JVP to launch campaign against continuing executive presidency system

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 August 2009, 20:05 GMT]
Sinhala nationalist Marxist party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Monday announced that it would launch a campaign to obstruct the holding of presidential election without first abolishing the executive presidency. JVP leader Somawanse Amarasinghe made the announcement at a press briefing held Monday in Colombo. JVP was one time ally of the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance and now a critic from the opposition.

He said the incumbent president came to power promising that he would abolish the executive presidency system immediately.

JVP also supported Mahinda Rajapakse’s candidature for the presidency on this promise.

His party would take to the streets and form a common front demanding the establishment of an institution with executive powers instead of an executive president, according to Somawanse.