By Camelia Nathaniel
The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) is scheduled to meet government and opposition parties within the week in order to discuss the issues stated in a Private Member’s Bill presented in Parliament regarding the abolition of the 13th Amendment last Wednesday.
Speaking to The Sunday Leader JHU spokesman Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe said that the JHU had informed the President in writing regarding the Bill and they now intend to meet every party in the coalition and discuss the issues cited in the Bill.  “Then we plan to meet the representatives of the main opposition party the UNP and the Tamil and Muslim parties within the next week. We have informed all these parties regarding our desire to hold discussions and have also sent them copies of the Bill for them to go through it. The JHU also intends to hold discussions with the chief prelates of the country, and other religious leaders as well regarding the Bill presented by the JHU. Discussions have also been planned with the business sectors and Chambers with regard to the Bill,” Warnasinghe said.
Explaining the suggestions in the Bill he said that the Private Member’s Bill presented in Parliament was seeking to abolish the 13th Amendment to the Constitution as they claim it could see the division of the country.
“The powers vested with Parliament pertaining to the establishment and implementation of laws of the country would be challenged if the 13th Amendment is implemented. It could also jeopardise the national security of the country, as it would have an impact on police powers and land powers. The main reason that we seek the abolition of the 13th Amendment is that it could sway the country to a point of separation. These were the main issues cited in the Bill that was presented in Parliament last Wednesday by the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) MP the Ven. Athureliya Ratana Thero,” he added.