Former Speaker and the Chairman of the National Movement for Social Justice Karu Jayasuriya says parliamentarians must take the lead in resolving the current economic and political crisis in Sri Lanka. The veteran politician said that while resolving the crisis and arriving at a suitable solution is a responsibility that must be borne by the entire nation, in light of the situation it is the MPs who possess the mandate of the people that must take the lead ahead of all others.

Commenting on the country’s constitutional reforms process Jayasuriya highlighted the need of repealing the 20th amendment to the constitution thereby removing the unlimited and arbitrary powers vested in the executive through it. He said this is the foremost duty before the parliament today.

 “It is imperative that the salient features of the 19th amendment to the constitution be reinforced yet again,” he said adding that his organisation expects the government would expedite the process to present the 22nd amendment to parliament.

“It is our expectation that the conclusions of the Supreme Court on the 22nd amendment to the constitution will be informed to the honourable Speaker and that necessary steps will be taken to present it to parliament allowing it to be adopted in a short span of time,” he said. Jayasuriya said all MPs must support in this endeavour to ensure its unanimous adoption. “If not, the actions of the MPs in this regard will be remembered and judged by the people in time to come,” he said.

“It is essential that short-term, mid-term and long-term plans are drawn up and necessary steps are taken to implement them. It must be noted that the required public acceptance and legitimacy for the proposed political and economic reforms process can only be secured through the immediate implementation of identified reforms,” he noted.