Debate on 19th Amendment from April 20-21

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

The 19th Amendment to the Constitution will be debated in Parliament from April 20-21, after several delays due to lack of agreement between the two main political parties in Parliament.

The vote on the 19th Amendment will be taken up on April 21 at 6.30 pm. The Party Leaders’ had decided that the Amendments by the opposition and government ranks should be handed over to the Secretary General of Parliament by noon on April 20, Government sources told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

UPFA sources said although the debate on the 19th Amendment Bill has been included in the Parliament agenda for April 20 and 21, the Draft Bill has faced a crisis as the political party leaders were unable to reach consensus on the 19th Amendment Draft Bill at Friday’s Party Leaders’ Meeting. The SLFP representatives had pointed out that the methods the Government were using to introduce changes to the Amendment as being against the Constitution.

However, President Maithripala Sirisena at a recent SLFP Parliamentary Group meeting at the Parliamentary complex called upon SLFP parliamentarians to vote in favour of the 19th Amendment.

During the meeting, a Committee was also appointed to seek room to present the 20th Amendment to the Constitution on the new electoral reforms.

The SLFP has reiterated its position that they would extend its support to the 19th Amendment provided that the 19th and 20th Amendments to the Constitution are brought to Parliament together.

The Government maintains that all political parties should respect the people’s mandate at the last Presidential election and strive to get the 19th Amendment passed in Parliament.

The Government’s coalition partner, the JHU which earlier opposed the 19th Amendment has also pledged support to the Amendment after the changes have been incorporated into it.

Although, the JVP was against some of the contents in the 19th Amendment, they had decided to support the Draft Bill as this was the first opportunity gained by the country to prune the powers of the executive presidency.