Sumanthiran criticizes government over proposed constitutional amendment

COLOMBO (News1st): Tamil National Alliance member M.A. Sumanthiran has criticized the government for attempting to amend the constitution, citing it as an undemocratic act. "If you try to adopt a course of action that is against democracy simply because of holding a two-thirds majority, think about the future of your party," Sumanthiran warned on Saturday. He said the current members of the government had criticized former President J.R. Jayawardene, who held a five-sixths majority for amending the constitution to make the presidency an executive post. "It was Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa who showed us the way to voice our concerns locally and internationally stating that it was an act against democracy," the TNA leader recalled. He warned that the ruling camp would experience a fate similar to the United National Party -- that has only one national list seat in Parliament -- if it acts against democracy.