Minister and Housing Minister Sajith Premadasa yesterday said the national government was formed for two years and Ranil Wickremesighe’s position as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka will remain unchanged, irrespective of the result of the forthcoming general election.

“This is a historic combination. Our country needs it. Therefore, our development projects will not be limited to 100 days. Even after the next general election, Ranil Wickremesinghe will be the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, irrespective of who wins the election,” Premadasa said yesterday while assuming duties at his ministry.

Multiple spokespersons of the government and the opposition said Premadasa’s statement was in stark contrast to the present constitution of Sri Lanka. It also contradicts the election manifesto of President Maithripala Sirisena – where he pledges to dissolve Parliament on April 23 to seek a fresh mandate after the implementation of the 100 day programme.

“According to Article 43.(3) of the Sri Lankan constitution, the President shall appoint as Prime Minister the Member of Parliament who in his opinion is most likely to command the confidence of Parliament. That depends on the outcome of the general election. The President cannot appoint Wickremesinghe irrespective of the result of the next general election. The United National Party should go for the election and secure a clear mandate from the people, in a democratic framework,” a senior Parliamentarian of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party said.

“Ranil Wickemesinghe,” he said, “can become the Prime Minister again only if he secures a clear majority in the country’s legislature. You cannot have ‘fixed’ Prime Minister and then announce a general election. Then what is the point in holding a general election spending a colossal amount of public money? “ the Parliamentarian questioned, saying what Premadasa is suggesting is an autocracy