13 A: Current exercise futile says Prof. Peiris

The People’s Freedom Congress, yesterday (07), said that there was no point in requesting the Parliament to take a stand on the 13th Amendment (13A) to the Constitution.

Top Opposition spokesman Prof. G. L. Peiris said so, commenting on President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s decision to make a special statement in Parliament on 13A on Wednesday (09).

Alleging that the President’s intention was to pull the wool over the eyes of the people, the former External Affairs Minister urged President Wickremesinghe, who is also the leader of the UNP, to reach consensus with the government parliamentary group, regarding this matter, before taking it up with the Opposition. Prof. Peiris said that the Parliament couldn’t decide whether to implement or not a section of the Constitution.

The former minister dealt with the latest move at the regular media briefing, at the Nawala party office, on 13A presidential intervention in the judiciary and the developing crisis due to the failure on the part of the government to make available water required by Embilipitiya farmers. The National List parliamentarian dismissed the President’s Office call for all political parties and groups, represented in Parliament, to submit their proposals, regarding the 13th Amendment, by or before 15th August, as just another propaganda exercise.

Prof. Peiris challenged the government to unveil its proposals first. Commenting on the continuing farmers’ protests, demanding water, the Cabinet of Ministers seemed to be pulling in different directions as the situation further deteriorated.

The former minister condemned the President’s recent comments that he would only abide by decisions taken by Parliament. The academic said that the President’s issued that declaration regarding cases heard in respect of EPF, ETF and pension funds. (SF)