Joint Opposition (JO) Parliamentary Group Leader and UPFA MP Dinesh Gunawardena said yesterday that proposed new Constitution should be passed by a two-thirds majority in Parliament and also has to be approved by the people at a referendum.
Addressing the Joint Opposition (JO) media briefing in Colombo yesterday, MP Gunawardene said there is an attempt to pass the new Constitution without a public referendum. UNP MP Dr. Jayampathi Wickramarathne has also stated recently a national Referendum on the
proposed new constitution is not an essential and the Parliament can adopt it with a two thirds majority vote. We vehemently condemn his statement. He acts like a dictator demeaning the democratic rights of the people.
The government should disclose the proposals that it has gathered to be considered for the new Constitution. In the democratic world, Constitution making is a “process” where “the participation of the public in the drafting of the constitution is a crucial component of
the process. It is an accepted democratic practice to have the process of drafting a constitution as an open, people based process and the whole process would impact on every aspect of public and individual life for many generations to come, and that is why the public referendum is an essential,” he said.
JO Member Prof. G.L Peiris said the Government has indicated that they intend signing ETCA with India soon. Neither the Parliament, nor the general public have been officially informed about the contents of this proposed agreement yet.The arrogant attitude the Government has
taken in this matter may end up ruining our chances of forging a mutually beneficial trade partnership with our neighbour. The agreement cannot be reversed after it was signed and views of trade chambers, professional associations and the general public should be seek before making any decision to enter into this agreement.
JO member and UPFA MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara that people living in 18 districts were suffering without water to drink and the government had not taken steps to help them. The government waits until these people committed suicide without water. The shortage of water is directly affect to the livlihoods of the people as well. People undergo a lot of hardships without drinking water. The government has not taken any action to provide drinking water to the affected, the amount provided was not sufficient. How would the government expect those people to survive?
A company, which is linked to Arjun Aloysius, son-in-law of ex-Central Bank Governor, Arjuna Mahendran has cheated the billions of rupees through the treasury bond scam. These transactions are doubtful and this is an offense under the Money Laundering.
Therefore it should be probed under the Money Laundering Act. It is revealed the parts of alleged funds has flown to the UNP and the there is an involvement of Prime Minister in this deal which has been openly accepted by Arjuna Mahendran. If the government received such a large amount of money, it should not have placed VAT burden on innocent people to earn state revenue.
JO member and former MP A. H. M. Azwer was also present.
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