Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa raised concerns about the proposed 21st Amendment submitted by Justice Minister Wijedasa Rajapakshe this week, saying it further strengthens Presidential powers.
Opposition leader wrote to Justice Minister Rajapakshe yesterday noting that the draft bill forwarded by him is contrary to the promises given by President."Your draft enables the President to hold ministerial portfolios which was not envisaged under the 19th Amendment to the Constitution,"
"Our considered observation is that instead of moving in the direction of reducing the executive powers of the President, your draft bill does the opposite by strengthening the President's executive powers contrary to 19th Amendment," Opposition Leader noted in his letter.
He also pointed out that President gave a commitment that the 20th Amendment would be repealed and 19th Amendment to the Constitution would be restored and steps would be taken toward the abolition of the executive presidency while addressing the Nation on May 11.
Other political parties such as Tamil National Alliance (TNA), and Peoples'Liberation Front (JVP) rejected the 21st Amendment in its current form and demanded that the previous 19th Amendment should be restored.
Meanwhile, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) also rejected the draft bill on similar lines while alleging that the government of further strengthened Presidential powers contrary to what President said in his address to the Nation early this month.
A Thai woman walking topless in Arugam Bay town has been arrested by the Police.
The UK government has unveiled a package of reforms to simplify imports from developing countries which allows for more garments manufactured in Sri Lanka to enter the UK tariff-free.
The Cabinet has approved a proposal for Sri Lankans overseas to apply for their passports through an online system via the Lankan diplomatic missions.
Villagers in Nirmalapura, Daluwa, Norochcholai today staged a protest over an incident where a group of Navy officials and sailors had assaulted a resident in the area over night, Police said.
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