Western Provincial Council Member Udaya Gammanpila stated that Maithripala Sirisena cannot abolish the executive presidency according to his policy statement.

Speaking at the “Balaya” political talk show on Hiru TV, he said that Maithripala Sirisena’s policy statement stresses that no powers subjected to a referendum shall be touched in reforming the constitution. However, since the executive president has been elected by the people by exercising their sovereign power, his powers cannot be altered without the people’s consent.

Furthermore, he added that the common candidate has promised different things to different people. He has promised to follow the proposals of the Movement for a Just Society of Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera and Pivithuru Hetak Organization of Athuraliye Rathana Thera. However, Sobitha Thera wanted to abolish the presidency while Rathana Thera wanted to amend it. Gammanpila asked how Sirisena could fulfill both promises.