19 A: Debate deferred

*CJ to remove President in consultation with Speaker on ‘health grounds’ opposed
Parliament to continue until agreement on 20 A

April 19, 2015, 9:09 pm 

By Shamindra Ferdinando

President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Opposition political parties led by the SLFP yesterday agreed to defer the debate on the 19th Amendment to the Constitution by a day to enable them to reach an agreement on both constitutional and electoral reforms, political sources told The Island.

The decision was taken at a meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat in the morning.

The two-day debate would now commence on Tuesday. Earlier, it was to begin today. Parliament however will meet today at 9. 30 am for a few minutes and then adjourn to enable political parties to explore ways and means of reaching agreement on constitutional and electoral reforms.

Among those present at Sunday’s meeting were Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala de Silva, UPFA General Secretary Susil Premjayantha, SLFP General Secretary Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Prof. G.L. Peiris, John Seneviratne, Dinesh Gunawardena, Rauf Hakeem, Prof. Tissa Vitharana, Ven. Athureliye Rathana, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Vijitha Herath and A. L. M. Athaulla.

At the onset of the meeting, MP de Silva reiterated the SLFP’s stand that the 20th Amendment containing proposed electoral reforms should be endorsed along with the 19 Amendment which dealt with constitutional reforms. The Opposition Leader emphasized that the SLFP stand wasn’t negotiable.

Sources said that political parties were now examining two documents which dealt with electoral reforms––one from the government and the other from the SLFP. Responding to a query, sources said that political parties would consult Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya. In case, an agreement could be reached on proposed electoral reforms, it would be presented as the 20th Amendment, they added.Political parties also examined the possibility of commencing the two-day debate today (April 20) as previously scheduled and differ the vote until an agreement could be reached on the 20th Amendment.

SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem strongly opposed the passage of electoral reforms without due consideration given to all relevant factors.

President Maithripala Sirisena assured the gathering he was ready to initiate discussions with all political parties to resolve differences.

Political parties also examined the possibility of Opposition parties extending support to 19th Amendment on the basis of President Maithripala Sirisena giving a public undertaking not to dissolve parliament until the finalization of the 20th Amendment. Sources said that such an arrangement could help break the deadlock. However, the proposal was definitely compatible with President Maithripala Sirisena original move to dissolve parliament early May.

During the 90 minute meeting, the Opposition strongly objected to government attempts to move controversial clauses to 19 Amendment. Prof. G. L. Peiris asserted that changes proposed at committee stages in contravention of the gazetted version of the 19 Amendment weren’t acceptable.

Prof. Peiris strongly criticized a proposal that the Chief Justice in consultation with the Speaker could remove the President on health grounds to pave the way for the Speaker to function as the Acting President. Another proposal opposed by Prof. Peiris, on behalf of the Opposition was controversial suggestion that any member of parliament could act for the President. Prof. Peiris said that the government wanted Prime Minister in consultation with the Opposition Leader to choose any member of the parliament to act for the President in case the Speaker, too, was unavailable. Peiris pointed out that this would enable even a backbencher to act for the President. Peiris backed the original proposal that either the Speaker or Deputy Speaker should function as Acting President.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe agreed to withdraw controversial proposals, thereby paving the way for discussions to continue.

The meeting was told that now that the Supreme Court had given its ruling on the petitions filed against the 19 Amendment, fresh clasues in contravention of the SC ruling shouldn’t be proposed. MEP leader Dinesh Gunawardene, Democratic Left front leader Vasudeva Nanayakkara and JHU MP Ven Athureliye Rathana stressed that such an attempt would violate the public will.