The twenty first Amendment is anticipated to annul the 20A to the Constitution, which provides unfettered powers to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa after abolishing the nineteenth Amendment that can strengthen Parliament.
The twenty first Amendment is anticipated to annul the 20A to the Constitution, which provides unfettered powers to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa after abolishing the nineteenth Amendment that can strengthen Parliament.
The twenty first Amendment to the Constitution to empower the Sri Lankan Parliament over the chief president shall be submitted to the Cabinet for approval on Monday, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe stated on Sunday.
The twenty first Amendment is anticipated to annul the 20A to the Constitution, which provides unfettered powers to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa after abolishing the nineteenth Amendment that can strengthen Parliament.
Mr. Rajapakshe stated {that a} particular dialogue on the matter was held with the backing of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa final week. He together with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Foreign minister G L Peiris participated within the dialogue, Lanka First, a web based information portal reported.
Mr. Rajapakshe stated that the twenty first Amendment to the Constitution, together with proposals submitted by political events and varied different events, shall be submitted to the Cabinet for approval on Monday, the portal reported.
He stated that the draft of the modification shall be gazetted after receiving the approval of the Cabinet.
Mr. Rajapakshe stated that he expects to make a press release in Parliament on the twenty first Amendment to the Constitution subsequent week.
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe final week batted for the twenty first Amendment to the Constitution, saying it’s going to curb the president’s limitless powers whereas enhancing the position of Parliament in governing the debt-ridden nation which can also be dealing with an unprecedented political turmoil.
The highly effective Rajapaksa household tightened their grip on energy after their large victory within the common elections in August 2020, which allowed them to amend the Constitution to revive presidential powers and set up shut relations in key positions.
The constitutional reform was a significant plank of the settlement between Mr. Wickremesinghe and Mr. Rajapaksa when he took over the job of prime minister on May 12.
Sri Lanka has been grappling with unprecedented financial turmoil since its independence from Britain in 1948.
Sri Lanka’s financial disaster has created political unrest with protesters demanding the President’s resignation.
Under the 21A, the President shall be held accountable to the Parliament. The Cabinet of Ministers can also be accountable to Parliament. The National Council can also be accountable to Parliament. Fifteen Committees and Oversight Committees are accountable to Parliament.
Sri Lanka in mid-April declared that it was unable to satisfy its overseas debt funds and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) categorized Sri Lanka’s debt as unsustainable. Therefore debt restructuring was key for an IMF programme.
Source: www.thehindu.com
