certain political elements around him” Lalkantha said. “Rajapaksa is now trapped by these elements who are working towards taking the country to yet another Presidential election. He is a prisoner of his own political forces,” Lalkantha said.
Commenting on gaining the support of other political parties, Lalkantha said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe would opt to contest against former Defence Secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa who would be an easy competitor to defeat.
“Wickremesinghe believes contesting against Mahinda Rajapaksa in a parliamentary election would not be favourable to him after abolishing the Executive Presidency,” Lalkantha said, adding that therefore, Wickremesinghe appears to be reluctant to support the 20th Amendment to the Constitution. “It is easier for Wickremesinghe to demonise Gotabaya Rajapaksa and thereby gain the support of the minorities, human rights activists and civil society,” he said.
He said many political figures and parties are refraining from expressing their support to the proposed Amendment in favour of their personal agendas.
The JVP is expected to announce its final decision on the 20th Amendment proposed by them during the first week of May. The party leaders have said they would either table the Amendment in Parliament again requesting a vote, or scrap the proposal and unmask the political personalities and individuals who promised the public to abolish the Executive Presidency in its current form.