Referendum on two extra years for Prez not even discussed says GL

Sajith asks SLPP not to talk nonsense

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris says that there hadn’t even been an internal discussion within the ruling coalition regarding the possibility of going for a referendum to extend the presidential or the parliamentary term by two years due to the government losing two years to the Covid-19 epidemic.

Prof. Peiris, who is also the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) said so in Kandy on Saturday (22) after having received blessings from Most Ven. Warakagoda Sri Gnanaratne thero, Mahanayake of the Asgiriya Chapter. The Foreign Minister was responding to media queries immediately after his meeting with the Mahanayake thero.

Prof. Peiris said that the government would try to achieve its targets as envisaged in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s policy statement within the remaining three years.

The media took up the issue in the wake of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at Siyambalanduwa, Moneragala and subsequently Samagi Jana Balavegaya National List MP Diana Gamage making reference in Parliament to a referendum on whether President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s term should be extended by two years.

Addressing a gathering at Siyambalanduwa on January 07, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that during a visit to Dalada Maligawa, a youth inquired from him why a referendum couldn’t be conducted to ascertain whether the electorate approved him extending his term by two years to compensate for the years lost due to Covid-19 epidemic.

Prof. Peiris said that the government didn’t have an intention whatsoever regarding a referendum.

SJB and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa told The Island that the talk of a referendum at this juncture was nothing but a bankrupt proposal. The talk of a referendum and two years lost to Covid-19 epidemic should be discussed against the backdrop of the postponement of Local Government polls scheduled for March this year, lawmaker Premadasa said.

The SJB leader said that the government owed an explanation over the postponement of LG polls to March next year. The Colombo District MP alleged that the government put off LG polls as it couldn’t face the people. Having ruined the Maha season by hasty decision to deprive farmers of both fertilizer and agro-chemicals, the government was now struggling in all fronts, the SJB leader said, urging the SLPP to stop talking nonsense.

MP Premadasa said that the government could clearly know what people really thought of the current dispensation if it conducted scheduled LG polls in March this year.

Prof. Peiris told journalists in Kandy the SLPP remained strong in Parliament though there were issues. Referring to continuing disagreements with SLPP constituents over a number of issues, including the Yugadanavi deal now challenged in the Supreme Court, Prof. Peiris stressed that they couldn’t absolve themselves of the responsibility for unpopular decisions.

The coalition is based on collective responsibility in respect of decisions taken by the government, Prof. Peiris said.

Prof. Peiris also explained the ongoing project to finalise constitutional proposals, including electoral reforms this year. The Parliament would intervene once the proposals prepared by an expert committee led by Romesh de Silva, PC, submitted the Draft Constitution.

The President’s Counsel leads a nine-member committee. The government couldn’t keep its promise to unveil the proposals last November when President Gotabaya Rajapaksa completed two years in office.