Opposition MPs accuse President and PM of violating 19A

By Chamodi Gunawardana

Several Opposition parties yesterday said that President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe were violating the 19th Amendment by nominating Ministers for the Constitutional Council (CC).

Addressing a press briefing yesterday, United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Western Provincial Councillor Udaya Gammanpila explained that according to the 19A only MPs can hold membership in the CC and not Ministers.

“President Sirisena has nominated Power and Energy Minister Champika Ranawaka for the council and Wickremesinghe has nominated Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapaksha. The President and the Prime Minister have the power of nomination but they can’t nominate Ministers,” Gammanpila expressed.

National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader and UPFA Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa added that President Sirisena had suddenly called a Parliamentary session tomorrow to get the CC nominations passed.

“We have filed a few no-confidence motions in the Parliament but the Government hasn’t given any positive response to them. Nevertheless they hold Parliamentary sessions immediately to pass their proposals,” Weerawansa alleged.

Commenting further, Weerawansa condemned the steps taken by the Government to form a new National Flag to be used during national occasions.

“We already have a National Flag and we don’t need a duplicate. The Government has no power to introduce a new flag without asking the public. However we have noticed that this Government is using the current flag at national ceremonies in a very limited manner,” Weerawansa said.

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Parliamentarian Bandula Gunawardena addressing the same press conference revealed that the Government has sold a $ 1,000 million Treasury Bond under a high interest rate.

“One year ago we spent 5.125% interest rate for a $ 1,500 million bond and it has increased up to 6.125% now. We believed that this has happened because the Sri Lankan economy is in an unstable situation today,” Gunawardena said.

Commenting on the no-confidence motion against Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, Gunawardena said that they would urge the Government to take the motion for Parliamentary debate soon.

Democratic Left Front (DLF) General Secretary and UPFA Parliamentarian Vasudeva Nanayakkara said the Government should give its priority for Ravi’s no-faith motion before passing the 20th Amendment.