20A draft Bill to Parliament in its present form

• Cabinet Spokesman says Govt. will listen to all opinions before enactment
• Says those interested can challenge it in Court

The draft 20th Amendment to the Constitution Bill will be presented to Parliament in its present form shortly and will be discussed widely before it is enacted, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.

Keheliya Rambukwella

“The Bill will be presented to Parliament shortly and then it can be challenged in Court if any party wants to do so and again it can be discussed at the Committee Stage,” Rambukwella told reporters yesterday.

He said that the Government is keen to make the process a transparent and democratic one and is listening to different opinions.

‘The 20th Amendment was discussed at length at Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting.  The people gave a massive mandate to the President and the Government to bring the 20th Amendment and we will enact it,” 

he said.

He said the report of the Committee appointed by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to discuss different views expressed by the constituent partners in government will also be taken into consideration when it is ready in a few weeks.