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We agreed to support upon President’s request: Gammanpila
Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila said yesterday he, along with others with dissension on some provisions of the 20th Amendment, heeded President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s request to support it with the clause on dual citizenship intact.
Mr. Gammanpila, flanked by Ministers Wimal Weerawansa and Vasudeva Nanayakkara, told a news conference yesterday, a group of MPs and Ministers met with the President on Wednesday night.
He said there were four areas of concern in the 20th Amendment, and the government had agreed previously to address three of them. He said there was only concern about the clause on dual citizenship by Wednesday.
The 20th Amendment seeks to remove the barrier on dual citizens to enter Parliament.
The President called for a meeting with representatives of the political parties with dissent. The participants were Mr. Gammanpila, Mr. Nanayakkara, Mr. Weerawansa, Prof. Tissa Vitarana, MP Weerasumana Weerasinghe, Asanka Nawaratne of Sri Lanka Mahajana Party, and MPs Tiran Alles and Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe.
“The President made an emotional request to us. There was no debate in the country on dual citizenship. The President said his dual citizenship was made a bar for him to contest the presidential elections. He said a case was filed against him in the run up to the presidential elections. Therefore, he wanted us to help pass the 20th Amendment with this clause intact,” Minister Gammanpila said.
He said the President agreed to do away with this provision regarding dual citizens when a totally new Constitution was drafted. It is to be worked out before the second anniversary of the President ascending to office. (Kelum Bandara)
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