Colombo: Sri Lanka‘s cupboard Approved the draft bill on 22nd amendment of the constitution to empower Parliament On the working president, cabinet spokesperson Bandula Gunawardene said on Tuesday. The 22nd Amendment was originally named 21A and was meant to replace 20A. The amendment was prepared in the midst of the ongoing economic crisis in the country, which also led to a political crisis.
The amendment will be called the 22nd as another draft 21st amendment has already been gazetted.
Gunawardene told reporters that the Cabinet in its meeting held on Monday approved the draft bill on the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution.
Sri Lanka is facing the worst economic crisis since independence in 1948, leading to severe shortages of essential commodities like food, medicine, cooking gas and fuel across the country.
Street protests have erupted across the country over the poor handling of the economic crisis and the lack of accountability. The protesters are demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa,
Following the resignation of his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister to pave the way for a consensus government of all parties, President Gotabya Rajapaksa resolved to introduce the 21st Amendment to the Constitution.
20A, adopted in 2020, gave President Rajapaksa autocratic powers after scrapping the 19th Amendment.
Sri Lanka rejected the 21st amendment proposed by the main opposition Samagi Jana Balvegaya (SJB) party. Supreme court which ordered a national referendum to have it become law. With this, the amendment became a non-starter.
Constitutional Affairs Minister Wijedassa Rajapaksa said the 22nd Amendment was compiled after speaking to all parties, including the SJB, who were keen to avoid provisions that the Supreme Court would see as requiring them to be subject to a referendum.
Commenting on the government’s draft on 22A, main opposition legislator Laxman Kirila said it was meaningless as none of Rajapaksa’s power was attached to it.
The government said the 22A draft bill would now be gazetted and tabled in Parliament.
The powerful Rajapaksa family tightened their grip on power after a landslide victory in the general elections in August 2020, allowing them to amend the constitution to restore presidential powers and install close family members in key positions .
Current Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was the main sponsor of the 19th Amendment in 2015, which gave Parliament the right to act as the Speaker.
Constitutional reform was a key point of agreement between Rajapaksa and Wickremesinghe when he took over as prime minister on 12 May.
The amendment will be called the 22nd as another draft 21st amendment has already been gazetted.
Gunawardene told reporters that the Cabinet in its meeting held on Monday approved the draft bill on the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution.
Sri Lanka is facing the worst economic crisis since independence in 1948, leading to severe shortages of essential commodities like food, medicine, cooking gas and fuel across the country.
Street protests have erupted across the country over the poor handling of the economic crisis and the lack of accountability. The protesters are demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa,
Following the resignation of his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister to pave the way for a consensus government of all parties, President Gotabya Rajapaksa resolved to introduce the 21st Amendment to the Constitution.
20A, adopted in 2020, gave President Rajapaksa autocratic powers after scrapping the 19th Amendment.
Sri Lanka rejected the 21st amendment proposed by the main opposition Samagi Jana Balvegaya (SJB) party. Supreme court which ordered a national referendum to have it become law. With this, the amendment became a non-starter.
Constitutional Affairs Minister Wijedassa Rajapaksa said the 22nd Amendment was compiled after speaking to all parties, including the SJB, who were keen to avoid provisions that the Supreme Court would see as requiring them to be subject to a referendum.
Commenting on the government’s draft on 22A, main opposition legislator Laxman Kirila said it was meaningless as none of Rajapaksa’s power was attached to it.
The government said the 22A draft bill would now be gazetted and tabled in Parliament.
The powerful Rajapaksa family tightened their grip on power after a landslide victory in the general elections in August 2020, allowing them to amend the constitution to restore presidential powers and install close family members in key positions .
Current Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was the main sponsor of the 19th Amendment in 2015, which gave Parliament the right to act as the Speaker.
Constitutional reform was a key point of agreement between Rajapaksa and Wickremesinghe when he took over as prime minister on 12 May.