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19th Amendment in parliament

24 Mar 2015 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today presented the 19th Amendment to the Constitution seeking to hold the Executive Presidency accountable to the Legislature and the Judiciary.

The Bill presented in Parliament will be taken up debate on date agreed by party leaders.

According to the new proposals, the President is the Head of the State, the Head of the Executive and the Government and will be the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. The new Bill restricts the president’s term of office for five years.

The promotion of ethnic and religious harmony, national reconciliation and the creation of proper conditions for the conduct of free and fair elections are among the duties assigned to the President.

The Bill also provides for the President to make policy statements in Parliament and to preside at ceremonial sittings of the House.

A Constitutional Council, chaired by the Speaker, is proposed to be appointed through this Bill. The Prime Minister, the Opposition Leader, a person appointed by the President, five officials appointed by the President on the nomination of the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader and a nominee of the minor and minority parties will be its members.

According to the proposed amendment, the President appoints the Prime Minister. The total number of cabinet ministers will be limited to 30 while the total number of deputy ministers and state ministers should not exceed 40.

The President cannot dissolve Parliament till the completion of four years and six months of its term. Or else, there should be a request by Parliament through a resolution calling for the dissolution of parliament.(KB & YP)

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19th Amendment in parliament

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