Don’t abolish Independent Commissions: NPP

While admitting that there were shortcomings in the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, National Peoples’ Power (NPP) MP Vijitha Herath yesterday urged the government not to abolish the independent commissions introduced in the 19th Amendment.

He told Parliament that Independent Commissions such as the Elections Commission played a key role in ensuring democracy and justice.

“The Elections Commission was important to hold free and fair elections after the introduction of the 19th Amendment. The progressive features of the 19th Amendment should not be abolished,” he said.

He said that the extreme power of the executive president was reduced and assigned to Parliament under the 19th Amendment and said the NPP was against any moves to weaken the power of Parliament and assign all power to a single person.

MP Herath said a new Constitution which would suit the modern and contemporary society should be introduced and added that the new Constitution should ensure human rights and the basic rights of all communities. (Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera)