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New political party, Sihala Urumaya leaders yesterday vowed to protest against the constitutional reforms beginning with a protest rally at Vihara Maha Devi Park on Saturday. At a press conference National Organsier of Sihala Ururmaya Champika Ranawaka said they would go from village to village to make the people aware about the detrimental effects of the new constitution if implemented and do their utmost to show their protest. Party President S.L. Gunasekara said any Bill should be gazetted at least seven days before being presented to Parliament, for the public to know the contents of the Bill and to petition the Supreme Court against it. He said that according to the constitution, if the Cabinet certifies a bill urgently in the national interest the provision regarding the gazetting doesn’t apply and it can be directly sent to the Supreme Courts for its opinion. “The Supreme Court is bound to give its opinion within 24 hours or if the President chooses to extend that time, within three days,” he said. He accused the government of trying to bring the draft constitution undemocratically to the Parliament, by passing the normal procedure. He further alleged a conspiracy between the government and the UNP in drafting the new constitution. He said that the contents have only been disclosed to the Tamil parties, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and to certain foreign ambassadors. During the press conference yesterday, party president S.L. Gunasekara said that a request has been made from former cricket captain Mr. Arjuna Ranatunga to contest under their banner. Party General Secretary Tilak Karunaratne said that he had requested Mr. Ranatunga to contest under their banner when Mr. Ranatunga met him several days ago.
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