Tuesday, 21 April 2015 01:38
-
- {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Ashwin HemmathagamaOur Lobby Correspondent
The second reading of the 19th Amendment draft bill was held in Parliament yesterday. Leader of the House, Plantation Industries Minister Lakshman Kiriella, moved the Bill with several amendments, which will be debated today.
The controversial 19th Amendment to the Constitution seeks to ensure that the rule of law prevails in the country by empowering independent commissions and the Judiciary.
The 19th Amendment was proposed by Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera and Ven. Athureliye Rathana Thera with the support of the JHU, which said that the Executive Presidential system leads to authoritative rule and corruption and called for a return to the Westminster system of Government and the revival of the 17th Amendment.
The main constitutional proposals of the 19th Amendment include the move from a presidential form of Government to a presidential-parliamentary system of Government and the restoration of the 17th Amendment to the Constitution.
