JVP condemns Bill to reduce powers of 19A

• Criticises attempt to undermine 19A, reduce powers of Constitutional Council 
• Slams second Bill saying it will reduce Parliamentary representation for smaller parties

By Nuwan Senarathna

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) yesterday criticised the Private Member’s Bill to be submitted by MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe to return the Defence Ministry to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and circumvent the Constitutional Council as an effort that would undermine democracy.

JVP Propaganda Secretary MP Vijitha Herath – Pic by Lasanatha Kumara

The proposed Bill aims to enable the President to hold the Defence Ministry or any other ministries he wishes. The Bill would also give power to the President to ignore the Constitutional Council (CC) when appointing officials for key positions including Supreme Court judges. 

The proposed Bill expects to amend Article 43 of the Constitution and has been named as the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution. It has already been gazetted.

Speaking to media at the JVP head office in Battaramulla, Propaganda Secretary MP Vijitha Herath said the move to table in Parliament a Bill to give President Gotabaya Rajapaksa access to powers taken away by the 19th Amendment was detrimental to Sri Lanka’s democracy.     

“We view this as an opportunistic political move. We would like to know whether these proposals are for Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe’s personal interest or the Government’s. The Government should explain its stand on the matter to the country,” Herath said.

Referring to the Bill that has been gazetted as the 21st Amendment that will restrict the representation of smaller parties to Parliament, he argued it would only strengthen the two main parties and reduce representation of minorities and moderates of the Sinhala community as well

“The public should stand against this move. We view this as an immature move by the Government. This amendment will limit the chance for smaller parties to be elected, which will make the main parties stronger and help them to pass anything they want in the House,” he added.

Herath opined the 22nd Amendment would be equal to the 18th Amendment as it would undermine the Constitutional Council and the independent commissions that operate under it.   

“What Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe is doing is engaging in opportunistic and tribal politics to win the favour of the President and get him more seats at the next election. When he was on former President Maithripala Sirisena’s side he was critical of the executive presidency but now he is working to give even more power to the President,” Herath charged.

He also accused the Government of continuing United National Party (UNP) policies and not focusing on investment that would be beneficial to the public. He pointed out that the continuation of the $ 250 million mixed development project started by the UNP was evidence of this. 

“The Government has begun selling public property. This is not what they promised to the public. They pledged to nationalise all properties that were privatised by the UNP. This is a betrayal of their voters.”

The original proposal of the FDI was approved under the previous Government in 2018. The investment was made by a foreign investor named Perennial Real Estate Holdings. The mixed development project will commence on a plot of land located between the Beira Lake and Shangri-La Hotel on State-owned land at Baladaksha Mawatha.