By Saman Indrajith

The JVP says that the new constitution to be introduced should abolish the executive presidency if democracy is to be strengthened.

JVP leader and Chief Opposition Whip Anura Kumara Dissanayake said so, expressing views after Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had presented the Interim Report of the Steering Committee before the Constitutional Assembly that met in the Main Chamber of the House of Parliament.

Dissanayake said the JVP had a different view over the constitution. The electoral system should be changed, he said. “It should be done by way of a new constitution and not by any other means,” the JVP leader said. “The other matter is that the executive presidency should also be changed.”

Dissanayake said the 1978 constitution had been designed to concentrate all powers in the executive presidency. “Nineteen amendments have been introduced to the constitution since then. Except in respect of two, namely the 17th amendment and the 19th amendment, all other 17 amendments were made by the governments out of expediency.

He said the sovereignty of the people, national defence and the people’s rights should be guaranteed by the constitution. He added that the racism should not be tolerated.

Courtesy:The Island