21st Amendment to the Constitution takes effect

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena yesterday  endorsed the certificate on the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill passed by a special majority in Parliament recently.

The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill was presented to the Parliament on 10 August by Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe.

Following the Supreme Court determination related to the petitions against the bill, amendments were made at the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Judicial Affairs and approval was obtained.

On 20 and 21 October, the debate on the second reading of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill was held. At the end of the second reading, there were 179 votes in favour and 1 vote against. After that, in the voting held for the third reading of the bill, 174 votes were in favour and one vote was against.

Accordingly, the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution Bill will come into force as the 21st Amendment to the Constitution from yesterday.

The Amendment aims to empower Parliament over the Executive President and curbs some of the powers of the President.

Under the 21st Amendment, the President, the Cabinet of Ministers and the National Council will be held accountable to the Parliament. 15 Committees and Oversight Committees are also accountable to Parliament.

One of the key provisions in 21st Amendment is disqualifying dual-citizens from contesting elections in Sri Lanka.