Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna Propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath said that the JVP could never be a hundred percent certain that Maithripala Sirisena will abolish executive presidency.

Speaking at the “Satana” political talk show on Sirasa TV last night, he mentioned that promises of abolishing the executive presidency has been given before but not kept. There is always the risk of a repeat of that scenario once again, he added.

Herath said that this is the reason for the JVP to formally keep out of endorsing Maithripala Sirisena officially. He added that a people’s movement should be created to apply pressure on Sirisena to deliver his promise when he is elected adding that he should give the promise not to the JVP or to any other party,  but to the people of Sri Lanka.

However, since the JVP will only be breaking the votes of the common opposition which has promised to abolish executive presidency, the party decided not to field a candidate in the election, he added.He also stressed the need of changing the present regime, led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. 

Herath said that the JVP has always been fighting to abolish the executive presidency throughout the presidential election history, even in 1988 when the party had been banned. It had tried different tactics and nothing worked. This is a new tactic being tried out by the JVP, he added.