The Executive Presidency, introduced J. R. Jayewardene is most unsuitable for Sri Lanka. JRJ introduced the system taking advantage of the five-sixth majority he had in the Parliament in 1977, observed Venerable Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera, Chief incumbent of Sri Naga Vihare, Kotte.

Sobitha Thera was addressing a meeting, organized by the Kandy branch of the National campaign for a Just society. The venue was the Central Province Hindu Association Centre, Kandy.

J. R. Jayewardene founded the Executive Presidential system but those before him refused to introduce it saying it was not suitable for Sri Lanka, he said.

Jayawardene passed the Constitution in the Parliament with his majority comprising a large number of inexperienced members in the House, the Nayaka Thero said.

Many of the senior and experienced politicians were not in the 1977 Parliament when the Constitution was passed in 1978.

Even the Mahinda Chinthana had pledged to change the system but it continues, he said.

However, this system should be done away with for the good of the country, the prelate added.

Former High Court Judge P. B. Warawewa said that J. R. Jayewardene pledged to create a Just Society (Dharmista Samajaya) utilizing the Executive Presidential system. But he failed.

Jayampathy Wickremaratne, PC said that the Parliamentary system was capable of developing Sri Lanka in a more positive manner.

A president of Sri Lanka is more empowered than the President of USA, Wickramaratne added.

Former Mayor of Kandy Attorney-at-Law Harindra Dunuwila, convener of the meeting, also addressed the gathering. UNP, MP Karu Jayasuriya, former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka and C. M. Hatheem were among those present.

By Cyril Wimalasurendre
Source: Island (Sri Lanka)