SLMC to challenge draft 20 A

by P. Krishnaswamy

The passage of the proposed 20th Amendment to the Constitution - the next major step on President Maithripala Sirisena's good governance agenda - is being stymied by minor and minority parties.

The draft gazetted on June 18 has been seriously opposed by several political parties, including the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, Tamil National Alliance, Jathika Hela Urumaya and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna.

Serious disagreements have been expressed over the proposed Amendment's implications on minor and minority political parties.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday (19) told his party that the Draft Bill will be presented to Parliament next week to schedule the debate. The major dissident, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has threatened to challenge the Bill in court, when it is included in the Order Book, which is normally two weeks after the gazette notification.

Party Secretary, T. Hassan Ali said when notice of the Bill is given, the Secretary General of Parliament could include it in the Order Book.

"It will give a limited time of one week to petition the Supreme Court," he said.

Representatives of the minority parties told the Sunday Observer that although the Bill is a significant milestone to eliminate election-related corruption and frauds, they oppose it in its current form because the minorities' chances of getting elected to Parliament, Provincial Councils and other local government bodies will be reduced considerably.