JHU requests Govt. to implement constitutional amendments

National Organizer of Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe addressing the press conference yesterday.
Pic by Shehan Gunasekara

 

 

 

 

By Jayashika Padmasiri
The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) yesterday emphasised that the constitutional amendments should be made as promised by the present regime before going for a general election.
During a press conference held yesterday in Colombo, JHU stalwart Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe explained that establishing a national government in the country was needed to make the constitutional amendments.
“We are not concerned about the 100-day calendar. What matters to us is making the constitutional amendments and this program a success. Therefore establishing a national government with the support of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), United National Party (UNP), Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the other relevant parties is essential, because without that we cannot make the constitutional amendments that are needed in the country,” he said.
He asserted that the aim of forming a national government was not to protect criminals or safeguard crooks by providing them with security, while emphasising that the Government should only go for a general election after implementing the constitutional amendments.

JHU says Ranil cannot claim Maithripala’s mandate   The JathikaHelaUrumaya (JHU) yesterday opined that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe cannot claim the mandate people gave President Maithripala Sirisena at the 8 January poll. “The people did not vote for Ranil but for President Maithripala Sirisena. So it is wrong of him (Ranil) to use the President’s mandate in this manner as that is going to create displeasure and dismay concerning this Government in the hearts of the people,” JHU Western Provincial Councillor (WPC) Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe pointed out. Warnasinghe also expressed the JHU’s dismay at the PM threatening several media institutions recently. “The mandate people gave on 8 January to Maithripala Sirisena is for good governance, under which ‘good governance’ freedom of media is also included. Therefore, the Prime Minister has no right to violate this mandate and it is very wrong of him to do so,” opined the JHU member. Last week Premier Wickremesinghe said the United National Party (UNP) sought the support of the public at the presidential elections last month to make him Prime Minister and not only to make Maithripala Sirisena President.