Jathika Hela Urumaya Parliamentarian Athuraliye Rathana Thera has said that if the government goes to a presidential election, without seriously considering the proposed 19th Constitutional Amendment, he will start a battle against the government to bring it down on its knees.

Speaking to a journalist in Colombo on Sunday, he has said that this amendment which aims to limit the powers of the executive presidency after extensive discussions. The proposals were released at a time when the President has said that there will be a presidential election because such a critical time is ideal to attract attention to the proposal, Rathana Thera has said.

Rathana Thera has revealed that the president had privately confided that he will go for an election during the Uva election campaign. Rathana Thera says that if the president carries out this plan without amending the constitution, he will be compelled to leave the government.

However, in such an event, the next step is still unclear and he has to ponder deeply before taking on a course of action, Rathana Thera has declared.

He also has said that he has already spoken to about 40 SLFP parliamentarians and other leaders in the government. The leftist party leaders in the UPFA, including Ministers Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Dew Gunasekera and Prof. Tissa Vitharana have extended their support, Rathana Thera also revealed.

Rathana Thera has stated that the government followed the Mahinda Chinthana principles for about five years but had detoured especially during the last three years. It took several decisions totally ignoring the protests of smaller parties such as the JHU in the government, Rathana Thera has further argued