By Shamindra Ferdinando

Having switched their allegiance to the Joint Opposition (JO), former Deputy Minister of Tourism Development and Christian Affairs Arundika Fernando and State Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Priyankara Jayaratne yesterday said that more SLFPers would desert the government this week.

They said a group of SLFP MPs would vote against the proposed 20 Amendment to the Constitution, aimed at postponing Provincial Council polls in Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and North Central Provinces scheduled for Dec 9 this year. Jayaratne gave up his portfolios on Dec. 30, 2016 whereas President Sirisena stripped Fernando of his subjects on Sept. 12. Addressing the media at a temple in Punchi Borella, Jayaratne and Fernando said that their colleagues would vote against the 20 Amendment to the Constitution if it was taken up in Parliament on Wednesday (20).

Following the defeat by Uva PC the draft of the 20 Amendment to the Constitution, the amendment needs two-thirds approval in Parliament.

Along with Jayaratne and Fernando, the JO comprises 55 MPs, including former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who now represents the Kurunegala District as an MP.

Of the 95 members elected and appointed on the UPFA National List at the last parliamentary polls in Aug. 2015, only 40 MPs still remain with President Sirisena.

In addition to Jayaratne and Fernando, Sanath Nishantha also elected from the Puttalam electoral District on the UPFA ticket switched allegiance to the JO several months ago.

MP Fernando said that President Sirisena had removed him before he voted against the proposed 20 Amendment in his capacity as a deputy minister. The MP said President Sirisena couldn’t deter SLFPers from joining the growing campaign against the government.

MP Gamini Lokuge said that Premier Wickremesinghe had put off Local Government polls by over two years and then tried to use parliament in another despicable operation to postpone PC polls. Now that operation had gone awry, Wickremesinghe would have to face PC polls later this year.

Fernando said he had explained the current situation to President Sirisena urging him to take meaningful measures to save the country from destructive policies pursued by the UNP.

MP Sanath Nishantha said that President Sirisena’s SLFP faced certain defeat at the forthcoming PC polls unless he reached an understanding with the JO. Nishantha urged President Sirisena to quit UNP-led government without further delay taking advantage of the crises caused by Premier Wickremesinghe’s party.

The JO flayed UNP MPs Ranjan Ramanayake and Kavinda Jayawardena for repeatedly making statements derogatory of the Maha Sangha over a section of the monks collecting funds from the public on behalf of former presidential secretary Lalith Weeratunga and ex- Director General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) Anusha Palpita jailed over transferring of Rs 600 mn in late Oct 2014 to provide sil redi.

MP Nishantha said that as a Catholic he apologised on behalf of the entire community for the disgraceful statements made by two Catholic members of parliament.

Courtesy:The Island