UNP National List Parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne said that executive presidency is not essentially required to counter terrorism and separatism, adding that it is an excuse from the government to perpetuate the system.

Speaking at “Balaya” political talk show on Hiru TV last night, Wickramaratne said that regional countries have controlled such movements even though they had parliamentary systems without an executive presidency.

India has separatist movements in a number of states. However, despite being a parliamentary democracy, these movements have been largely controlled by India, Wickramaratne added.

He also stated that the Maoist insurgency in Nepal was also ended. The powers of the King was also reduced, and finally monarchy was abolished in that country, Wickramaratne said. Meanwhile, separatism in Thailand has been brought under control, even though the country was under a parliamentary system.

Wickramaratne reminded that President Mahinda Rajapaksa gave the promise of abolishing the executive presidency in election manifestos in 2005 and 2010 but it still had not happened. It would be an irony if they do include the same promise in 2015 election manifesto, Wickramaratne stated.