By Jayashika Padmasiri
The United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) yesterday, while speaking about the 19th Amendment, accused the Government of illegally adding 12 more pages as amendments to the gazetted version of the 19 Amendment draft bill.
Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala de Silva at a media conference yesterday said that everybody in the Opposition objected to this move by the Government at the party leaders meeting and requested that the 19th Amendment debate, which is scheduled to be held on 9 and 10 April, be cancelled.
He said that depending on the Supreme Court decision the Speaker would talk to party leaders and arrive at a decision regarding the matter soon.
“We are not trying to delay the 19 Amendment in anyway. However, amending the country’s Constitution is not an easy task and is something which is very important that needs to be done correctly. However, by presenting 12 pages of amendments to the 19 Amendment after it had been gazetted, the Government has acted unconstitutionally and illegally, as through this move they have robbed the public of the right to study it and go to the Supreme Court if has any issues with the content of those 12 pages,” Silva pointed out.
He added that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) had always been clear on its stance regarding the trimming of powers of the Executive Presidency and that they were for it. However, he said that this should be done in tandem with electoral reforms and the SLFP would only support the former with the latter and not separately.
“We are willing to make amendments to the 19th Amendment draft bill and support it. But it should be implemented and be active along with electoral reforms. What is important right now is not to call for an election but to fulfill the promises given in President Sirisena’s election manifesto,” he said.
Meanwhile, the UPFA National Organiser Susil Premajayantha, who was also present at the media conference, speaking about the National Executive Committee (NEC) said that it had not been appointed by the people and that the SLFP would not listen to or abide by any orders given by the NEC.
CBK and MR invited to SLFP May Day rally
Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) General Secretary Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said that the party had invited current President Maithripala Sirisena and former presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Chandrika Kumaratunga to this year’s SLFP May Day rally.
“We will have the May Day rally at Hyde Park. We have made arrangements for three groups of party supporters to march towards the ground from three routes. All organisers and trade unions have been informed about this year’s rally and through this year’s May Day celebrations we will try to give the message that we will make a United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Government after the next election.
“We have also invited current President Maithripala Sirisena and former presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Chandrika Kumaratunga to this rally and hope that all of them will accept our invitations,” Yapa said.
Courtesy:Daily FT