President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday that he is unable to change the executive presidency on his own. He said that constitutions are amended by the Parliament and therefore the process should happen through the parliament.

He made these observations at the meeting on the occasion of launching the construction of the Northern Highway.

Rajapaksa said that even though the demands to change the executive presidency is directed at him, it should be done through the parliament. Members of Parliament should inquire the opinion of the people and then discuss on changes, if any, to be done.

The president also stated that the Parliamentary Select Committee has been appointed to look into these matters. If the select committee decides the executive presidency should be changed than he won't be able to do anything about it, Rajapaksa added.

Rajapaksa also said that some of his predecessors had abused the power of executive presidency. He reminded that the Former President Ranasinghe Premadasa had ordered the surrender of more than 600 policemen to the LTTE and later supplied them with weapons and money. It was his executive powers which helped President Premadasa to do these with impunity, Rajapaksa added.