Rohitha regrets voting for 19A

Joint Opposition MP Rohitha Abeygunawardene yesterday expressed regret for voting in favour of the 19th Amendment in 2015, saying that he had little choice as the party had collectively decided on the vote.   

Speaking to reporters during a press conference at Sri Lanka Podujana Permuna (SLPP) headquarters, Abeygunawardene said he had to agree as he respected the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. “I didn’t want to vote but I had to do it.” He contended the Government had failed to keep its election pledge to abolish the executive presidency, with Abyegunawardene pointing out that amending the Constitution to reduce presidential powers had not resulted in significant changes.

Responding to a question on whether he had consulted with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, he said that due to the situation that prevailed at the time, he was unable to consult former President Mahinda Rajapaksa prior to voting in favour of the 19th Amendment.

He claimed JO members were “deceived” by the pledge to establish independent commissions under the 19th Amendment. “The Government promised us a lot of things, but they were all lies.” 

He charged that all independent commissions established under the 19th Amendment were not truly independent.