21A draft comes before Cabinet but approval delayed

• Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe presents draft Bill despite attempts by some SLPP MPs to delay it
• Informs Cabinet Constitutional amendments imperative to give powers to Parliament and PM to face present crises
• MPs loyal to Basil Rajapaksa angered by disqualification of dual citizens from holding elected office
• Draft Bill sent to all party leaders on instructions of President
• Amendments to be finalised on Friday and sent back to Cabinet for final approval

Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe presented a draft 21st Amendment to the Constitution Bill to Cabinet yesterday but final approval for it will be after party leaders study the Bill and give their feedback on the proposed legislation.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had proposed that the draft be shared with all party leaders prior to final approval by cabinet.

The Bill was presented despite attempts by a group of SLPP MPs to block it from being presented yesterday to Cabinet.  

The provisions in the Bill to disqualify dual citizens from holding elected office has angered SLPP MPs loyal to MP Basil Rajapaksa who holds both Sri Lanka and US citizenship.

According to the draft Bill, any member of the current Parliament who is a citizen of Sri Lanka while being citizen of this country will not be qualified to sit and vote in Parliament once the 21st Amendment comes into operation.

Basil Rajapaksa did not contest the 2020 Parliamentary election as the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution was operational at the time which barred dual citizens from contesting but subsequently, he entered Parliament on the National List after the 20 A was enacted repealing 19 A.

In the Memorandum to Cabinet, the newly appointed Justice Minister said considering the major crisis the country is going through, it is imperative that the Constitution be amended giving powers to Parliament and also certain powers   to the Prime Minister in order to strengthen democratic institutions.

He informed the Cabinet that the Constitution is being amended to re-establish the independent commissions and the Constitutional Council.

The increase in the number of judges of the Supreme Court brought by the 20th Amendment will not be touched, Cabinet was informed.

Meanwhile the Prime Minister’s office said yesterday that following a meeting of the Constitution Amendment drafting committee at the Prime Minister’s office, the 21st Amendment to the Constitution was presented to the Cabinet.

The Cabinet took the decision to distribute copies of the amendment amongst the Parliament Party Leaders for their observations and this will be discussed on Friday following which the amendment will be sent back to Cabinet for final approval, the PM’s office said.