The executive presidency is the cause of the present authoritarian rule by Mahinda Rajapaksa and his government. The new alliance, United National Alliance (UNA), which was officially formed under the leadership of the United National Party yesterday, would work to abolish it, the leader of the new alliance Ranil Wickremesinghe said.

At present, 13 parties with the identical ideology had joined to form the alliance and others, including the JVP, have been invited to join it in a bid to abolish the executive presidency and re-establish democracy with a corruption free government, he said.

The party leaders of the UNA signed the agreement yesterday at an auspicious time at the Parliamentary Complex. Opposition and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Leader of the Democratic People’s Front MP Mano Ganeshan, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Leader MP Rauff Hakeem, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (Mahajana Wing) leader MP Mangala Samaraweera and the leaders of Nawa Sinhala Urumaya, National Development Front, Democratic United National Front, Ruhunu Janatha Party, Jana Vimukthi Sahayogitha Peramuna, United People’s Front and National Intellectual Board, signed the agreement for the new alliance. UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe heads the UNA. Mano Ganeshan, Rauff Hakeem and Mangala Samaraweera are the co-chairmen.

Addressing the gathering after signing the agreement, Wickremesinghe said that this broad alliance was formed to end the family administration of the Rajapaksas and to find a political solution to regain permanent peace in the country. It would lead the way in creating an environment for all, Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim and other ethnic groups in Sri Lanka, to live free from fear.

"The executive presidency was introduced by the UNP. I also voted for it at that time. It is a good tool for development and the UNP made use of it for that purpose. But this government is using the executive presidency as a tool to suppress those who are against the government, even violating the Constitution of the country," Wickremesinghe said.

The Opposition leader said that President Rajapaksa too agreed to abolish the executive presidency. According to Section 2.2 of the APRC report compiled by Minister Prof. Tissa Vitharana and approved by President Rajapaksa, "the executive powers of the centre shall be exercised through the President who shall act on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet of Ministers. The Prime Minister shall be directly elected by the people at an election held simultaneously with the General election."

"We formed the new alliance to do it," Wickremesinghe said, adding that there was an immediate need to implement the 17th Amendment to the Constitution and establish independent commissions such as Police, Elections and the Constitutional Council. The government is neglecting all this purposely and the new alliance will work to establish them, he said.

Wickremesinghe ended his speech saying ‘Api Okkoma Rajawaru’ (We all are Kings).

Addressing the gathering SLFP – M leader Mangala Samaraweera said "today is a

historic day as we have signed an agreement forming a new alliance to end the dictatorship of Mahinda Rajapaksa. Samaraweera invited all political parties, civil organisations, students, farmers and professionals who wish to end a corrupt administration to join them.

"Alliances are not new in the political history of Sri Lanka. In 1956, the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna, an alliance led by the late Prime Minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, won the election. Then, the Peoples’ Alliance led by former President Chandrika Kumaratunga ended the 17 year long UNP regime. But, this alliance is led by the UNP which bagged the highest votes contesting as a single party. This is the difference in this alliance. I will end my speech by telling President Rajapaksa, Yes, We are ready now Mr. Rajapaksa," Samaraweera said.

the Democratic People’s Front leader Mano Ganeshan, who earlier threatened to quit the alliance if Sarath Fonseka was made the Presidential candidate of the UNA, said they were happy that terrorism and separatism had been eradicated from the country by defeating the LTTE. But the credit should be divided among all leaders who were in power.

He said that the government run media was spreading false reports about his party. "But, the DPF members had obtained 196,000 preferential votes while the Thondaman-led Ceylon Workers Congress candidates bagged 126,000 preferential votes. Next time, the DPF will show the party’s power under the UNA in the entire Northern and Eastern Provinces."

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader Rauff Hakeem said that the JVP had been trapped in alliances several times in the recent past. But all governments had broken their promises. The UNA was the only alliance which could help them to realise their hopes.

"Under the powerful executive powers of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s government, I was expelled. But I will show my power by contesting and winning," Hakeem said.

UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya and General Secretary Tissa Attanayake also addressed the gathering. UNP MPs, Provincial Council members and local government members attended the ceremony.