Wijeyadasa raises doubts in voting for 20A

Sri Lanka Podujana Party MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe has raised concerns about the proposed 20th Amendment and expressed doubts of voting in favour.

Mr Rajapakshe in a letter addressed to the President and copied to the Prime Minister has expressed his concerns saying that if he votes in favour of 20A it appears that he would be violating the pledge given by MPs to protect the constitution.

He says that a simple amendment the shortcomings of the 19th Amendment could have been adjusted while also pointing out some of the positives in the 19th Amendment.

Among the amendments he has suggested was to grant the power to the President to appoint ministers instead of the clause that appointments should be made in consultation with the PM.

Also instead of appointing a Parliamentary Council under 20A the composition in the Constitutional Council could have been increased to seven members by including a President’s nominee and a nominee from the minor parties.

He points out that if there were issues with Independent Commissions the President could have been given the power to remove commission members in consultation of the Parliamentary council.