By Shamindra Ferdinando

Chief Opposition Whip Mangala Samaraweera yesterday said that there was no truth in reports that a group of PA MPs had met with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to discuss ways and means of introducing an Amendment to the Constitution to suspend powers of the Office of the President for three years.

Samaraweera stressed that the PA will not support the UNP-led United National Front (UNF) government’s bid to introduce amendments aimed at strengthening its position. The PA wants the abolition of the executive presidency as part of the proposed constitutional reforms, he said adding that they will also push for a range of other amendments including electoral and constitutional aimed at resolving the North-East problem. He ruled out the possibility of the PA co-operating with the government to introduce amendments which would be manipulated for its own advantage.

Proposed constitutional reforms should be comprehensive and encompass the entirety of national issues including devolution of powers and the abolition of the executive presidency, presidential aide Janadasa Peiris said last night adding that it was ridiculous to talk about introducing an amendment whereby the President would not be able to dissolve parliament for three years.

JVP parliamentary group leader Wimal Weerawansa yesterday said that they too oppose the bid to tinker with the constitution with a view to taking advantage. Addressing the press at Hotel Nippon yesterday, the MP stressed the need to abolish the executive presidency.

They expressed the belief that the government must take immediate steps to implement the much talked about 17th Amendment to the Constitution before seeking to introduce fresh amendments. MP John Seneviratne and Western Province Governor Alavi Moulana said that the government must establish the independent commissions to run the elections office, police, judiciary and public service. They stressed the need to have the four commissions as soon as possible.

Peiris said that President Kumaratunga has expressed her views on a range of issues last week. She assured the government that she has no intention of dissolving parliament, he said. Samaraweera accused the government of spreading false ‘stories’ with a view to taking political advantage.