VIDEO: UNP will oppose haphazard amendments to constitution: Tissa

Though the government claims the war is over, it has allocated over 240 million rupees more than last year for the Defence budget, said United National Party (UNP) General Secretary Tissa Attanayake this morning.

Funds for vital sectors like health, education and rehabilitation are a mere one tenth for this year’s budget where these are the sector that should receive the most, Mr. Attanayake said, addressing the media at the Opposition Leader’s office at Sri Marcus Fernando Mawatha in Colombo.

A budget reflects a government’s development plans and vision for the following year. This year’s budget presented by the government does not clearly explain these aspects. Hence the government should explain to the masses its development plans for the next six months, charged the UNP General Secretary.

The government is in a hurry to amend the constitution though that is not the priority of the people. What the government should be doing is follow the existing constitution properly. The government has still been unable to implement even the 17^th Amendment though the UNP has been willing to lend its support to do so, claimed Tissa Attanayake.

Even if the Cabinet approves the amendment of the constitution, the move has to get the approval of Parliament, Mr. Attanayake pointed out.

The J.R. Jayewardene constitution stipulated two six-year terms for one person to hold office as President not because of age or other considerations. It was to prevent a dictatorship. This government is attempting to change the constitution to enable a President to hold office as long as he or she wished. The UNP will oppose this move, the UNP General Secretary reiterated.

The UNP is prepared to discuss with the government any amendments to the existing constitution, Tissa Attanayake said.