The Executive Director of the Institute of Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES) Manjula Gajanayake suggests that laws should be introduced to ensure that the ruling party fullfill the electoral promises given in their manifesto.
He said it was a known fact that political parties in Sri Lanka forget their pre election promises and pledges on being elected to office.
A manifesto is the written statement of the beliefs, aims and policies of a political party (or any organisation) which is presented to the public for their endorsement Gajanayake said. He said that most people decided for whom to vote after listening to it’s contents being reinstated on campaign platforms.
“In addition the people would decide for themselves if the party of their choice could be trusted to fullfill it’s promise” he said.
Gajanayake said that according to the present Constitution the President may by proclamation, summon, prorogue and dissolve Parliament. Provided that the President shall not dissolve Parliament until the expiration of a period of not less than four years and six months from the date appointed for its first meeting, unless Parliament requests the President to do so by a resolution passed by not less than two-thirds of the whole number of Members (including those not present), voting in its favour”.
Reiterating that any Government which fails to act in keeping with the aims and policies stated in their manifesto forfeits the mandate given to them by the people, and he said that the 145 SLPP MPs in the present Parliament have ethically lost the people’s mandate as it’s manifesto ‘The Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour’ is defunct now.