there was a glaring discrepancy between the English and Sinhala versions of the party constitution
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the UNP, which comprises the largest representation from various party organisations, is the only committee which has power, under the UNP constitution, to draft or amend it, and not the working committee, Reformists argue.
UNP Southern Provincial Councillor Maithri Gunaratne expressed that view at a media briefing on Friday (27). He said that there was a glaring discrepancy between the English and Sinhala versions of the party constitution. The English version stated that they (WC) could draft any amendment but the Sinhala version stated that only the NEC could do so subject to ratification at a National Convention.
The document tendered by the UNP General-Secretary Tissa Attaanayake was manifestly wrong and the WC had no mandate to amend the party constitution, Gunaratne argued. Therefore the amendments had no legal validity, Gunaratne said.
According to Article 6 of the party constitution only the NEC had power to amend the constitution and then it had to be forwarded it to the WC to be approved at a National Convention. He had written to Attanayake on that matter was and awaiting the latter’s response, Gunaratne said, noting that Parliament was the only body to pass legislation and not the Cabinet of ministers.
Gunaratne said that it was purely due to such draconian amendments that UNP Parliamentarians and some Local Government politicians and others had decided to cross over. No wonder that a third of the Cabinet of ministers in the present UPFA government were UNP members, he said, warning that there was the possibility of more cross-overs due to UNP Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe’s dictatorial actions. "What do you expect them to do – wait in a sinking ship?" Gunaratne asked.
(Island)