6 June 2022 08:45 am Views - 207
By Yohan Perera
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) will join the government as an ally if President Gotabaya Rajapaka takes a step back and agrees to enact the 21st Amendment presented by its General Secretary,an MP from the party said yesterday. SJB MP Eran Wickramaratne was responding to a question raised by journalists on reports that more SJB MPs were to join the government.
“ We MPs of the SJB have received invitations to join the government independently but our party is ready to become a part of the government if the President takes a step back and agrees to enact the 21st Amendment tabled by our General Secretary ,” MP Wickramaratne said.
“ If needed a referendum can be held later and allow it to be approved by the House,” he said.
“ What the government has actually proposed is the 23rd Amendment to the constitution. The actual 21st Amendment is what our General Secretary had presented. The 22nd Amendment is what Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe had proposed. What the government is due to propose is the 23rd Amendment.
However since we have not seen the final draft of the government’s proposal. We will have to decide on the government proposal once it is presented to the House,” he also said.