Debate on 19A underway

28 April 2015 07:32 am - 27 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The debate on the 19th Amendment is currently under way in Parliament with voting scheduled to be held this evening.

Deputy Minister Policy Planning and Economic Development Harsha De Silva tweeted from Parliament that he was “worried about the fate the amendment as two issues were yet to be resolved.”

Appointment of the Cabinet, a collaborative effort of the President and the Prime Minister, is one unresolved issue.

The Opposition wanted the power to be given solely to the President, the Deputy Minister tweeted.

“But the whole argument is to reduce the powers of the President but here we have to act with consensus. So, let us see if there can be a compromise,” Silva said.

Appointments to the Constitutional Council (CC) are another bone of contention.

The CC was to consist of seven non-political eminent persons and three politicians (The President, Prime Minister and Speaker).

“Now the opposition is saying 'no'. It cannot have independent persons but instead wants 10 MPs. This will completely negate the depolitisisation of the CC and thereby all appointments to the Independent Commissions,” Silva said.

The amendment could be in more hot water as the technical issue could change it considerably at the committee stage, the Deputy Minister said.

“The Secretary General is apparently, and correctly, of the view that once the 2nd reading of the 19A is passed with a 2/3rd majority the amendments could be passed with a simple majority. If that is the case then the shape and form of the 19A can be seriously changed, at the Committee Stage unless there is an agreement on the above two matters prior to the vote,” he said.

“MP John Seneviratne began the debate for the Opposition. MPs Dinesh Gunawardene, Prof. G. L. Pieris, Mahindananda Aluthgamage and Dullas Alahapperuma are in deep conversation,” Silva tweeted.

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Comments - 27

rondy Tuesday, 28 April 2015 02:37 PM

I want to add Dr.Mervin Silva too

punchinilame Tuesday, 28 April 2015 07:22 PM

In MR style, if those who vote against 19 Amdm. shouldnot think of getting back to their home in safety!!The in any case will not get nominations in the SLFP.

Park Tuesday, 28 April 2015 06:47 PM

All the opposition politicians who are against the amendment are conspirators against the citizens of Sri Lanka. They all, each one of them have stolen money from the people and they have to be brought before the courts. If the amendment fails, then the life of the Parliament should be extended until all those who have committed financial and other crimes are arrested and sentenced.

Jayasiri Tuesday, 28 April 2015 06:09 PM

Appointment of Cabinet,- This should be done by the President in consultation with the P.M.if its a Majority Party Govnmt. or with the leaders of the respective parties if its a Coalition/National govnmt, with an overriding authority for the President to decide in case no agreement is reached between the two parties.(President and the P.M or the Party leaders if its a coalition.National Govnmt.

sunny Tuesday, 28 April 2015 06:08 PM

Is that Rohita the former Beach Boy down South. His massages was super

sunil perera Tuesday, 28 April 2015 06:03 PM

They are worried about their loot

raj Tuesday, 28 April 2015 06:01 PM

opposition are acting on behalf of former President Rajapakse who dreams to become executive president again one day so he likes to see the defeat to the amendments in the parliament. He does like the MS regime run successfully. To achieve his goal, MR is using G.L . Peris to carry plot against the amendment.

Lion Tuesday, 28 April 2015 05:21 PM

Very true

lalith Tuesday, 28 April 2015 04:23 PM

yes i agree. this is the consequence of not putting ""Ali baba sahahoru hathaliya "behind bars on the 9th january

duminda Tuesday, 28 April 2015 03:39 PM

This country will never progress unless KING CANCER and his cronies demise from this earth

Sam Tuesday, 28 April 2015 03:08 PM

Some are valid points... Should bring forward and discuss.! But the first comment and such comments are totally useless. The ppl who write these useless things really deviate ppl from thinking straight of particular matter (19A here) more than politicians do. Opposition should criticize and suggest!!! That is very very important... If they agree all the time what will happen then??

K Milton Tuesday, 28 April 2015 03:01 PM

Government could appoint 6 eminent men to parliament through the National List to serve in the Constitution Council. This way both Government and Opposition requirements are met

Milton Tuesday, 28 April 2015 02:51 PM

Constiution Council can have eminent men if the government could appoint required number of Eminent persons from the Natinal List. Understand there are 30 plus nominated MPs under the New Scheme.

Parakum Tuesday, 28 April 2015 02:50 PM

never an easy task to find an eminent person in SL. whole my life I have seen the business chambers praising every budget - but the so called business leaders always blame the politicians for the way the country is handled. intelligent cowards are our men

Ryan Hudson Tuesday, 28 April 2015 01:04 PM

I applied for migration

srilankan Tuesday, 28 April 2015 02:35 PM

maybe wimal weerawansa wants to appointed his wife as the next cheif justice

shamantha Tuesday, 28 April 2015 02:30 PM

Should not allow any member who does not have knowledge and educational back ground to talk on the 19A.

Culpritis Tuesday, 28 April 2015 02:21 PM

I agree with you. First we should do something to these culprits before constitution change

Dee Tuesday, 28 April 2015 02:19 PM

Why how about Sajin, Rohitha and Jhonney boy?

A Happy Sri Lankan Tuesday, 28 April 2015 02:17 PM

You idiots are still spreading negative messages of hatred through some of the comments above. But see how united your leaders are in the parliament and how debate out the way forward. The systems of democratic country should work like that. Remember people elect leaders who they deserve. Not out of their world.

Please Try to do act fast on this Tuesday, 28 April 2015 02:04 PM

before amending this 19 A amendment, government has to take a severe action against, previous regime big shot and also to thieves... they only greedy and make "Kollapang even parliament and also in outside". After that i hope we can do this in peaceful environment. Jobless idiots and culprits have something to do. so here is the result now

Wicks Tuesday, 28 April 2015 01:50 PM

What is the point of having ten politicians in the CC, we all can remember what happened to Ms. Shirani Bandaranaike. President can appoint anyone he wants and nullify the effect of the independent committees.Also, is it possible to find ten educated, unbiased people among the parliamentarians. In the past they have proved that they are a bunch of `signal posts`. I can suggest few for the committee. Nishantha Muthuhettigama, Wimal Weerawansa, Duminda Silva.

Max Tuesday, 28 April 2015 01:47 PM

What does Mahindananda and Dullas know about 19A? They are arguing over it since it may be affecting their autonomous

Giabao Tuesday, 28 April 2015 01:36 PM

How do we define an eminent person. could the 3 persons appointed by PM look into CBSL issue also qualify as eminent persons ? LOL

King Cancer ZPlaying behind Tuesday, 28 April 2015 01:30 PM

all these happening in the parliament now, because the previous regime king cancer is making more internal pressure with his thieves in the parliament. so they do not want to go forward this pure and new system in the house. All these thives want is without changing or change the constitution according to thieves want and bring the BIG thief and to steal and make more corruption. So we should understand that all these pressures are being brought by the king cancer and also his thieves to the present government

Bala Tuesday, 28 April 2015 01:19 PM

What is the use of Independent Commissions if it is full useless politicos. The present clause as in 19A is correct.

upali Tuesday, 28 April 2015 01:16 PM

This seems to be not what people expected like abolishingof Executive Presidency.

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Debate on 19A underway

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