The Executive Presidency can be abolished only after the forthcoming Presidential Election, the government said yesterday.

Media Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa said at the Cabinet press briefing in Colombo, that despite demands for the presidential system to be scrapped, security considerations do not permit it to be done at this moment in time.

He said that in any event it was Parliament that can decide on repealing the office of President and not the incumbent.

Yapa said that the government has accepted in principle that the executive presidency needs to be abolished, but for that to be done, the proper procedure needs to be applied.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa was the only "Common Candidate" and will win the next Presidential Poll without any difficulty, he said.

The UNP has moved away from liberal policies and was trying to create an unruly situation. But it will not succeed because thousands of UNPers at grass roots level will cross over to the UPFA shortly and pledge their support to President Rajapaksa,Yapa claimed.

Mahinda Rajapaksa, he said was the most suited to hold the office of President, because he has delivered on most of his pledges.