Lanka JVP to push for abolition of presidency

Sri Lanka's communist party JVP today said it would move the twentieth amendment to the Constitution seeking abolition of the all-powerful executive presidential system of governance.

"We will soon start talking to Tamil and Muslim minority parties to get their support," JVP senior member Vijitha Herath said.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) is to move a private member's bill in parliament to abolish the presidency. The primary intention of the 20th amendment is to abolish the Executive Presidency.

"We all know that there were pledges to abolish the presidency by all presidents who were elected. We believe it can be done," Herath said.

Some sections of the powerful Buddhist clergy and Sinhala majority nationalist political parties have expressed strong opposition to the move and accused the JVP of a conspiracy.

The National Bhikku Council, a religious-politico group, publicly vowed to oppose the move.

"We assure those who claim that 20A will undermine the country's unity and territorial integrity that it would not happen. The JVP is keen to ensure both status." Herath stressed.

He said they had preliminary talks with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa's new party. Rajapaksa's comment that he would support the move brought criticism from within his own ranks. Rajapaksa was elected twice as president.

In 2010, he adopted an amendment to the Constitution allowing him to contest any number of times to be president but the Sri Lankan government in 2015 through the nineteenth amendment to the Constitution restored the two-term limit. This means Rajapaksa cannot become the president again.

Herath said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's United National Party had adopted a policy to abolish the system in the past.

"We can get their support," Herath added.

The JVP's talks with minority parties to gain their support would be crucial as the move would want two-third support or 150 votes in the 225 member assembly.

It may be subjected to a national referendum as stipulated in the current Constitution adopted in 1978.

The main Tamil party Tamil National Alliance might support it provided it is moved along side constitutional amendments to grant political autonomy to the north and east regions without dividing the island.

A section of the Sinhala majority nationalist parties demand that the thirteenth amendment to the Constitution adopted in 1987 on India's prompt also needs to be abolished if the 20A is to be adopted.