Chairman of the Research and Policy Unit of the UNP, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, MP, yesterday said that the party would discuss its new manifesto with all political parties, including the ruling SLFP as well as its UPFA constituents.Having released the manifesto at the parliamentary complex on Wednesday, the UNP was readying for meetings with political parties and civil society organizations, Rajapakshe said.
"Although we are yet to work out a schedule, bilateral meetings can be held parallel to proposed consultations with public," he said.
Asked whether the UNP expected the SLFP-led ruling coalition to accept its invitation, the President’s Counsel said that the newly unveiled proposals could be the basis for an all-inclusive dialogue among political parties.
A healthy discourse could lead to an understanding among political parties on contentious issues, the UNPer said, urging the SLFP and those affiliated to the government to examine UNP proposals with an open mind.
Opposition and UNP leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe, releasing the manifesto, said that there was an urgent need to adopt a new Constitution since the dignity and sovereign rights of the people had been forcibly taken away by the government.
MP Rajapakshe said that the UNP’s project wouldn’t clash with the government proposal to appoint a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to resolve the national issue. The attorney-at-law said that the process initiated by the UNP wouldn’t hinder the UPFA efforts to establish a PSC.
Commenting on the new manifesto, Rajapakshe said that nothing could be as important as the abolition of the executive presidency and doing away with the proportional representation system.
"In fact, I proposed two amendments in 2005 to annul executive presidency and PR system. Democracy will not prevail as long as executive presidency remained. PR system, too, is a curse," the MP said.
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