20th amendment drafted, sent to AG

• No position for former President   
• Dual citizens can enter Parliament 
• After AG’s nod, will be presented to cabinet 
• Before Parliament by mid September

By JAMILA HUSAIN  

The draft of the 20th Amendment has been sent to the Attorney General for his perusal after it was drafted by the legal draftsman, the Daily Mirror learns.   

A senior government source said that the AG received the draft last Friday and after he gives his opinion and nod, it will be tabled before the cabinet, to further scrutinize its clauses. If cabinet approval is also granted it will be presented before Parliament, the senior source said.  

The Daily Mirror learns that the clauses in the 20th Amendment does not include a special position for former President Maithripala Sirisena despite reports that he was expecting a senior ministerial position, or a deputy prime ministerial position once such a clause is included in the 20th Amendment.  

Further, dual citizens who were banned from contesting for parliamentary seats due to a clause in the 19th Amendment, will also now be permitted to enter Parliament as that clause has been done away with in the 20th Amendment.  

While the 20th Amendment has kept certain clauses from the 19th Amendment as well as the 18th Amendment, it will also do away with the rule to dissolve Parliament in four and a half years. Further, independent commissions will remain and steps will be taken to further strengthen it.   The 20th Amendment is likely to be before Parliament by mid September.