Former MP M.A. Sumanthiran yesterday slammed President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, accusing him of veiled threats and a worrying display of executive overreach.
Sumanthiran, who also serves as the General Secretary of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK), took issue with the President’s recent remarks asserting control over provincial governance, particularly through the strength of his two-thirds majority in Parliament and executive powers granted by the Constitution.
“President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is threatening that he has two-thirds of Parliament. He is also referring to the executive powers he possesses. It is a corrupt use of power,” Sumanthiran said.
He slammed the President for attempting to intimidate regional leaders and institutions by leveraging his political dominance at the national level. He noted that such rhetoric undermines democratic principles and risks centralising power in a manner that marginalises minority communities.
President Dissanayake recently warned that attempts to override the people’s mandate in local government bodies would be met with firm action. While the President positioned his comments as a defense of democratic integrity, Sumanthiran argued they signal a dangerous shift towards authoritarian governance.
He also criticised the President’s political outlook in the Northern Province, especially Jaffna, questioning the validity of his claims of broad support in Tamil-majority areas.
He suggested that the President is misreading the political landscape and cautioned against assuming popular backing where it may not exist.
“These are not signs of confidence,” Sumanthiran said, referring to the President’s repeated references to his parliamentary majority. “They are signs of insecurity cloaked in power.”
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