• The 19th A could not proceed even for five years. When 18A was introduced, we said the politicians who mediated to bring it will be in trouble, that has happened today

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera  

The Supreme Court had issued judgements against four previous Presidents including former Presidents Chandrika Kumaratunge, Maithripala Sirisena, Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa which is not good for the democracy in the country, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa said yesterday. 

He told Parliament that this system is not good and that 19th Amendment to the Constitution was introduced to prevent the destruction to the country through the executive presidency.  
“The system in the country is not good for the democracy in the country. The Supreme Court had issued judgements against four previous presidents. Initially, the SC issued a judgement against former president Chandrika Kumaratunge over the Waters’ Edge land and then against Maithripala Sirisena over the Easter Sunday attacks. The SC issued judgement against Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksain yesterday over the economic crisis in the country. This is not a good development. It should be corrected,” he said.  

The Minister said the 19th Amendment was introduced to rectify the defects in the executive presidency and that after 19A was abolished and 20A was introduced, the country returned to its previous situation.  

“The 19th A could not proceed even for five years. When 18A was introduced, we said the politicians who mediated to bring it will be in trouble that has happened today. People’s trust is very important. The Aragalaya also emerged due to the collapse of people trust on legislature and the executive,” he said.