"Since both the posts of President and Prime Minister are held by two brothers at present, the confusion created by the 19th Amendment to the Constitution is not there in practical terms," Weerawansa said.
Minister Wimal Weerawansa has made this statement targeting Basil Rajapaksa at a time when even the members of the opposition parties have agreed to remove the dual citizenship clause imposed by the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.
20A just to accommodate Basil? - Madduma Bandara
Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the Samagi Jana Balawega (SJB), parliamentarian Ranjith Madduma Bandara, at a media briefing held on Monday (31), stated that the government is bringing in the 20th Amendment not for the benefit of the people but in order to hand over certain posts to several individuals.
He said the aim of the 20th Amendment was to allow a person with dual citizenship to enter parliament and give him the post of prime minister. He further inquired whether the government would bring in a new Constitution to bring Basil Rajapaksa back to parliament or to create a post for former president Maithripala Sirisena.
Minister of Justice Ali Sabry PC
The Minister of Justice said the draft of the 20th Amendment prepared by the Legal Draftsman’s Department was submitted to the Attorney General on Tuesday (01) for his consideration by secretary to the Ministry of Justice M.V.K. Mayadunne.
A five member Cabinet sub-committee comprising Prof. G. L. Peiris, Dinesh Gunawardena, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Ali Sabri PC and Udaya Gammanpila had drafted the 20th Amendment to the Constitution.
Meanwhile, Cabinet spokesperson Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that they wish to retain several sections, such as the right to information, in the draft that was submitted to the Attorney General yesterday.
Minister Rambukwella stated that the Cabinet has instructed Justice Minister Ali Sabri to select a panel of experts to draft a new constitution.
Co-Cabinet spokesperson Udaya Gammanpila told the media yesterday that the people had given the government a clear cut two-thirds majority in the last general election to bring in a new constitutional amendment.
