JO pledges conditional support for 20-A

by Maheesha Mudugamuwa-April 17, 2018, 11:42 pm 

The Joint Opposition (JO) yesterday pledged conditional support for the 20th Amendment to be moved by the JVP to abolish the executive presidency.

Addressing the JO’s Economic Research Council (ERC) weekly media briefing at Punchi Borella MP Bandula Gunawardane said that if JVP included a clause to the effect that Parliament would be dissolved immediately after the passage of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, the JO would vote for the proposed amendments.

The government had lost its two-thirds majority in parliament as a result of the no-confidence motion moved by the JO against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremsinghe and, therefore, it was necessary for anyone to seek the JO’s support to amend the Constitution, Gunawardena added.

"There is no proper economic plan. Amending the executive presidency will not be a solution to this economic crisis. The country needs a proper government to manage the economy and therefore it is necessary to hold an early general election."

Highlighting the fuel price issue, former cabinet Minister Gunawardena said the country had been able to save about USD six billion within the last three years due to low petroleum prices in the global market. Prior to 2014, the oil imports had cost USD 5 billion but in 2015 it had dropped to USD 2,700 million. In 2017, it had been about USD 3,428 million, Gunawardena said.

Predicting that the government would increase the fuel prices on May 1, MP Gunawardene said the price increase would affect every commodity and every service.