Sri Lanka's deepening constitutional crisis

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 May 2003, 00:19 GMT]
President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge Wednesday rejected a request made by the Prime Minister to reconsider her decision of taking over the Development Lottery Board (DLB), a subject that comes under a senior minister of the United National Front government Mr.Milinda Morogoda, political sources in Colombo said.

"I will not change my decision of taking over the Development LotteryBoard under any circumstances," Ms.Kumaratunge responded to Mr. Wickremasinghe's requenst, sources said.

Sri Lanka's Prime Minister ter in his letter sent to the Ms. Kumaratunge said that the taking over of DLB that has led to the present constitutional crisis stated that her action was contrary to the constitution.

She rejected the accusation leveled by the Prime Minister that her action was a violation of the constitution, sources said.

The constitution does not call for the consultation of the Prime Minister in taking a decision of this nature. The powers vested on the President cannot be reduced without proper constitutional amendment, Sri Lanka's President reiterated in her reply to Mr. Wickremesinghe, sources said.

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