2 June 2022 10:18 am Views - 183
By Yohan Perera
Calling for a new set of constitutional reforms, the leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa yesterday stressed the need for a lock stock and barrel approach to approve such vast reforms in Parliament.
“A lock stock and barrel approach is needed to bring in reforms which take away the status of the constitution where power is centred on an individual. Therefore the parties can agree on bringing in major changes to the constitution which establishes checks and balances between the Executive and the legislature and approve it with a two thirds majority. What we actually propose is to approve major reforms to the constitution by a two thirds majority and hold a referendum whenever it becomes possible,” Premadasa said.
“ We are not against the 21st amendment, However it has to be an amendment which makes vast changes to the constitution. We oppose the 21st amendment which has been proposed by the Minister of Justice and which is designed to corner one individual and gives more power to another,” he added.
“ No one should misunderstand us as we are for a system where power is shared rather than vesting it one individual,” he also said.