Minister of Irrigation and Water Resource Management Nimal Siripala de Silva yesterday said that even if a common candidate happens to win the next election, he will not be able to fulfil the main promise of abolishing the executive presidency.

Speaking at a press conference he said that the executive presidency cannot be abolished by one person, even if he is the executive president. It needs a 2/3 majority in the parliament. A common candidate with out such a majority cannot do anything to the constitution.

De Silva also stated that the powers of the executive presidency has reached all sections of the constitution and therefore, the curtailing or changing such powers will entail a big change in the constitution.

Several weeks back, the leader of the National Freedom Front Minister Wimal Weerawansa had also said that the constitution cannot be repaired and the best thing to do will be to introduce a new constitution with all the repairing work done.

Meanwhile, in yesterday's press conference Minister de Silva stated that a parliamentary select committee was appointed to look into the necessary constitutional changes but those parties who are now clamouring to abolish executive presidency did not care to take part in its activities.