Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero does not have right to remain as an independent Parliamentarian, Minister Champika Ranawaka said.
While speaking to reporters in Colombo, the Minister said the Thero should instead resign from his position. “After resigning, he can make any statements of his choice,” Ranawaka said.
The Minister also went on to say the JHU could not anyway achieve what it expected from Rathana Thero who became a Parliamentarian through the national list in 2015.
He also pointed out they had doubts about the Thero since he had several rounds of meetings with former Minister Basil Rajapaksa, brother of the former President, following the last Presidential election.
“However, he had agreed to go ahead with party’s stance,” Ranawaka said. A plan is underway to restructure the JHU under three phrases; to empower women, implement a new process among the workforce and form a youth front, he also said.
Ranawaka underlined the JHU would not hesitate to hold its own views on ‘serious cases’ such as drafting of the new Constitution and issues relating to the controversial bond sale, despite being a part of the coalition government.
