Sajith Premadasa denies Opposition blocking adoption of 22A 

• Claims Govt. has failed to reach consensus among its own members 
• Says Opposition would have made final decision on 22A had PM provided satisfactory answers regarding concerns raised 
• Assures Govt. all Opposition parties will respond positively if their concerns are taken into consideration 

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa denied accusations that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) led by him and other parties in the Opposition are blocking the adoption of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution. 

Premadasa said the Opposition would have had a favourable response regarding the 22A prepared had the Prime Minister provided satisfactory answers to several concerns raised by them during a meeting held on Wednesday. 

The parliamentary debate on the 22A which was scheduled for 6-7 October was postponed to next week when the Parliament convened yesterday in agreement with all party leaders. Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene was forced to call for the party leaders’ meeting after both the ruling and Opposition party members blamed each other for blocking it. 

Speaking in Parliament yesterday after the debate was postponed, Premadasa said the discussion between several MPs of the Opposition and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardene the day before was to determine if the aim of the 22A was being achieved through the proposed draft. “The people of this country wanted the powers of the Executive Presidency curtailed and the implementation of a process with more democratic checks and balances to go forward,” he said. 

According to Premadasa, the Opposition sought clarifications from the Prime Minister on several key areas including the dual citizenship of MPs and the extension of the period in which the Parliament can be dissolved. “We also presented him with several amendments we are unable to agree with as an Opposition,” he said. 

Premadasa said had the Opposition been given a positive and satisfactory response they in turn would have been prepared with their own decision ahead of the debate. “We ask the PM to not portray it as if the debate was delayed due to the Opposition’s inability to come to an agreement,” he said, pointing out that it is the Government that has failed to come to a consensus on the matter. 

“The 22A cannot be another 20A that will mislead the people. It must be sincere. The Opposition is prepared to discuss and ready to support the satisfactory curtailing of Executive powers and the reinforcements of the constitutional council among other amendments. If the Government accepts this all Opposition parties are prepared to respond positively,” he added.