SLFP General Secretary reveals the reason behind the cabinet meeting not being held today

Colombo (News 1st): The cancellation of today's (June 11) usual cabinet meeting and the parliamentary special committee convening despite the objections of the president were discussed in the political arena today. When journalists questioned State Minister Ajith Mannapperuma why the cabinet meeting was not held, he said he does not know if or not the meeting will be held. General Secretary of the SLFP Dayasiri Jayasekera said today the cabinet will not convene because of certain differences in opinion between parliament and the president. He said he thinks the members of this committee along with the speaker will meet the president by tomorrow. He added he has received information and a decision should be taken at this meeting. When questioned if the members of the UNP can convene the cabinet and make decisions, he said no cabinet can convene without being chaired by the president. Speaking regarding the matter UPFA MP Bandula Gunawardena said the cabinet is not convening, no matter what the president says at the cabinet meeting the speaker has taken a hard stance regarding the parliamentary special committee. He said during the past the speaker had always pursued what he thought was the right thing to do. Leader of the Sri Lanka Communist Party D.E.W. Gunasekera expressing his views said this crisis originates from the 19th Amendment, therefore the country is in a crisis now. He said at a time where there is a massive economic crisis, the country is in a dire state and this is the aspects that Sri Lanka's legislative experts should learn. He noted he hasn't seen this method anywhere else in the world, either it should be an executive presidential system or it should be a parliamentary system and because of that Sri Lanka is stuck somewhere in between. He added that even if the parliament is dissolved the next government that comes into power cannot overcome this issue.