Wijedasa’s Amendments to Constitution, tribal and opportunistic: JVP

By Ajith Siriwardana  

JVP MP Vijitha Herath yesterday said the two amendments to the constitution proposed by MP Wijedasa Rajapakshe were opportunistic and tribal.  

He told a news conference that the government should reveal whether the amendments proposed by Mr. Rajapakshe as private member bills were his own opinion or the stance
of the government.  

He said the 21st Amendment proposed by the MP to raise the minimum vote obtained by minority parties to 12.5 percent from the current 5 percent of the total polled votes was utterly tribal as that amendment was brought in 1988 to allow minority parties to be represented in parliament in recognition of their pleas. 

 
He said the 22nd amendment to abolish the Constitutional Council which was empowered to appoint independent judges, the police chief and senior government officials and also to allow the president to hold any ministry was similar to reverting to the 18th Amendment.   

He said Mr. Rajapakshe may be trying to curry favour with the president to find a way to enter parliament at least on the national list.  

He said the government should reveal its stance on these matters and added that it was a
serious situation.