The National People’s Power Presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake said he would limit the Cabinet to a maximum of 10 members, seek support from the Foreign countries and International organizations to stabilizing the Economy, reduce powers vested in Executive Presidency, re-initiate the actions against corruption.
and dissolve parliament and call for a general election within six months, in the event being elected the President.
Disclosing his action plan, he said only basic salary would be allocated for president, ministers, chairmen and directors of government institutes under an interim government formed under his presidency while an organizational structure would be in place for monitoring the progress of the program with public and professional representation.
He said in order to stabilize the economy, special program would be introduced to attract the tourists for the season starting in October, seek support from the foreign countries and International organizations, prioritize the support to the most vulnerable communities due to inflation and loss of income while ensuring uninterrupted access to essential need for both consumption and industry.
He also said amendments to the constitution would be brought in to strengthen democracy and reduce the powers vested in the executive presidency and strengthen the independent commissions.
Mr. Dissanayake also said he would re-initiate the actions against corruption and seek international support and start the program to recover stolen assets, start the local investigation for already proven corruption cases in foreign courts, revisit the possibility of appeal for the closed cases which had substantial evidence and review the corruption cases that has been withdrawn by the Attorney general department and look at the possibility of filling them again.
He said he would re-file the cases which had Technical issues via bribery commission and fast-track the investigations which have been on hold.
Mr. Dissanayake speaking at a news conference said that neither Ranil Wickremesinghe nor Dullas Alahapperuma have stated that they would form an interim government after being elected and challenged them to reveal whether they would form an interim government with a time frame before the vote in parliament.
When asked if he would withdraw his nomination at the last moment, he said both Ranil Wickremesinghe and Dullas Alahapperuma represent the SLPP’s chairman’s faction and general secretary’s faction.
“It is a competition between SLPP chairman’s faction and general secretary’s faction. So, why should I withdraw my nomination. I earlier said if there was a consensus for a common program, I would resign. There is no such consensus as yet,” he said.(Ajith Siriwardana)
COURTESY DAILYMIRROR
