• The clause introduced in 20A to prevent the  President from dissolving Parliament will not be changed by 22A

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana  

The 22nd Amendment will not allow any one holding dual citizenship to represent Parliament, Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said while kicking off the debate on the new legislation yesterday.  

 “The clause to prevent those who are with dual citizenship from entering Parliament has been included in the 22nd Amendment as there is a common ideology that such persons cannot represent the House,” the Minister said. 

Also the Minister assured that the clause which was introduced in the 20th Amendment to prevent the President from dissolving Parliament will not be changed by the 22nd amendment.  
“Some argued that the President should not hold any ministerial portfolio including defence. However, we believe that the President should hold this portfolio in order to ensure the security of the nation,” he added.  

“We advised the former President not to bring in the 20th Amendment in October 2021. We warned him that the then government won’t be able to rule this nation for more than two years if that legislation was enacted. Our prediction had come true today,” he also said.  

Referring to a request made by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa not to bring in last minute amendments, the Minister said such an act won’t be done.