Majority support Constitutional Amendments
A majority of the people support the Government’s proposed Constitutional Amendments. The declaration of the Presidency as a responsible designation was enunciated in the Mahinda Chintana policy. The people elected Mahinda Rajapaksa as the President to carry forward the policies declared in the Mahinda Chintana.
Addressing a media briefing in Colombo today, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said they had the public mandate. Sarath Fonseka called for a vote saying he was prepared to abolish the Executive Presidency. However, the people rejected him. He pointed out that they did not say that they did not promise to abolish the Executive Presidency. It was Sarath Fonseka who said so. But 60 percent rejected his call. The Minister said the Government enjoyed the majority in Parliament and so was public opinion.
At the last Presidential election, Mr. Rajapaksa contested by placing the “Mahinda Chintana – Extended Version” before the people with a pledge to build a new Sri Lanka. The President gave an assurance to transform the Presidency into a responsible designation. By now, the war has drawn to an end. What is now left was to launch mega development projects to make Sri Lanka “Asia’s Miracle”.
Work has already kicked off on these mega projects and they are now being successfully implemented. It is also mentioned in the “Mahinda Chintana – Extended Version” that the President would be careful in the execution of powers of the Executive Presidency. He utilized the power to unite the country. However, in the past Executive powers were used to postpone elections, overthrow Governments elected by vote, impede Judicial activities, ban parties and establish a murder culture within the country through the suppression of demonstrations. Agreements to betray the country were inked exercising the powers of the Executive Presidency. However, Mahinda Rajapaksa who was elected again to this high post placing the “Mahinda Chintana – Extended Version” before the people, received a mandate surpassing 60 percent.
