Power and Energy Minister Ravi Karunanayake today said President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa should come together to abolish the Executive Presidency. 

Addressing a public gathering in Rajagiriya, Karunanayake said this was the ideal time to abolish the Executive Presidency as the three main political leaders are on the same page about the matter. 

Karunanayake said the Executive Presidency, a brainchild of former President J.R. Jayewardena has now become a monster. 

"Nearly 15 years ago, the UNP decides to abolish the Executive Presidency. It was also the foundation of the mandate we received in January 2015. Over 6.2 million people who voted for the Yahapalanaya wanted the Executive Presidency abolished, " the Minister added. 

The Minister added the Executive Presidency had become a joke in the country with about 15 people getting ready to run for the presidency at the next election. "Some of them have zero qualification to run for the president. Their only qualification is the strong political ties in their families. We need a political culture that recognizes skills over family ties."

"The President must make a change in the country. So must the Prime Minister. The former President must also extend his fullest support to make this reform possible."