6 June 2022 08:49 am Views - 510
The 21st amendment to the Constitution tabled in Parliament by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) provides not only the best way out from the current political, economic and social catastrophe in the country in the shortest possible time span but has introduced a highly progressive constitutional remedies to fulfill the aspirations of 22 million Sri Lankans including those who engaged in the “Aragalaya”, SJB parliamentarian, Imthiaz Bakeer Markar said.
He told the media at the office of the Leader of the Opposition that the SJB’s draft proposal of the 21st amendment contains proposals made by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) the civil society, the academia, Maha Sangha and the entire voting population of the country at large.
“In addition to the abolition of the executive presidency while vesting more power in the legislature and Prime Minister, reintroducing the Constitutional Council and independent commissions, baring dual citizens from holding political office, it also inter-alia proposes to expel MPs who cross over to the government ranks from the opposition or vise-versa for ministerial positions or other perks and privileges while restricting them from seeking legal remedy.
“If and when an MP betrays his or her party constitution, the party has the power to expel the errant member from the party after a formal inquiry and she or he will subsequently be removed from Parliament also. We expect to put an end to the indecent, undemocratic and corruption filled political horse trading carried out in recent times in Sri Lanka, backstabbing the peoples’ mandate,” the SJB stalwart stressed.
Markar pointed out that the only way to bring political, economic and social stability to Sri Lanka was the enactment of the 21st Amendment proposed by the SJB in a shortest possible time. Until then there will be no sufficient financial support from the global financial agencies like the IMF, ADB or the World Bank or from donor countries and also investors, enough foreign remittances or tourists coming to the country,” he emphasized.
Parliamentarian, Eran Wickramaratne said if the Supreme Court rules that a referendum was necessary to pass certain amendments of the SJB’s draft proposal, the government could hold a general election and a referendum simultaneously on a single day to save money.
Responding to a journalist,Wickramaratne said the SJB’s stand was that dual citizens could not hold only political office.
“They can live, invest or do any business in Sri Lanka. We are concerned only on their allegiance if and when a dispute arises between the two countries,” he stressed.