Jathika Hela Urumaya General Secretary Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka stated that the proposals by the JHU were accepted in finalizing the draft bill of the 19th Amendment.

Speaking at a press conference today, Ranawaka said that the JHU opposed the earlier draft bill submitted to the cabinet last Wednesday based on two major reasons. The earlier draft stated that the Prime Minister is the Head of Government. It also stated that the president should lead the executive according to the Prime Minister’s instructions. JHU opposed both these measures, Ranawaka said.

According to the final draft, both the Head of State and the Head of Government will be the President. Furthermore, the provisions giving Prime Minister the control over the president were removed, the minister said.

Ranawaka added that the presidency has been removed of its arbitrary powers. Total abolition of the executive presidency has not taken place. Therefore, the argument that national security is threatened by the removal of executive presidency is baseless, he said.

JHU has been continuously supporting the retention of executive presidency after removing its arbitrary powers. This was the main point in the proposed constitutional changes put forward by Pivithuru Hetak Organization led by JHU Chairman Athuraliye Rathana Thera. However, certain partners in the government had been promoting the total abolition of executive presidency.