Crisis charts way to critical political reforms

SJB General Secretary Ranjith Maddumabandara hands over draft Bill to abolish Executive Presidency to the Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeyawardene

• Party leaders discuss constitutional amendments as SJB presents draft Bill to abolish Executive Presidency
• SJB hands overdraft 21st Amendment to the Constitution Bill to Speaker
• Seeks to abolish Executive Presidency, limit Cabinet and strengthen independent commissions
• Party leaders meet to discuss re-introducing 19A
• Will meet again today to discuss proposals before finalising draft Bill

By Chandani Kirinde

The worst crisis in the country’s history has triggered efforts to come up with critical political reforms with Parliament leading the way yesterday.

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) yesterday handed a draft 21st Amendment to the Constitution Bill, which seeks to abolish the Executive Presidency, to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena as party leaders met to discuss proposals to re-introduce the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.

The draft Bill prepared by the SJB was handed over by General Secretary of the Party MP Ranjith Maddumabandara.

The Bill seeks to strengthen parliament with a President elected from among the MPs by a secret ballot and Cabinet that will be accountable and responsible to Parliament.

The other highlights of the Bill are the limiting of the Cabinet of Ministers to 25, and non-cabinet and deputy Ministers to 25 with no room for an increase in these numbers even if a coalition Government is in power.

The Bill also provides for the establishment of the Constitutional Council and independent commissions including the Audit and Procurement Commissions.

The National Security Council will be given constitutional recognition while the Bill seeks to set up a State Council to obtain advice of experts/public representations on matters of public importance.

Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardena said that at the party leaders meeting held last afternoon, several parties had handed over proposals to be included in a constitutional amendment and said they would meet again today to expedite the process.

He said the drafts handed over by the different parties would be discussed and copies of all the proposals will be made available to all by the Speaker before a final version of the Bill is prepared.