President Gotabaya will have less powers than previous presidents: state Minister Lanza

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will not be given any special powers under the 20th Amendment and on the contrary will have less power than the previous Presidents,  State Minister for Rural Roads and Other Infrastructure Nimal Lanza said.  Mr. Lanza expressed these views while inaugurating road development projects in the Nuwara Eliya District last week.   

The State Minister said that previous Presidents J.R. Jayewardene, R. Premadasa, D.B. Wijetunga, Chandrika Bandaranaike, Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maithripala Sirisena wielded more power than Gotabaya Rajapaksa under the proposed 20th Amendment.   

“We clearly told the people that the 19th amendment would be changed. The people also gave their overwhelming  approval during the presidential election. Even at the parliamentary election the people gave a two thirds majority,”
 he said.