• The freedom of the people would be more effectively guaranteed by the 21st amendment that was passed on Friday

By Ranjith Rajapakse   

Presidential Director General of Trade Unions Saman Ratnapriya said the freedom of the people would be more effectively guaranteed by the 21st amendment that was passed on Friday. 

He told the media in Nuwara Eliya on Saturday (22) that the President had moved the constitutional amendment according to his own concept to reduce his powers and to widen the scope of democracy in the country. 

All political parties represented in parliament, excluding one MP had voted for the amendment to devolve to parliament the powers vested in one individual. It is clearly indicative of the public opinion ”  “ The 19th amendment had curtailed the powers of the President and increased the powers of parliament. However the 20 amendment created a serious crisis by centralising the powers of the President. It is a turn of fate that the individuals who voted for the 20th amendment have voted to abolish it today. 

independent commissions would be restored under the new amendment ” He said.   

He further said that the former President who had limitless powers vested in him was compelled to quit.