By

Don Asoka Wijewardena

The United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) General Secretary Susil Premjayantha addressing the media yesterday in Colombo revealed that President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s election manifesto was being prepared to accommodate major constitutional amendments.

Minister Premjayantha said that the UPFA government had the backing of fourteen registered political parties, but the common candidate Maithripala Sirisena hardly had backing of recognized political parties. The UPFA election campaign would commence after December 10, he said.

The UPFA General Secretary said the statements made by the Sirisena group were contradictory. Though candidate Sririsena had announced that he would scrap the executive presidency within hundred days, Athuraliye Rathana Thera said the executive presidency would continue.

Minister Premajayantha said that many NGOs and rivals of the UPFA had been conspiring to oust President Mahinda Rajapaksa because he was not prepared to compromise the national interest.

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena said that many significant constitutional amendments were being incorporated into the UPFA election manifesto. Some major changes such as the abolition of the proportional representation would be among them.

Courtesy:The Island