Ministerial Consultative Committee approves 22nd Amendment

The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms today approved the 22 Amendment Bill to the Constitution for the Second Reading in Parliament.

The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms was chaired by the Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms, Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe.
 
Briefing those present in terms of the changes intended by the Amendment, the Minister stated that Amendments have been made under the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution going beyond what was included in the Nineteenth Amendment to ensure democracy.

Accordingly, a salient feature is that under Article 41C the President shall appoint the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka subjected to the approval of the Constitutional Council. This was not incorporated in the Nineteenth Amendment, the Minister stated.

Furthermore, under the Nineteenth Amendment, the power for an Executive President to hold Defence, Mahaweli and Environment portfolios has been limited to Defence under the 22nd Amendment.
 

The 22nd Constitution Amendment Bill set to be taken into debate tomorrow, the October 6  from 10.30 am to 5.00 pm. and October 7  from 9.30 am to 5.00 pm.
 

Committee Members, Deputy Chairperson of Committees  . Angajan Ramanathan , State Ministers Sisira Jayakody and  . Diana Gamage, and   Members of Parliament  . Thalatha Athukorala,  . Dilan Perera,  . Chandima Weerakkody,  . Jayantha Samaraweera,  . Sarathi Dushmantha,  . Mohomad Muzammil,  . M. A. Sumanthiran,  . Charles Nirmalanathan,  . (Dr.) Upul Galappaththi,  . Kokila Gunawardena,  . Premnath C. Dolawatte,  . Nimal Piyathissa,  . Gunathilaka Rajapaksha,  . Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha,  . M. Rameshwaran,  . Sahan Pradeep Withana,  . Weerasumana Weerasinghe,  . Gevindu Cumaratunga,  Lalith Varna Kumara and Officials were present at the Committee meeting held.