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JVP presents seven key proposals to 21st Amendment draft

30 May 2022

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) presented seven key proposals to the draft 21st Amendment Bill which was sent to all party leaders representing Parliament last week.  “We are of the stance that a new Constitution is needed completely. However, we know these current rulers will never do that,” said JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, addressing a media briefing last Friday (27).  The JVP is proposing that an interim provision be included in the draft Bill to limit the term period of the current Parliament to a maximum period of three years, observing that the current Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe does not have a democratic mandate, as he is not an elected MP.  “Wickremesinghe was rejected by the public. But this reform transfers powers to him. This ninth Parliament’s term should be limited, with an interim provision, to three years. After that, an election should be held that allows the public to choose their next representatives,” said Dissanayake.  Commenting on the controversial clause in the draft bill which would prevent dual citizens from becoming President or being an elected public official, Dissanayake said that the JVP proposes that this be extended to heads of key institutions as well. “We all know how former Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Governor Arjun Mahendran engaged in corrupt countries and then fled the country due to his dual citizenship. This should not happen.” Furthermore, Dissanayake proposed that in addition to MPs declaring their assets, these assets should be investigated.  He further stressed that Secretaries to Ministries be appointed through the Constitutional Council, and not at the President’s or Ministers’ discretion.  “There should also be a provision to prevent parliamentarians from switching parties or ‘sides’, once they are elected to Parliament,” said Dissanayake.  Finally, he noted that the powers of the presidential pardon should be limited and regulated.  “We saw that the presidential pardon was used to free child murderers and abusers. Particularly in the case of the Royal Park murderer, there is speculation that a bribe was used to free him. The presidential pardon is also used for political purposes. This must stop,” charged Dissanayake.  The draft 21st Amendment Bill was presented to Cabinet by Justice Minister Wijayadasa Rajapakshe PC last Monday (23), following which it was sent to all party leaders for proposals on provisions. An all-party meeting was held with Wickremesinghe last Friday, although the JVP was absent at the meeting.  Responding to a media question regarding this, Dissanayake said that the JVP’s proposals will be presented through Parliament and not in “castles”.  Sri Lanka Podujana Party (SLPP) General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam has raised concerns about the dual citizenship clause in the present bill whilst the main Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegeya (SJB), continues in its calls for the abolition of the Executive Presidency.  The final Bill is due to be presented to the Cabinet on 6 June for approval as Wickremesinghe had made a decision to hold another all-party meeting regarding the matter this Friday (3), especially noting the need to accommodate the Tamil National Alliance’s (TNA) views on it, as its representatives were unable to attend last week’s meeting.  


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