Harsha tweets worry over 19th amendment being in trouble

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Deputy Minister of Policy Development and Economic Affairs Dr. Harsha de Silva tweeted from Parliament today (April 28) that he was concerned over the fate of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution as two issues were yet to be determined.

“I am worried about the fate of the 19th as two issues have not been resolved: (1) The President to appoint the Cabinet on the advice of the PM as per the determination by the SC to strike down the original proposal for the PM to appoint the Cabinet; the opposition is saying 'no' and wants the President to keep that power. But the whole argument is to reduce the powers of the President but here to act with consensus. So let us see if there can be a compromise.

(2) The Constitutional Council will be constituted by 7 non-political eminent persons and 3 politicians; PM, Speaker and the Leader of the Opposition. Now the opposition is saying 'no' it cannot have independent persons but instead 10 MPs. This will completely negate the depolitisization of the CC and thereby all appointments to the independent commissions,” he said in his official twitter account @HarshadeSilvaMP

Dr. Harsha de Silva further added that, “There seems to be yet another very important technical issue that can derail the 19th. The Secretary General is apparently, and correctly, of the view that once the 2nd reading of the 19th is passed with a 2/3rd majority the Amendments can be passed with a simple majority. If that is the case then the shape and form of the 19th can be seriously changed at Committee stage unless there is agreement on the above two matters prior to the vote.”

The debate on the 19th Amendment is currently under way in Parliament with voting scheduled to be held this evening.

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