Basil Rajapaksa has proposed to Ranil Wickremesinghe to hold a referendum for the abolition of the executive presidency in the event the incumbent fails to go for a presidential poll with sufficient public popularity by gaining economic success, said SLPP sources.
The two had a meeting on this recently, where ministerial positions for the SLPP and garnering support for Wickremesinghe among the party MPs who are yet back him also came under discussion.
For his part, the president brought up how they could obtain support of parties from the north and the east at a general election.
After winning the proposed referendum, a new constitution could be adopted with a clause that allows Wickremesinghe to continue as the head of state for a further period.
(K. Sanjeewa – Anidda newspaper)
*The ‘Leader TV’ YouTube channel revealed plans to call for a referendum on abolishing the executive presidency recently.
