JR’s Grandson to Contest the Upcoming Local Government Election in SLFP Ticket

The grandson of the first Executive President of Sri Lanka Pradip Jayawardena while speaking  in  a press briefing said, he has decided to contest the upcoming local government polls from the SLFP because he is not satisfied with the United National Party (UNP) conduct.

He said, that his grandfather introduced the present Constitution because there was a credible reason to introduce it but said there was no such need to bring in a new constitution today.

Mr. Jayawardena who is the SLFP organizer for the Gampaha said he would contest for the Colombo Municipal Council in the upcoming local provincial election. When asked whether former President Mahinda Rajapaksa asked him to join the Joint Opposition, he said Mahinda Rajapaksa had requested him to contest from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna but said he would contest under the SLFP.

 “It is also proposed that the Presidential system is abolished. We have already devolved power to the provinces through the 13th Amendment. The President and his representative, the Governor, is the only safeguard we have against secession. As we all know Varatharaja Prerumal already tried it once and failed because of the Executive Presidency.

It is now too late to abolish the Executive Presidency. If we abolish it and centre’s executive power around the PM, the executive would no longer be independent and comes under pressure of party politics. We know that MPs can be swayed due to many influences. They can then threaten the PM as his survival is dependent on them” he concluded.