UPFA At The Pinnacle Of Power
President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Parliament
By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema and Nirmala Kannangara
The government seems to be reaching its target of 160 with regard to the number of legislators who would vote in favour of the 18th Amendment.
The government, as of Friday (3) enjoyed over 70% support within the legislature with 158 members of parliament to vote in favour of the 18th Amendment when it is taken up on Wednesday (8).
The ruling UPFA returned 144 members to parliament following last April’s General Elections. Numbers in the governing party has been on the increase for the past few months.
UNP Kandy District Parliamentarian Abdul Carder pledged support to the government a few months earlier. UNP MPs Prabha Ganeshan and P. Digambaram last month announced their decision to support the government.
The SLMC last week decided to support the government on the constitutional amendments. The eight SLMC legislators helped the government secure the required two-thirds majority.
However, several UNP MPs also pledged their support to the government last week with UNP Polonnaruwa District MP Earl Gunasekera, Badulla District MP Lakshman Seneviratne and Galle District MP Manusha Nanayakkara announcing their decision to vote in favour of the constitutional amendments in parliament this week.
The main opposition UNP would now have only 46 members to oppose the 18th Amendment.
The DNA which has six members in parliament has already announced its decision to oppose the constitutional amendments.
The TNA meanwhile, is yet to decide on its stance with regard to the 18th Amendment.
TNA MP Suresh Premachandran told The Sunday Leader that the party would make its final decision on Monday (6) when the parliamentary group meets. The TNA has 14 members in parliament.
What a great caption about UPFA. Yes they are at “the Pinnacle”. There is no other way to go; only “Down-Hill” is available. Once MR achieves his personal objective; the position of the party will descent to the bottom; unseen in the history of any political party of Sri Lanka. Infrastructure projects just won “Looks Good” award only. But the UPFA has failed to win the “Hearts and Minds” of people of Sri Lanka.
Hard Knox is nuts like this rag going bonkers!!!
[...] UPFA At The Pinnacle Of Power | The Sunday Leader [...]
This rag is one of the only places left to criticise the emerging dictatorship. Deshapriya you are sure going bonkers to believe other wise. Sad that most so called patriots are actually betrayers of the highest order. There will be a time when these days gone by will be looked upon with regret. When the political scoundrels wish they had not acted the way they have but it will be too late.
I too think it is bad idea if the constitutional amendments are all about permitting a person unlimited number of times contesting for the office of the President UNLESS appropriate checks and balances are established accompanying this change. This is because a sitting President has undue advantage – the abuse of Governemnt machinery for example -that gives her / him a head up during the election campaign. One thing that puzzeles me however is that – assuming most of our legislators are not not corrupt nor rotten to the core and their behaviour is not solely as a result of personal favours offerd by the ruling party – WHY are they behaving this way ? i.e supporting this amendmet ? For this reson, I will keep my fingures crossed.
United Para Free-donkeys Alliance at the Pinnacle of (power) ANXIETY