UNP against extension of Presidential term- Prof.Peiris

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 26 October 2004, 14:41 GMT]
UNP would take every possible step to stop Sri Lanka's President Chandrika Kumarathunge's move to extend her Presidency through a referendum by extra-constitutional means for another term, said UNP's media spokesman and former Constitutional Affairs Minister Professor G.L. Peiris addressing a press briefing in Colombo Tuesday.

The current constitution does not allow a referendum in this regard, Professor Peries told the press.

He said further that the UNP would participate in the deliberation of the National Advisory Council for Peace and Reconciliation (NACPR) only after the UPFA government resumes peace talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on the basis of Interim Self Government Authority proposals.

UNP would not allow the UPFA government to remove the current Speaker of the parliament. UNP would muster support of all opposition political parties to keep Mr.W.M.J.Lokkubandara in the post of the Speaker, Professor Peiris said.

The Sinhala nationalist Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) has already announced that it would not support the move to oust the Speaker by a no-confidence motion.