Presiding over the Central Working Committee meeting at a seminar of SLFP branch organizations of Moratuwa in the morning session of the 3rd August (Friday) at the premises of De Soysa Stadium, Moratuwa, Prof. G. L. Peiris, Chief SLFP organizer-Moratuwa and Minister of Constitutional Affairs and Industrial Development, Deputy Minister of Finance said, "We will win the referendum. There is no doubt about our victory" He cautioned the gathering, "Don’t believe private channel propaganda and rumours, which are rampant these days. I will not desert Moratuwa people. But serve in consonance to blossom the welfare of you all.

The seminar was organized to discuss matters and instil an awareness with regard to the political stance of the People’s Alliance on the Referendum to be held on the 21st of this month and was attended by M/s A. H. M. Fowzie, Minister of Highways, Bandula Gunawardena, Colombo District M.P., Ananda Kusumsiri, Mayor, Moratuwa Municipality, Municipal Councillors, Anusha Gunasekera, Attorney-at-Law, Milton de Mel and other members of the organization along with a representative group.

Prof. G. L. Peiris expressed his sentiments that, he had a 17 year-long academic career, when he functioned as a lecturer in the University, Dean of the Law Faculty and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Colombo, before he entered political arena and accepted responsibility as the chief SLFP organizer of Moratuwa as well as a "National List" Minister in 1994. Later, he was motivated to bear more responsibility as an elected member of Parliament and consequently entered the Parliament with the largest majority in the Colombo District.

He further said, "It gives me great pleasure as a teacher, to see that many of my students are today, legal luminaries and experts covering various stratas of the society. I meet some of them, whereever I go, and we cherish past experiences with delight and concern. Mr. Bandula Gunawardena would agree with me as he and I have been both teachers. People of Moratuwa are mainly interested in the education of their children and identifying this priority, a number of computer training classes — English language training courses and educational facilities like granting of uniforms to students, provision of scholarships to the needy, have already been commissioned in the area, where common welfare facilities e.g. network of roads, water supply drainage and electricity, passenger shelter sheds, sanitary activities and donations to low-income groups and spectacles have been provided under the auspices of Prof. G. L. Peiris Foundation. Your welfare is at my heart. I am grateful to you and I will always be with the Moratuwa community". "I call upon and request all of you to cast your vote in favour of the forthcoming referendum as you did in the past two general elections and thereby muster unstinted support and dedication for a new constitution."

A. H. M. Fowzie, Minister of Highways, addressing the seminar said, "Prof. G. L. Peiris is my Cabinet coleague, erudite and intelligent, who played a prominent role in finance, governmental affairs, development effort and in particular with regard to the constitution. We value his efforts, the imitative and vast knowledge covering many a spectrum. Moratuwa people are very fortunate to have his leadership, as he is an outstanding person." He added that referendum is a legal and democratic step forward, taken by the President, distinctly in terms of legal provisions enshrined in the present constitution. Nobody can question its validity. It is by no means dictatorial unlike the previous referenda which uprooted the very basic democratic principles in our society. There is no question of division of the country, but a genuine effort to usher in "one Sri Lanka", which is the most indispensable for social-economic and cultural development of all ethnic groups. He further added, "JVP leadership has pronounced that they are called upon to marry a bride whom they are yet to see the colour". The minister ironically and fittingly remarked, "first you must say and declare whether you like to marry, as symbolical with the referendum. This principle should be first established. Then we will show you the bride, with the concensus of all others. There is a pretty wife awaiting your "yes" or "no". We do not concede in showing the bride first and provide you with refreshment and entertainment and expect a negative answer and at the end fall into remorse and embarrassment and also spoil the chances of our pretty wife".

He invited all to vote for the Referendum and mandate the president to proceed ahead with a new constitution and rebuild Sri Lanka, as one single unitary state, thus abrogating the prevalent draconian and repugnant constitution, which has generated horrible racial and ethnic issues and impeded total development efforts.

Bandula Gunawardene, M.P. Colombo District said that the referendum should be won by P.A. as it clearly stands for a democratic process. The executive presidency to the utter dismay of masses of this country, is a direct concentration of total authority and power-legislative, executive and judicial, in one solitary head. "No wonder it is most treacherous and dangerous". He added, "we all canvassed vehemently against such a fascist constitution poised without the will of the nation. The referendum on the 21st August would be a real eye-opener for reactionary elements including the main opposition party, which directly and indirectly anticipate to prolong the executive presidency. Business magnates combined with the affluent and elite want to exploit this land un-interruptedly. The common man has fallen a prey in the hands of a few dictators in the political, social and economic spheres. People’s real mandate is not represented in parliament as a result of the present constitution, which is indeed a farce perpetrated on the masses of this country", Mr. Gunawardene appealed all members present to organize the grass-root levels to ensure voting in favour of the referendum as they courageously did in the past elections and guaranteed victory throughout. In doing so they will evolve a golden era for a fresh democratic and acceptable constitution instead of the present irrational constitution.

Ananda Kusumsiri, Mayor of Moratuwa, Municipal Councillors Anusha Gunasekera, Attorney-at-Law and Mr. Milton de Mel along with a few others addressed the seminar and unanimously voiced that Moratuwa community in entirety would vote in favour of the referendum on August 21 and pave the way to rebuild Sri Lanka in the prudent lines indicated by the President the most amiable and vibrant leader of Asia.