The proposed amendments to the Sri Lanka Constitution are not in the national interest, and do not promote good governance, says the Organisation of Professional Associations (OPA). The organisation has called on the authorities to seriously consider the advisability of enacting such changes.
The OPA maintains that the amendments, if enacted, would reverse provisions in the 17th Amendment for depoliticising the public service and key government institutions. These amendments would contravene the principles of Constitutional reform, the OPA says.
The OPA Executive Council formulated the resolution on June 17, 2010, and the resolution has been forwarded to President Mahinda Rajapaksa and political party leaders.
According to the OPA resolution, the Constitution must ensure a clear separation of powers between the Legislature, the Executive, and the Judiciary, and maintain the complete independence of the Judiciary. The Executive should be answerable to the Parliament and the Judiciary. The Constitution must also provide for a process of meaningful devolution under a unitary state, the OPA says.
Also, the independence of the media should be ensured, the resolution says. |
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