Split over 20th Amendment to the Constitution

Parliament was today divided over the draft document on the 20th Amendment to the Constitution which was gazetted last week.

During the?adjournment debate on the 20th Amendment to the Constitution held in Parliament today some political parties spoke in favor while others opposed it.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said that the 20th Amendment to the Constitution has been drafted by President Maithripala Sirisena to take advantage of the split in the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).

JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the SLFP sees?Sirisena as the one who removed the SLFP from power while former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is seen as their savior.

“The proposed electoral reforms had not been drafted to strengthen democracy ?or to ensure the public have a good electoral system. It has been drafted to take advantage of the split in the SLFP,” he said.

Meanwhile opposition Leader Nimal Siripala de Silva raised objections to?holding the adjournment debate on the 20th Amendment to the Constitution.

He said that the Government was attempting to use the time given for the debate to sling mud at the opposition and take political advantage of the situation.

The?United National Party (UNP) however said that party leaders in the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) had wanted the debate despite opposition raised by?Nimal Siripala de Silva.

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa later said that there was nothing wrong in holding the adjournment debate on the 20th Amendment to the Constitution and so it can continue.

The adjournment debate on the 20th Amendment to the Constitution which was held in Parliament this afternoon, will be held again the whole day tomorrow. (Colombo Gazette)