By Shamindra Ferdinando

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa will hear representations from several politicians representing the Opposition as well as the government today (April 6) as regards their objections to the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.

Authoritative sources told The Island that they would request Speaker Rajapaksa to reject the 19th Amendment in its present form.

Asked whether a new alliance was in the making against ongoing efforts spearheaded by the UNP to enact the 19th Amendment, sources said that a section of SLFP and the JHU had agreed to work in unison to thwart the UNP project.

The National Freedom Front (NFF), the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) and the Democratic Left Front (DLF), too, have thrown their weight behind those opposing it.

Sources asserted that the delegation of parliamentarians for today’s meeting with Speaker was most likely to include General Secretary of the JHU and Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka.Amidst political turmoil, President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday afternoon left for Islamabad for an official visit.

Government sources said that much to the dismay of the UNP the JHU had received the support of many of those political outfits and civil society organizations which backed Maithripala Sirisena’s candidature at the Jan.8 presidential election.

Sources acknowledged that the UNP’s unilateral stand had isolated the party at a time the leadership was trying to garner support for constitutional reforms.

A senior SLFPer said that the 19th Amendment in its present form was meant to clip President Maithripala Sirisena’s wings ahead of forthcoming parliamentary election. It was nothing but a constitutional coup for Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe to take over authoritarian powers, the official said.

Responding to a query, the official said that the JHU had assured that it wouldn’t under any circumstances change its principle stand on the executive presidency that it should be retained minus its dictatorial powers.

Appearing on a live political programme on Sirasa on Saturday night, Minister Ranawaka vowed to derail Premier Wickremesinghe’s plans. Minister Ranawaka assured that they had the wherewithal to halt the UNP’s project and bring in required amendments to the Constitution which would meet the genuine aspirations of the masses. Minister Ranawaka said that Wickremesinghe couldn’t expect to assume those executive powers considered dictatorial in the hands of the president.

Courtesy:The Island