Lankan parties discuss dissolution of parliament
Posted on November 18th, 2019
Courtesy NewsIn.Asia
Colombo, November 18 (AIR): As Gotabaya Rajapaksa was sworn in as Sri Lankan President on Monday, discussions on dissolving Parliament and holding fresh elections have begun.
The Leader of the opposition and Gotabaya’s elder brother Mahinda Rajapaksa has said that with Gotabaya’s victory in the Presidential election, it is best to hold a parliamentary election as soon as possible.
The former President said that work cannot commence as the President is from one party while the cabinet, including the Prime Minister, is from another.
He said that the mandate of the people should be respected.
Sources in the Gotabaya’s Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) said they are having discussions with United National Party (UNP) to reach a consensus on dissolving the House.
As per the constitution, parliament cannot be dissolved till February next year unless the House passes a resolution to this effect with two-thirds majority.
Meanwhile, a meeting of UNP parliamentary group under Prime Minister Ranil Wickremsinghe failed to arrive at a decision on this issue in its meeting held today.
There were reports of heated exchanges between MPs loyal to him and to Sajith Premadasa, who lost the Presidential Election held on November 16.
Earlier, President Gotabaya Rajapakasa said that he will follow a neutral foreign policy and stay out of any conflict with world powers.
Gotabaya was sworn in as seventh President of Sri Lanka at a ceremony in Anuradhapura this morning. Speaking after the ceremony, the new President said he knew that the response to his request to the Tamil and Muslim community to join in his victory was less than expected.
However, as the new President, he had invited all to work together with him for the future prosperity of the country as true Sri Lankans. He also promised a technocratic and meritocratic system with no place for corruption.
(The featured image at the top shows Gotabaya Rajapaksa being sworn in in Anuradhapura)
November 18th, 2019 at 8:27 pm
There are at least 3 scenarios for the path forward:
a. Ranil may continue to stand and fight for another 3 months in a vain attempt to deliver on the promises he made to his foreign paymasters on deals such as the MCC and the ECTA, and the Nation will languish longer in the doldrums.
b. Ranil may decide to cut bait and run with his Cabinet, leaving Gota to appoint ALL members of the Cabinet excepting the PM, and appeal to the Supreme Court for a decision on whether he as a NEW PRESIDENT with a NEW MANDATE from the VOTERS has the right to appoint a NEW PM.
c. Ranil may decide to engineer a 2/3 majority vote, of course with the help of a willing opposition, to dissolve the Parliament, and go for an early General Election! This is the MOST DECENT THING TO DO, but I don’t think he will take this route because there is NO ADVANTAGE in it for him or the UNP, except in public perception for not being a National Roadblock to the very end!
November 18th, 2019 at 8:44 pm
With the Machiavellian Chief Thief Ranil Ali Baba Wikunanasinghe eading it, NOTHING the UNP says is definite!
Let us wait and see what emerges from the MUCK!
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Ruling party parliamentarians agree to dissolve Sri Lanka parliament
Mon, Nov 18, 2019, 09:30 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Nov 18, Colombo: The ruling United National Party (UNP)’s parliamentary group at its meeting today with the party leader, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, has agreed on a proposal to dissolve Parliament, party sources said.
Following the victory of the opposition candidate, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa at the 2019 presidential elections, all members of parliament of Sri Lanka’s ruling party met with its leader Ranil Wickremesinghe this afternoon at the parliamentary complex to decide on the next step for the government.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Minister Vajira Abeywardena said the party will respect the people’s mandate.
“We, as a party, respect the opinion of the people. Respecting the people’s mandate, according to the 19th Amendment, the government should extend its fullest cooperation to convene Parliament and hold a parliamentary election immediately. The people will have the opportunity to elect a parliament by respecting the people’s mandate.”
Speaking to media State Minister Ranjan Ramanayake said during today’s discussion, the Prime Minister has said that a decision will be reached after discussions with the Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa and the President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. “We would like to go to for a general election,” he added.
According to the Constitution, Sri Lanka’s parliament can be dissolved after four and half years of its five-year term, which will end on August 2020. Accordingly parliament can be dissolved in February 2020. However, to dissolve before that a two-third majority of parliament is needed.
According to the Constitution, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe can stay in his position until the term of the Parliament ends, regardless of the election of a new president.