COLOMBO– The government has not provided a direct answer as to whether the constitutional changes it proposes includes the dissolution of the independent commissions established by the 19th Amendment.
In Parliament on Friday (21), the Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella asked the government to articulate whether it was abolishing the independent commissions through the proposed 20th Amendment. Replying the question the Leader of the House, Dinesh Gunawardena, said the actions of the independent commissions that were established through 19th Amendment caused chaos in the country.
He said the president was shackled by the Amendment and there were major issues in the day to day administration of the country.
“We should completely change and amend the political mechanism of the country,” he said.
Moreover, he said that UNP government at the time of presenting the 19th Amendment asked for the support of the then opposition United People’s Freedom Alliance by promising an immediate change in the electoral laws.
He also said they would like to thank President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for promising he will present a clear plan to Parliament in order to abolish the 19th Amendment.
-economynext.com