United National Party Media Spokeperson Akila Viraj Kariyawasam refuted the allegation that the UNP was carrying out a ‘Constitutional Coup’ in the attempts to pass the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Kariyawasam said that he cannot see any obstacle to the 19th Amendment since President Maithripala Sirisena, who is also the Chairman of the SLFP, also supports it.

However, Jathika Hela Urumaya General Secretary Patali Champika Ranawaka recently told that the version of the 19th Amendment in the Gazette did not get the Cabinet approval. Furthermore, the Supreme Court was given a different version, he said. Cabinet approval was actually granted for another version, Ranawaka stressed.

Ranawaka also argued that the attempt by the UNP was to introduce an amendment which could not get a mandate in the parliament. The UNP, which cannot come to power through an election, is attempting to create a constitutional crisis to grab power, he alleged.

However, Kariyawasam said that the UNP is not hesitant to go for an election if the 19th Amendment does not get the two thirds majority in parliament.