The JVP is not afraid of Gotabaya - Anura Kumara

COLOMBO (News 1^st) - An intellectual forum organized to raise awareness of the proposed 20^th amendment to the constitution, was held in Gampaha yesterday (May 26). Speaking at the event, JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, responded to accusations raised against the proposed amendment. According to MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the JVP does not make decisions out of fear of any person. He stated that even though the Finance minister may be afraid of Gotabaya, the JVP is not. He also rejected claims that the proposed 20th amendment is a ploy to keep Gotabaya from contesting. The Leader of the JVP reminded the public that attempts are being made to bring Gotabaya as a candidate because Mahinda Rajapaksa cannot contest this election. The proposed 20th amendment to the Constitution calls for the abolition of the Executive Presidency, powers of the presidency would therafter be vested in the Prime Minister and Parliament. Dissanayake also reminisced about the actions of those who have held the position of Executive President. He said, faced with this executive power, the cabinet is no longer a body with any kind of life, Cabinet has been reduced to an extremely subservient position. He stated that he was in the cabinet for 14 months and Chandrika Kumaratunga was usually one and a half hours late for cabinet meetings.